Renting a porta potty for a graduation party
Most Erie graduation parties need 2 or 3 porta potties and a handwashing station, dropped off Friday and picked up Monday. Book 2 to 3 weeks ahead for June weekends, because every high school in the county celebrates on the same few Saturdays. Here is how to size it, place it and keep it clean.
Why rent a porta potty for a graduation party?
A porta potty for a graduation party keeps 50 to 150 guests out of your house. One indoor bathroom cannot handle a line from the yard all afternoon. Septic systems struggle with that much use in one day. Guests also stay outside, near the food and the graduate, instead of walking through every room.
Grad parties in Erie are usually open houses in the backyard or garage. Guests come and go for four to six hours, eat, give a card and leave.
That flow is easier on a porta potty than a sit-down dinner, because people do not all go at once. It still adds up. One hundred guests across an afternoon is a lot of trips through a hallway.
A rented unit costs less than cleaning the carpet afterward. See party and event rentals for every unit we bring to backyard parties.
How many porta potties for a graduation party?
A graduation party needs 1 porta potty per 50 guests if it runs 4 hours or less. An open house that runs longer adds 1 unit per 100 guests. So 75 guests over 5 hours need 3 units, and 120 guests over 6 hours need 5. Add a handwashing station for every 2 units.
Count everyone who will stop by over the whole day, not just the peak. Include the grandparents, the neighbors and the team that shows up after practice.
| Guests over the day | Up to 4 hours | Over 4 hours | Handwashing stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 75 | 2 | 3 | 1 short, 2 long |
| 100 | 2 | 3 | 1 short, 2 long |
| 150 | 3 | 5 | 2 short, 3 long |
One handwashing station per 2 units, rounded up. Adults drinking adds 1 unit per 100 guests. Run your exact numbers in the porta potty calculator.
Should we get separate units for girls and boys?
Separate units for girls and boys make sense once you have 2 or more porta potties anyway. Label one for each with a simple sign. A good split is a standard unit with a urinal on one side, and a deluxe flushing unit with a sink and mirror on the other, for guests dressed up for photos.
Teen guests care about this more than adults. Separate units also cut the line, because the urinal side moves faster.
A deluxe flushing unit has a foot-pump flush and a sink inside. Its flush tank lasts about 50 to 75 flushes, so pair it with standard units for a big crowd.
When should I book a porta potty for a June graduation party?
Book a porta potty for a June graduation party 2 to 3 weeks ahead. Erie County high schools graduate within a few weeks of each other, and the Saturdays right after commencement fill up first. Units and flushing models run short on those weekends. Most other weeks, 1 or 2 days of notice is plenty.
Book the date as soon as you set it. You can change the count later, and rescheduling is free with 24 hours notice.
Restroom trailers book out further. If you want one for a big party, call 2 weeks ahead or more. See the restroom trailer page for what it needs.
Why is a Friday drop-off better for a Saturday party?
A Friday drop-off for a Saturday graduation party means the porta potty is set, level and ready before you start setting up tables. The weekend days cost nothing extra. Pickup is Monday. Saturday morning delivery is possible on request, but on a busy June Saturday, Friday is the safer bet.
Our office is closed on Sunday. A Sunday party gets a Saturday or Friday drop and a Monday pickup.
You do not need to be home on Friday. Mark the spot with a cone or chalk X, or text a photo with the spot circled.
The flat event price covers drop-off to pickup, up to 4 days. A standard unit starts at $165, before delivery and 6% PA sales tax. See the rental cost guide for a worked party total.
Do I need a handwashing station if we serve food?
You need a handwashing station or a unit with a sink if you serve food at a graduation party. A standard porta potty has hand sanitizer, not a sink. Plan 1 handwashing station for every 2 standard units. Put the station on the path between the toilets and the food table, where guests walk by it.
Each handwashing station has 2 sinks with foot pumps, soap and paper towels. One fill handles about 300 to 400 hand washes.
If you rent deluxe flushing units with sinks inside, you can skip the separate station.
How do I keep the porta potty clean until the party starts?
Keep the porta potty clean until the party by locking it the night it arrives. Ask for a free lock hasp and add any padlock. A unit in a front yard on Friday night can get used by passersby or teenagers. Unlock it Saturday morning and it is still fresh and fully stocked.
Put a small trash can and an extra roll of toilet paper nearby. Units arrive with at least 2 rolls, and a busy party can use more.
After the party, lock it again. Pickup is the next business day, and nobody needs to be home for it.
Graduation party coming up?
Tell Shawn your date and guest count. You get the count, the Friday drop and the total on one call.
Graduation party porta potty questions
These graduation party porta potty questions cover rain, sharing units between families, deluxe units, extra service and decorating. Each answer gives the short version first. If you are hosting with another family on the same weekend, call Shawn early so both parties get the units they need.
What if it rains on the party?
The porta potty works the same in rain. Put it on a driveway or firm ground, not a low spot in the lawn. A short stone or board path keeps mud out of the unit.
Can two families share units over one weekend?
Two families can share units when both parties are at the same address. Moving a unit to a second address takes a trip from us, so call early and we will plan the drops around both parties.
Is one deluxe unit enough for 60 guests?
One deluxe unit alone is tight for 60 guests, because the flush tank lasts about 50 to 75 flushes. Pair it with a standard unit and you are covered.
Can you clean it between Saturday and Sunday parties?
An extra cleaning visit is $45 per unit. We do not run trucks on Sunday, so the visit lands on Saturday after your first party or on another day we are open.
Can we decorate the porta potty?
Light decorations like a bow, a sign or school colors are fine. Use painter's tape, not glue or paint, and keep anything flammable away from it.
Hosting something bigger next? Use the event restroom planning checklist.
Get your itemized quote
Fastest way: call Shawn. You get the price, the delivery day and the total on one call.
(814) 245-2757Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Calls are answered in Erie, not a call center.
On a jobsite? Text the address and a photo of the spot to (814) 245-2757.
Prefer a form? Send it here. We reply within 1 business hour during open hours.