When people search for portable toilet hire cost, they are usually looking for a clear, realistic weekly price for a standard unit on a small UK building project. For most home extensions, refurbishments, and smaller construction jobs, the normal benchmark is now around £40 per week for a standard, weekly serviced unit on a typical four-week hire.
Your weekly cost covers far more than the toilet itself. The main value is in the weekly emptying, internal clean and full disinfection, restocking of consumables, and the safe, licensed disposal of waste. With welfare expectations and legislation continuing to tighten in the UK, weekly serviced portable toilets have become a standard requirement on most building sites rather than an optional extra.
What Is the Average Portable Toilet Hire Cost in the UK?
Across small and medium-sized UK building projects, the typical benchmark portable toilet hire cost for a standard weekly serviced unit is around £40 per week when hired for four weeks or more. This is the figure most independent builders use when costing welfare for extensions, loft conversions, and general refurbishment work.
Shorter hires are common too. When a toilet is only required for two weeks, most suppliers charge a slightly higher weekly rate to cover delivery, set-up, servicing, and collection in a shorter timeframe. A realistic UK guide for a two-week hire is £47.50 per week.
| Hire Type | Typical Weekly Cost |
| Standard portable toilet – 4+ week hire | £40 per week (UK benchmark) |
| Standard portable toilet – 2 week hire | £47.50 per week |
| Hot wash toilet (warm water handwashing) | £55–£65 per week |
| Disabled access toilet | £85–£95 per week |
| Delivery & collection | From £60 (one-off charge) |
Most builders choose a four-week hire because it delivers the best value and avoids the hassle of having to extend the hire later if the project overruns – which many UK jobs do.
Example Cost Scenario
As a UK-wide guide, for one standard unit on a small building job:
- 4+ week hire: £40 per week, plus a one-off delivery and collection charge from around £60.
- 2 week hire: £47.50 per week, plus the same one-off delivery and collection charge.
These prices are consistent across most of the UK, with only location and site access influencing the final figure.
Delivery and Collection Charges
Every hire includes a one-off delivery and collection charge that covers:
- Transporting the unit to site
- Positioning and set-up
- Returning to collect the unit at the end of the hire
This charge typically starts from around £60, depending on distance from the depot and site access. The duration of the hire does not affect this charge – it is the same for two-week and four-week hires.
The Real Service You’re Paying For
Your weekly portable toilet hire cost is largely driven by the servicing and waste-handling operation behind the unit. Each weekly service visit keeps your welfare facilities legal, usable, and trouble-free, helping your project run smoothly with minimal hassle.
Weekly servicing typically includes:
- Emptying the tank and transporting waste for licensed disposal
- Internal clean and full disinfection of all surfaces and touchpoints
- Restocking toilet rolls, soap, and hand sanitiser
- Checking locks, vents, flushing mechanisms, and overall condition
On busy jobs, or where several workers are using a single unit, additional service visits can be arranged to prevent downtime and welfare issues.
Why Proper Waste Handling Matters for UK Builders
Most standard portable toilet hire in the UK is driven by small and medium-sized builders working on home extensions, refurbishments, conversions, and smaller commercial projects. Welfare provision is increasingly expected by clients, neighbours, local authorities, and main contractors – and builders are often asked how waste is being handled.
Using weekly serviced units with licensed disposal protects you from potential compliance issues, keeps the job running smoothly, and helps maintain good relationships with clients and neighbours.
Our Investment in Sustainable Waste Handling
We are now investing in our own waste treatment processes to provide an even more sustainable, end-to-end service for our customers. This gives us greater control over how waste is managed, ensuring it is collected, transported, and treated responsibly at every stage.
All of our portable toilets are also manufactured from materials that are 100% recyclable, supporting a more circular and environmentally responsible approach to site welfare.
Key Factors That Affect Portable Toilet Hire Cost
Although £40 per week is a solid benchmark for a four-week hire, your exact portable toilet hire cost will depend on:
- Number of workers: As a UK guide, allow one toilet per 7–10 workers. One per 1–7 workers gives better comfort and reduces pressure on a single unit.
- Location and access: Distance from the depot and site accessibility can influence cost.
- Type of unit: Hot wash and disabled access toilets cost more due to size and equipment.
- Hire duration: Four-week hires give the best value; very short hires carry higher weekly rates.
- Service frequency: Busy sites or long working hours may require extra weekly servicing.
Most builders simply include welfare provision as part of their project costs. A clear, predictable weekly rate makes it easy to budget and present an all-in price to the customer without any surprises. Our standard pricing is designed to support that approach and keep welfare simple to arrange and simple to pass on within a job.
Additional Costs to Budget For
- Delivery and collection: One-off charge from around £60.
- Extra service visits: Recommended on high-usage sites.
- Damage or heavy contamination: Only charged if units are returned in an unusable state.
Portable Toilet Hire Checklist for UK Builders
- Use £40 per week as the benchmark for a four-week hire with weekly servicing.
- Allow for two-week hires at around £47.50 per week.
- Plan for one toilet per 1–7 workers to stay comfortably within welfare expectations.
- Budget for delivery and collection, plus any required extra service visits.
- Choose a supplier that provides licensed waste disposal, environmentally responsible operations, and low-emission servicing.
If you need an exact portable toilet hire cost for your next UK building project, contact our team. We can confirm availability from your nearest depot, advise on the right number of units, and provide a clear, itemised quote.
