We always need access to a decent toilet wherever we are. Unfortunately looking for buildings and places that house the conventional type of toilet can be a challenge; especially if you are in the mountain, a deserted place, or literally on a desert while driving your RV. Thankfully, we found a way to create a system that would allow us to contain our waste while preventing the annoying odor: composting toilets.

Composting toilet is an innovative type of toilet. It holds and contains human waste and treats it biologically through the composting process. While it doesn’t kill the pathogens in the material, the process decomposes the waste and turns it into compost.

This is a helpful option for individuals who are always on the road such as those who live in RVs and those who own cabins in forests. They can contain and prevent possible production of unwanted odor, given they are being cleaned appropriately. Nonetheless, there are various modern models in the market now that can offer you additional features to make your work easier. And this is where we would join your quest in finding the best composting toilet out there.In this review, we will underscore the best features and points you need to know in each top-notch item we picked. They are the leading models in the market but to give you full assurance, we conducted a series of tests on each of them to verify their efficiency. That said, do not miss the chance to read the valuable insights we concluded with our group professionals in this article. Also, do not hesitate to click the buttons below to check their best bargains on Amazon today.

Best Composting Toilets Comparison & Rating

Composting Toilets

Features

Nature's Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spider Handle Design
  • 28 pounds
  • 100% waterless application
  • can last from 4 to 6 weeks
Nature's Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle
  • 100% waterless operation
  • 12-volt power plug
  • stainless steel material
Camco 41541 Portable Travel Toilet-Designed for Camping, RV, Boating and Other Recreational Activities - 5.3 Gallon
  • 5.3-gallon holding waste tank
  • 2.5-gallon flush tank
  • polyethylene construction
Porta Potti 92306 White Thetford Corp
  • 4.0-gallon freshwater capacity
  • 5.5-gallon wastewater capacity
  • 56 flushes
SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet with Carry Bag, Travel Toilet with Level indicator | | 3 Way Pistol Flush | Rotating Spout, for Camping, Boating, Traveling & Roadtripping
  • 50 flushes
  • 5.3-gallon toilet tank
  • 3.2 gallons of clean water

1. Nature's Head Spider Handle Composting Toilet

Nature's Head Self Contained Composting Toilet with Close Quarters Spider Handle Design
Specifications:
98% Overall

Brand

Nature's Head

Dimensions

22 x 20.5 x 21.7 inches

Weight

28 pounds

Type

Dry

98%
performance
97%
durability
98%
features
98%
convenience
Pros:
  • Can be emptied and cleaned as fast as five minutes.
  • Has a huge capacity and can be used by two persons for entire four to six week before the emptying.
  • The compact design allows it to fit in small spaces such as in a cabin, tiny house, RV, workshop, and boat.
  • Has a urine-diverting technology that prevents moisture in the waste.
  • Features 100% waterless application making it suitable for all kinds of conditions.
  • Can be easily disassembled after use.
  • Lightweight at 28 pounds.
  • Completely self-contained and portable.
Cons:
  • The urine container’s capacity is a bit low.
  • A bit expensive but for the features it offers, you get more than what you will be paying for.
Final Take:

If you are looking for a dry-type of portable toilet, this one is the best choice. Nature’s Head is a known brand when it comes to the traditional system of composting waste in a handy manner. This proved it again through this new model that has reliable hardware capable of containing waste securely while preventing possible production of odor. This is possible through the low-volume air circulation fan built into its head to provide recycling of air in your bathroom. It can even handle up to 80 uses (4-6 weeks).

2. Nature's Head Crank Handle Composting Toilet

Nature's Head Dry Composting Toilet with Standard Crank Handle
Specifications:
98% Overall

Brand

Nature's Head

Dimensions

17.75 x 20.75 x 21.5 inches

Weight

28 pounds

Type

Dry

98%
performance
98%
durability
97%
features
98%
convenience
Pros:
  • Features a hand-crank agitator to encourage fast composting of waste.
  • Easy installation.
  • High enough to cater to people of different heights.
  • Includes a 5’ vent hose, a bottle cap, and a 12-volt power plug.
  • Features a urine-diverting system and 100% waterless operation ensuring ease of use wherever you install it.
  • Lightweight at 28 pounds; can be easily transported anywhere.
  • Has stainless steel hardware that supports its durable design.
  • Includes all the needed tools and materials needed for the installation (5’ venting hose, inside vent flange, agitator handle, brackets, knobs, fuse, fuse holder, liquid tank cap, booklet, bolts, and Allen wrench).
Cons:
  • A bit heavy when used at full capacity.
Final Take:

This is one of the models of Nature’s Head that we really adore when it comes to ease of operation and maintenance. The crank promotes the straightforward use of the unit. With the right ventilation and regular cleanup, you have an odorless bathroom. It is also worth mentioning that its parts are made from stainless steel material making it a durable model, whether you place it on a boat, an RV, or a cabin. Overall, the design is also impressive as it is very comfortable to sit on, as if you are using a conventional type of toilet bowl. You just need to connect it to a 12-volt battery and use some reliable carbon additive, and you’ll get yourself an odorless loo experience every single day.

3. Camco 41541 Portable Travel Toilet

Camco 41541 Portable Travel Toilet-Designed for Camping, RV, Boating and Other Recreational Activities - 5.3 Gallon
Specifications:
97% Overall

Brand

Camco

Dimensions

14 x 16 x 15.5 inches

Weight

10.8 pounds

Type

Wet

97%
performance
97%
durability
98%
features
96%
convenience
Pros:
  • Features a detachable 5.3-gallon holding tank for easy disposal of waste.
  • Sports a 2.5-gallon flush tank with a bellow-type flush and a pull-slide valve for convenient flushing after every use.
  • Secures contents through its sealing slide valve.
  • Boasts of a polyethylene construction that makes it sturdy while being lightweight at 10.8 pounds; can handle up to 330 pounds of weight.
  • No need for carbon additive.
Cons:
  • The seat width is a bit narrow at 13 inches.
  • Heavy when used at maximum capacity (32 pounds).
Final Take:

The Camco 41541 is truly a convenient toilet. It features a 2.5-gallon tank container with a lid that can be removed to refill it with fresh water. Its system is pretty simple as well: a sliding gate valve that opens up for entry of waste and closes to seal in the solid and water waste and the odor. The pressure of the water is decent enough to remove waste from the toilet, allowing it to be used multiple times before cleanup and refilling the tank with freshwater. Also, the unit comes with waste tablets that break down the solid content fast. With this, you can expect upon disposal that you’ll have dissolved waste with less odor than you are expecting with such kind of toilet system.

4. Porta Potti 92306 White Thetford Corp

Porta Potti 92306 White Thetford Corp
Specifications:
95% Overall

Brand

Porta Potti

Dimensions

18.39 x 15.75 x 17.83 inches

Weight

13.45 pounds

Type

Wet

96%
performance
95%
durability
95%
features
94%
convenience
Pros:
  • Features a sleek, modern, and homelike look.
  • Comfortable seat height and average-sized bowl.
  • Convenient with its battery-powered flush.
  • Comes with an integrated toilet paper holder.
  • Has a tank level indicator as an additional convenience feature.
  • Has an optional hold-down kit to help you secure the portable toilet attached to the floor.
  • Has 4.0-gallon freshwater capacity and 5.5-gallon wastewater capacity.
  • Can reach up to 56 flushes.
  • Has the size of a household-type toilet but still lightweight due to its material and design.
Cons:
  • Keep in mind that the “flush” only rinses the waste from the surface. You still have to manually open the waste valve after use.
Final Take:

This top-of-the-line portable toilet will fit any style and size of the bathroom, be it in RV, boat, truck, van, or camping cabin. Every detail of the unit was designed with the aim to give users comfort at all times. The shape, material, and size of the toilet make it possible to carry it everywhere using its ergonomic carrying handle. It also features a sealed valve that keeps the content secured inside the unit, preventing liquid and odor leaks. Compared to other models in the market, it also has a better cleanup process, thanks to its rotating pour-out spout. With this, you can empty the toilet without a single splash.

5. SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet

SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet with Carry Bag, Travel Toilet with Level indicator | | 3 Way Pistol Flush | Rotating Spout, for Camping, Boating, Traveling & Roadtripping
Specifications:
95% Overall

Brand

SereneLife

Dimensions

16.5 x 14.6 x 16.9 inches

Weight

11.25 pounds

Type

Wet

96%
performance
96%
durability
93%
features
94%
convenience
Pros:
  • Boasts of a 5.3-gallon toilet tank that can hold a considerable amount of waste and can last multiple uses.
  • Has a splash-free rotating pour spout that lets you empty it with ease while getting zero splashes.
  • Made of odor-resistant materials that help in the containment of unwanted smells.
  • Comes with a travel toilet bag/case for easy transport.
  • Sports a piston-pump flush type.
  • Offers a capacity of 3.2 gallons of clean water that can last more than 50 flushes.
  • Secured by its double-sealed drain valve that keeps nasty content inside.
  • Made of high-density polyethylene and comparatively bigger than other models to give your rear sufficient comfort.
Cons:
  • A bit big to fit all kinds and sizes of spaces.
  • The design of the tank causes some amount of liquid to stay inside despite the cleanup.
  • The lid is rather flimsy.
Final Take:

If we are going to talk about comfort, the SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet would snatch the top spot of the list. Though it mirrors the same size of your toilets at home, it is frankly lightweight which makes it ideal even for old folks. It is also truly sturdy as we tested it to a 400-pound individual: no creaks, no cracks, and no change in shape in any manner. The force of water is pretty strong as well that in each flush, you can be assured that most of your waste would be removed. The other details are a plus as well: flush system, bowl ergonomics and dimentions, valve, surface texture, and tank level indicator. That said, for its price, the entire unit is all worth it.

Best Composting Toilets - Buyer's Guide

Type

Generally, composting toilets should be dry. Dry composting toilets are much more unlikely to smell since the process of composting takes place inside the toilet system. You use carbon additives to help with the process. They also aid in preventing the production of unwanted odor during the process. After this, you can directly use the processed odorless waste as compost.

On the other hand, a wet composting toilet usually smells, especially when not mixed with any solution that can aid in the decomposition process of waste. Also, keep in mind that cleaning wet toilet is much more challenging than dry ones.

convenience

Besides the portability of the unit, also consider its convenience every time you are using it. While wet toilets let you experience the same cleanup process as the household toilets by using water, you need to refill them once the freshwater tank runs out of it. Also, you need to dispose of wet toilets much more often since they get full faster than the dry models.

user's preference

The decision still depends on your preference. Again, be reminded that wet toilets have more tendency of producing odor than dry ones. Nonetheless, if you are more comfortable with a toilet using water, that one is for you. On the other hand, if you want less effort in cleanup and want to avoid unwanted odor, better have the dry models.

Features

Make sure that whatever model you are going to choose, it has all the features that suit your preference and your needs; be it an integrated toilet paper holder, the size of the toilet, cover, the weight, or its system.

price

Most of us believe that purchasing expensive models could give us the quality we are looking for. However, this is not true at all times. Likewise, choosing a cheap one would not guarantee you that you’ll get a winning deal. That is why you need to make sure you’ll get all the best features you need in a composting toilet and assess if they come at the most reasonable price.

Best Composting Toilets - FAQs

After the composting process, can I dispose of the waste anywhere?

While you can use the waste of the dry toilets to your compost pits, the waste of the wet models should be disposed in more proper places such as conventional toilets and septic tanks. Keep in mind that the pathogens are still present in them and disposing to inappropriate places can cause problems.

Do composting toilets smell?

With the right maintenance and regular cleanup, your composting toilet should be odorless. If you are using a dry model, make sure to use quality carbon additives to prevent the odor of the waste. You also need to give its system the sufficient air circulation to aid with the composting process. On the other hand, wet models should have proper sealing features to keep the odor and liquid contents inside.

How often should I empty my composting toilet?

It depends on the model of your toilet. If you are using a wet model, they usually gets full faster which means you need to empty them at least once a week, or depending on the usage. On the other hand, dry models usually take months before getting full. Nonetheless, you better check them to make sure that the composting process is working just well.

Can I include tissue papers in composting toilet?

Yes, but be informed that they do not decompose as fast as human waste. So, upon disposal, expect that they would still be visible.

Author

Jimmy Black started his career as a construction and carpenter foreman. After years of hard work, he decided to go on his own. Now, Jimmy is one of the trusted experts at SolidSmack who knows at first glance whether your hammer would do a great job or not. He still involves himself in various construction projects and works for individual clients. Behind formalities, he enjoys being a father to two lovely kids who keep on asking him why they can’t quit school and travel the world like Dora The Explorer.