Choosing a Portable Toilet for Your Van
Every van lifer eventually faces the question: do I need a toilet, and if so, which one? The answer depends on your style of travel. If you wild camp 90% of the time, a toilet is essential. If you mostly use campsites, you can use their facilities. This guide covers the main options.
Cassette Toilets (Thetford / Dometic)
The most common choice for UK campervans. A cassette toilet has a flush water tank and a separate waste-holding cassette. The cassette slides out for emptying at designated disposal points (Elsan points at campsites, some public toilets).
Thetford Porta Potti Curve (£100-130) — The standard. Reliable, easy to clean, comfortable seat. The 565E model has a 21L freshwater tank and a 21L waste tank, which gives about 3-4 days of use for one person. Available from most camping shops and Amazon UK.
Thetford Porta Potti 365 (£80-100) — Slightly smaller (10L waste tank). Good for weekend trips. Less comfortable than the Curve but cheaper and lighter.
Dometic PortaPotti 911K (£60-80) — Compact, folding cassette toilet. Fresh water is stored in the lid. Better for occasional use or very small vans where space is tight.
Pros: Familiar toilet experience, easy to empty, widely available spares and chemicals.
Cons: Takes up space in the van (about the size of a crate), needs regular emptying, uses chemicals (Formaldehyde or bio-enzyme), can be awkward to carry the cassette to disposal points.
Composting Toilets (Nature's Head / Separett)
Nature's Head (£300-400) — The most popular composting toilet for van life. Separates liquid and solid waste. The solid waste goes into a composting chamber with peat or coconut coir. The liquid goes into a separate container (needs emptying every 2-3 days). The composting process is aerobic, so there is no smell if maintained properly.
Separett Villa 9215 (£350-450) — Similar separation concept but uses a fan to evaporate liquid. Requires 12V power for the fan.
Pros: No chemicals, no cassette to carry, solid waste composting reduces emptying frequency to every 2-4 weeks, environmentally friendly.
Cons: Expensive, requires space for the composting chamber, needs regular maintenance (adding coir, turning the composting handle), the urine container still needs emptying frequently, can be less pleasant to empty than a cassette.
Budget Options
Bucket with a seat (£15-30) — A 10-litre bucket with a snap-on toilet seat and bag system. Use with gel or absorbent pads. The simplest option. Not pleasant for long-term use but works for emergencies or weekend trips. Disposal: double-bag and put in general waste.
Folding portable toilet (£30-50) — Lightweight plastic frame with a bag system. Designed for camping where you can dig a hole (not suitable for van use where you need to contain waste).
Cassette vs Composting for UK Van Life
For most UK van lifers, a cassette toilet (Thetford or Dometic) is the most practical choice. Cassettes are easy to empty at campsite Elsan points (which are everywhere in the UK). The initial cost is lower. The chemicals are cheap and widely available. The main downside is the space it takes up.
Composting toilets are better for long-term environmental impact and less frequent emptying, but the cost is higher, the installation is more involved, and finding a place to dispose of the compost can be awkward in the UK's urban areas.
Disposal Tips
- Know where the nearest Elsan point is before you need it. The Campervan Sanitary Station map app shows most UK disposal points.
- Use bio-enzyme chemicals instead of formaldehyde for a more environmentally friendly option.
- Never empty a cassette into a public toilet or drain. Use designated disposal points only.
- Carry a spare cassette (Thetford sells them for about £25) so you can swap without urgency.
Final Thoughts
Thetford cassette toilets are the default choice for UK van life for good reason. They work, they are reliable, and disposal infrastructure is everywhere. If your budget is tight, a bucket with a proper seat and gel system will get you started. Composting toilets are worth the investment if you have the budget and are committed to low-impact van life.
