When nature calls while your camping there are several different options you could use depending on your situation and how much money you want to spend on a portable camping toilet.
So to help you decide which portable camping toilet is right for you and to help you get an idea of what a portable camping toilet might cost, I created this complete portable camping toilet price guide.
Which Portable Camping Toilet Should You Buy and How Much Does it Cost?
When it comes to portable camping toilets you have 5 main choices which include the cat hole, the bucket toilet, the foldable toilet, the flush toilet or cassette toilet, and the composting toilet.
Each type of portable camping toilet has its own strengths and weaknesses as well as a typical price range which we will go into great detail below.
Also, the different types of portable camping toilets are listed from the least expensive option to the most expensive option.
Portable Camping Toilet Price Guide Table
| Camping Toilet Type | Price Range | Water Consumption | Single or Multiple Use | Best Used For |
| Cat Hole | Free – $10.00 | No | Single | Dispersed Camping |
| Bucket Toilet | $10.00 – $25.00 | No | Single | General Camping |
| Foldable Toilet | $20.00 – $45.00 | No | Single | General Camping |
| Flushable Toilet | $70.00 – $150.00 | Yes | Multiple | General Camping |
| Composting Toilet | $900.00 – $1,000.00 | No | Multiple | RV or Trailer Camping |
The Camping Cat Hole: Price Range: Free – $10.00
While the cat hole will not work in many situations such as campgrounds and any place where there are going to be a lot of people around this can be a great option if you are dispersed camping or boondocking in a remote area of the forest.
If you are new to camping especially dispersed camping you might be wondering what a cat hole is.
Well, a cat hole is a hole you dig in the ground that is approximately 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches wide where you do your business in and rebury when you are finished.
If you are going to use this portable camping toilet method make sure you are following all rules and regulations in your area as some places like campgrounds or private lands may not allow this or have specific rules. In addition. if you’re going to use a cat hole make sure that you are at least 200 yards away from all water sources and waterways.
Finally, if you are wondering why the price range for this method is from free to $10.00 I put the high end of the price range of $10.00 to cover the cost of a small foldable camp shovel in case you didn’t already have one.
The Portable Camping Bucket Toilet: Price Range $10.00 – $25.00
The camping bucket toilet is the cheapest camping toilet option out of the bunch and it is also one of the most simple options.
The camping bucket toilet is really pretty self-explanatory with very few moving pieces.
In essence, the camping bucket toilet is just a toilet seat and lid that attaches to the top of a bucket with a liner on the inside that contains a small amount of absorbent material such as kitty litter or peat moss.
As a side note be aware if you’re buying a camping bucket toilet online many of them do not actually come with a bucket and are just a toilet seat. Meaning you will have to purchase the bucket separately and it needs to be a 5-gallon bucket as this is what most camping bucket toilet seats will attach too.
In addition, you will oftentimes find the maker of the camping bucket toilets selling “special” waste disposal bags to use with their particular toilet. While these bags are nice to use, just know that you do not need to use their often pricey waste disposal bags and that kitchen bags or black trash bags are just fine for waste disposal.
When it comes to camping for me this is the one that makes the most sense as it just keeps it super simple and I don’t have to deal with emptying a disgusting holding tank such as with a cassette toilet. Also, the camping bucket toilet is super lightweight and does not add a lot of weight or bulk to my overall camping gear.
My favorite portable camping bucket toilet is the Luggable Loo Portable 5 Gallon Toilet which you can check out on Amazon by clicking here.
The Portable Camping Foldable Toilet: Price Range $20.00 – $45.00
Another portable camping toilet option closely related to the camping buck toilet is the foldable camping toilet. Much like the camping bucket toilet the foldable camping toilet is quite simple with very few moving parts making it ideal for camping.
In essence, the foldable camping toilet is just a toilet seat that allows a bag to be attached to it for waste that is connected to a pair of foldable legs.
Again this particular portable camping toilet option is a good choice because it keeps things simple, is very lightweight and portable, and does not require the emptying of a tank after several uses.
Another great thing about the foldable camping toilet while perhaps a little wasteful is that you can change and discard the bag after each use which means no lingering odors or messes to deal with.
There are many different types of foldable camping toilets on the market with all different types of construction and materials used. However, I would stick with one that is made from metal and has a solid and sturdy feel after all you want to be able to rely on what you are sitting on when nature calls.
One of my top choices for a foldable portable camping toilet is the BLIKA Stainless Steel Folding Commode Portable Toilet which you can see on Amazon by clicking here.
The Portable Camping Flush Toilet (Cassette Toilet): Price Range $70.00 – $150.00
When it comes to portable camping flush toilets or cassette toilets there really is a wide range when it comes to design and features but the basic concept is usually the same as is the case with the Porta Potti White Thetford Corp cassette toilet that you can check out on Amazon by clicking here.
Basically there are two separate holding tanks on a portable camping flush toilet. The first tank holds freshwater that you use while flushing the toilet and the second tank holds the waste.
There can be some variation in how to use as flushable camping toilet but they are usually pretty easy to operate. First requiring you to fill the bowl with a small amount of water either through a manual or electric pump. Then you basically just the cassette toilet like you would any other toilet and simply flush the waste into the lower holding tank to be emptied at a later time.
While many people complain about the odors from a flush or cassette toilet they really are not that bad as long as you clean, empty, and sanitize the toilet per the manufacturer recommendations. Usually, there is also a chemical solution that you dump in the holding tank that helps to cut down on the odor as well.
The Portable Camping Composting Toilet: Price Range $900.00 – $1,000.00
The last and by far the most expensive portable camping toilet on the market as you can see from the price range above is the composting toilet.
Typically composting toilets are much larger than other portable camping toilet options and are better suited for a more permanent location such as in an RV or trailer.
While you will more than likely have a hard time justifying such a large expense just to use the bathroom while camping, know that people that have this type of camping toilet swear by them and say they will never go back to either a cassette type toilet or other types of black tank portable camping toilets.
If you are unfamiliar with how a composting toilet works the first thing to understand is that a composting toilet is what they call a dry toilet as it does not use water in order to work.
Basically, a composting toilet separates the solids and liquids into two separate areas of the toilet. With the solids ending up in an organic mixture allowing the solids to go through a biological decomposition process turning human waste into a compost-like material. Meanwhile, the liquids are held in a separate holding tank to be disposed of separately.
Keep in mind that because this is a dry toilet both the composting holding tank and liquid holding tank do need to be emptied from time to time.
It’s also important to note that there is a little bit of a learning curve when it comes to operating a composting toilet and for the guys out there you have to be seated to use one.
Also, if you are interested in composting toilets for camping know that as far as most campers are concerned there is really only one composting toilet worth mentioning which is the Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet which you can check out on Amazon by clicking here.
Other Portable Camping Toilet Costs
Beyond the initial portable camping toilet cost, there are some additional items that you will need on a recurring basis to use the portable camping toilet.
If you are going to you use a bucket toilet or a foldable toilet then you will need a ready supply of bags to use for waste disposal after each use. While you can use just a regular old kitchen garbage bag that can be sealed, if you want to really go above and beyond you can purchase specific made waste disposal bags that are more heavy-duty and usually have a two-bag system to ensure nothing leaks out of the bag.
You will also need a supply of kitty litter or composting material such as peat moss to place at the bottom of the bag if you are going to use either the bucket toilet or the foldable toilet.
If you are going to be using a flushable toilet or cassette toilet then you ideally want to have some type of drop-in deodorizer or chemicals to keep your cassette toilet smelling fresh as well as chemicals to clean the toilet.
Another item that you might want to consider getting is some type of pop up privacy tent to give yourself and your fellow campers a little privacy when nature calls such as this GigaTent Pop-Up Privacy Tent on Amazon.
Where Can you Empty Your Portable Camping Toilet?
Flushable or cassette camping toilets have a small holding tank for waste which is basically like a miniature version of a black tank that you might see on an RV or trailer which needs to be emptied regularly and treated in the same way.
There are two places that you can empty your portable camping toilet which includes a dump station that you might find at a campground or RV park or into a toilet that is connected to a public sewer system.
Do not empty your flushable or cassette camping toilet into a toilet that is connected to a septic system as the chemicals used in these types of toilets can break down or destroy the enzymes that allow a septic tank to function properly.
How do You Dispose of Human Waste While Camping?
When camping if you are using a dry camping toilet such as a toilet bucket or a foldable toilet and using either kitty litter or a natural compost material such as peat moss at the bottom of the bag you can discard the human waste much in the same way you might discard dog or cat waste.
Meaning that it is OK to throw away solid-state waste that is in a properly sealed bag.
If you are using a cat hole while camping then you just need to follow proper cat hole guidelines and make sure to cover the hole when you are finished.
