Portable Toilet Rental Market

Market Overview

The global portable toilet rental market was valued at USD 19,254.7 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 32,807.7 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The increasing participation in outdoor activities promotes people's interaction with the natural environment for longer periods, which is expected to enhance the deployment and use of portable toilet rentals across the globe.

Portable Toilet renting is renting portable or mobile toilets for various uses, including construction sites, festivals, camping, boating, film settings, and huge outdoor gatherings when no other facilities are available.

Portable Toilet Rental services are crucial in the construction business to offer sanitary facilities for employees in distant regions where access to permanent facilities may be limited. Portable Toilet Rental services are required in the event business to provide proper sanitary facilities for major outdoor gatherings such as music festivals, carnivals, and fairs. Portable Toilet Rental services are extensively utilized in the camping and boating sectors to provide sanitary facilities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Market Dynamics

Global Portable Toilet Rental Market Drivers

Growing Participation in Outdoor Recreational Activities

Camping as an outdoor recreational activity has been gaining popularity across the globe. The growing inclination of consumers to have newer experiences resulted in a rise in the average time spent outdoors. Other outdoor physical activities such as running, jogging, hiking, cycling, water activities, and trail running have also witnessed growing popularity across the globe. Thus, this increasing participation in outdoor activities promotes people's interaction with the natural environment for longer periods, which is expected to enhance the deployment and use of portable toilet rentals across the globe.

Increasing Number of Construction Activities

According to the UN DESA, 55% of the world's population lives in cities, which is anticipated to rise to 68% by 2050. According to projections, rapid urbanization, or the gradual shift in human population residence from rural to urban areas, combined with global population growth, might add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050, with Asia and Africa accounting for nearly 90% of this increase. These individuals primarily depend on the provisions of affordable housing provided by the IU industry, resulting in a surge in construction activities. With a growing number of workers at construction sites, there is a need for basic sanitation facilities, thereby fueling the demand for portable toilets.

Global Portable Toilet Rental Market Restraint

Problems Related to Adequate Drainage and Functionality

Portable toilets often do not have plumbing or drainage systems, which results in the accumulation of waste inside the tank. If the units are overused or improperly cleaned, this may lead to a sewage odor. Portable toilets are designed to hold the sewage of about seven people for a 40-hour week. Instances of overuse of portable toilets would result in increased waste, thereby reducing the overall basic hygiene of the unit. In some cases, installing portable toilets may require clearance from the relevant municipality or city authorities. The authorization is given depending on the level of sanitation maintained in and around the portable toilet units, which necessitates major investment in cleaning services by rental firms. This results in a surge in unit rental fees, which also depend on the number of people a unit has to accommodate.

Standard portable toilet units fail to serve differently-abled people, as they do not have sufficient space or the infrastructure to accommodate them. Hence, this reduces their utility in special events and occasions frequented by physically challenged people. All these factors are expected to restrain the growth of the portable toilet rental market.

Global Portable Toilet Rental Market Opportunities

Industry Opportunities

Vendors Portable toilets are available as standalone units or a group of units installed on a trailer. Depending on consumer requirements, rental companies offer a wide range of custom units varying in shape, size, and functionality for all types of events. Compared to standard units, luxury portable toilet units offer lucrative opportunities for rental companies. The increasing preference of consumers for luxury units, especially during private and special events, is projected to contribute to their demand.

Additionally, technological innovation is opening up new avenues for growth in the portable toilet rental market. Incorporating technologies such as 5G, machine learning, cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and green technologies in sanitation products and services will likely boost the portable toilet rental market share. In addition, the growing role of aesthetics and ambiance in luxury restrooms is expected to serve as a lucrative opportunity for the market players. Also, if looking to deliver an elite customer experience at events such as outdoor weddings, social events, non-profit activities, cultural engagements, and retail remodeling, portable toilet rental service providers have added various upgraded features and functions to their offerings. These include restrooms with hand creams and lotions, mints, decorative rugs, mirrors, wall décor, floral arrangements, and upgraded lighting and fixtures.

Moreover, the agriculture sector is a steady consumer segment that uses portable sanitation facilities. Portable toilets are widely used during the harvesting season. With a growing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year, the need for portable toilets across farming and harvesting areas is expected to increase.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central and South America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Asia-Pacific Dominates the Global Market

Asia Pacific is the most significant global portable toilet rental market shareholder and will likely grow at a CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period. The increased number of visitors has led to expansion in the lodging business, which has increased the use of portable toilets by hotels and public bodies. These restrooms provide acceptable bathroom amenities in a variety of situations. An increasing number of upcoming infrastructure projects will likely boost the application of portable toilets in the region during the forecast period. Also, over the past few years, the construction industry has grown significantly in Asia Pacific. The major construction activities in the region include residential construction, hotels, social infrastructure, and schools. This will likely boost the application of portable toilets by construction project contractors in the region during the forecast period.

North America is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.1% over the forecast period. The portable toilet rental business is expanding due to public gatherings at outdoor exhibitions and concerts. Most event organizers prefer portable toilets to provide hygienic services to their attendees. The dominance of the standard portable toilets segment can be due to increasing demand for these products from live venue service providers, on-site remediation operators, and event organizers. These toilets can be installed at festival sites and construction areas to provide quick and easy sanitation. Furthermore, the growing number of building and home remodeling projects in the area will generate substantial potential prospects for market participants throughout the projection period.

In Europe, increasing demand for portable sanitation facilities in the commercial, industrial, construction, agricultural, and disaster relief sectors drives market growth. Portable toilets are installed in these areas in adequate numbers to provide restroom facilities to the large workforce and prevent long lines. Growth in the hotel and tourism industries will likely positively impact the portable toilet rental market in the region over the forecast period.

In Central and South America, continuous expansion in the commercial sector and residential projects is expected to result in more infrastructure projects in the region, thereby increasing the application of portable toilet rentals. The prevalence of many outdoor music events and festivals in the region will likely drive the application of portable toilets. Famous events, such as Lollapalooza in Chile, which attracts more than 1.5 million people yearly, create demand for mobile toilets from event management companies. Also, the rise in residential construction activities in the region will likely boost the demand for portable toilets on rent, which provide necessary restroom facilities to the workforce involved in construction projects.

In Middle East Africa, the region is witnessing a rise in commercial construction activities, including hotels, public entertainment areas, and restaurants. This will likely boost the demand for portable toilets on rent in the construction sanitation application over the coming years. Also, the Middle East attracts many tourists yearly, which is expected to positively impact the demand for mobile toilets from the hotel industry in the region. Owing to extreme climatic conditions and terrains, many tourist hotels and camp organizers prefer a mobile toilet set up for visitors. This region's hotel industry has many opportunities expected to drive the market for mobile toilets. Many regional hotels offer portable toilet setups near their camping and adventure locations. Thus, the growth over the forecast period will be driven by the rapid expansion of the commercial sector in the region, including hospitality, office buildings, and public entertainment areas, such as malls.

Segmental Analysis

The global portable toilet rental market is bifurcated into products, applications, and technology.

Based on product, the global portable toilet rental market is bifurcated into standard and luxury.

The standard segment dominates the global market and will likely exhibit a CAGR of 5.7% over the forecast period. Standard portable toilets are employed at various commercial sites, including construction sites, mining sites, bus stops, athletic events, parades, concerts, and other recreational sites, such as beaches and zoos. These toilets are cheaper than other portable toilets and are widely installed. The growth in these application sectors is expected to boost the demand for standard portable toilet rentals over the forecast period. A typical portable toilet consists of a simple toilet and a holding tank; some versions include separate male urinals.

Additionally, rising sanitation and hygiene awareness, rising living standards, and increased demand from the rapidly expanding construction industry drive this segment's growth. Moreover, the increasing number of government initiatives and the rising number of NGO events to establish and improve basic sanitation facilities worldwide contribute to the high demand for standard portable toilet rentals for various application areas.

Based on application, the global market is bifurcated into construction, recreational, special events, and commercial.

The construction segment owns the global market and will likely exhibit a CAGR of 7.1% over the forecast period. The growth of this market can be because of the expansion of the global construction industry and the rapid infrastructural development across the world. The growing number of residential, hotel, and social infrastructure projects will drive portable toilet demand in the coming years. Applying green materials to sustainable buildings has become a common consideration in modern housing designs and construction techniques because of their environmental benefits and a significant return on investment for homeowners.

Furthermore, employees on construction sites are more productive when they utilize clean and easily situated portable toilets, allowing them to spend more time on the building project. As the project progresses, portable toilets can be moved at workers' convenience. Several trends and factors influence the demand for portable toilets at various construction sites. With the improving standards of living of workers and consumers in general, companies are focusing more on offering consumers a better lifestyle and safer environment. In addition, labor rates and the need to increase productivity at various industrial and construction sites have increased with improving living conditions. The rising use of portable toilets at these sites is expected to drive the portable toilet rental market’s growth over the forecast period.

Based on technology, the global portable toilet rental market is segmented into vacuum technology, gravity-based technology, and others.

The vacuum-based technology segment dominates the global market and will likely exhibit a CAGR of 7% during the forecast period. The increased consumer awareness of the need for water conservation drives the market for vacuum-powered portable toilets. Vacuum toilets use less water than gravity-based portable toilets because the technology is based on flush toilets that use suction to remove waste, resulting in a low water requirement; this, in turn, is one of the key reasons for the growing demand for vacuum-based portable toilets. For instance, generally, a standard-sized vacuum toilet requires only 0.25 gallons of water for every flush compared to 2 gallons of water used by a gravity-based model.

In addition, vacuum toilets help to reduce the overall cost of portable toilet service, leading to cost savings due to the minimized amount of water required for flushing. Vacuum toilets offer the same level of comfort and many functional benefits, such as no deposits or blockage of effluents in the pipeline, odor-free surroundings after every use, and minimal potential plumbing maintenance. The growing hospitality industry and the flourishing global real estate industry drive the application of vacuum toilets.

Furthermore, the positive outlook for the housing sector in developing countries such as China and India due to rapid urbanization and rising disposable income of the middle-class population is expected to drive the demand for vacuum portable toilets by construction companies to provide adequate sanitation facilities to construction workers. The growing number of international intrastate projects fuel the worldwide demand for vacuum-based mobile toilets.

Recent Developments

• March 2023- American Portable Toilets (APT) introduced a new series of solar-powered portable toilets. The new toilets are intended to be more ecologically friendly while lowering operational expenses.
• February 2023- United Site Services (USS) paid an unknown sum for The Ambrose Group's portable toilet rental company. The purchase strengthens USS's position in the portable toilet rental sector and adds over 1,000 units to its fleet.