What is a portable hand wash station?
A portable hand wash station is a freestanding sink unit with foot operated pump taps, a fresh water tank, a waste tank, a soap dispenser and paper towels. It needs no mains connection. The normal ratio is one station per three to four restroom units, or one per two where food is served. Call 1-833-520-0680.
Who is this unit for?
Beside any bank of portable restrooms- Food service, catering and farmers markets
- Construction sites where workers handle contaminants
- Events with children present
- Agricultural and outdoor work sites
What are the specifications?
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Footprint | About 2 ft x 2.5 ft |
| Stations per unit | Typically 2 or 4 taps |
| Fresh water tank | Typically 20 to 30 gallons |
| Operation | Foot pump, no touch taps |
| Water or power needed | None, self contained |
| Standard ratio | 1 per 3 to 4 restroom units |
Why not just use hand sanitiser?
For a short event with no food, sanitiser is often enough and most standard units carry a dispenser. The limits show up in two places.
The first is food. Anywhere food is prepared or served, a sink with soap and running water is the correct provision, and health inspectors at markets and festivals routinely check for it.
The second is construction. Where workers handle contaminants, OSHA requires hand washing facilities rather than sanitiser alone.
What ratio should you order?
One station per three to four restroom units covers general use. Move to one per two units where food is served, at weddings, or where children make up a large share of the crowd.
A station typically has two or four tap positions, so one unit serves more people than the single ratio suggests. The constraint is usually the fresh water tank rather than the number of taps.
Where should the station go?
On the exit path from the restrooms. If guests walk past it on the way out, most will use it; if it sits beside the entrance or off to one side, far fewer will.
Keep it clear of the route into a food area if the ground is likely to get wet and muddy underfoot, and give it firm ground of its own.
How often does it need servicing?
Weekly on a standard job site, which covers filling the fresh tank, emptying the waste tank and restocking soap and towels. Busy sites and food service events often need twice weekly.
Running out of towels is the most common failure, and it is the cheapest to prevent. Ask the provider to leave spare stock on site for a long rental.
How does booking work?
Call with the headcount and dates
We connect you with a local provider. Tell them whether workers or guests will be using the units.
Confirm the count and the schedule
The provider sets the unit mix, the servicing frequency and the placement, then quotes the whole rental.
Delivery, servicing and collection
Units arrive clean. The service truck keeps to the agreed schedule, and collection is on the end date.
What does it cost?
| Market type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Monthly, major metro | $100 to $200 |
| Monthly, mid size city | $90 to $180 |
| Monthly, smaller market | $80 to $160 |
What is inside the unit?
Included
- Foot operated pump taps, no hand contact
- Fresh water tank with a separate waste tank
- Liquid soap dispenser
- Paper towel dispenser
- Waste bin for used towels
- Stainless or molded basin, two or four stations
Servicing schedule
Weekly fresh tank filled, waste tank emptied, soap and towels restocked.- Twice weekly on busy sites or where food handling raises usage.
- Per event delivered full and stocked, collected after the event.
Fittings vary slightly between manufacturers. Your provider confirms what the specific unit includes and how often it will be serviced.
Where should the unit go?
Put the station on the exit path from the restrooms, not beside the entrance, so washing hands is the natural next step. Keep it off the route to the food service area if the ground will get wet.
A standard unit occupies roughly 4 by 4 feet with the door opening outward, so allow about 5 by 5 feet of clear space. The service truck needs to get within about 25 feet of the unit, which is the constraint that decides most placement questions.
Related restroom options
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Hand Wash Station questions
How many hand wash stations do I need?
One per three to four restroom units is the normal ratio. Go to one per two units where food is served, at weddings, or where children are present.
Is hand washing required on a construction site?
Where the work involves contaminants, OSHA requires hand washing facilities. Hand sanitiser alone is not a substitute in those conditions.
Does the station need plumbing?
No. It carries its own fresh water tank and a separate waste tank, and the taps are foot operated, so no mains connection is needed.
How many uses before it runs out?
A 20 to 30 gallon fresh tank supports several hundred hand washes. Heavy food service use is what drains it fastest.
Can I just use hand sanitiser instead?
For a small event, often yes. Where food is handled or workers contact contaminants, a sink with soap and running water is the correct provision.
Do standard porta potties include a sink?
No. A standard unit has a hand sanitiser dispenser only. A separate hand wash station or a deluxe flushable unit provides running water.
Who wrote this page
Written and fact checked by the Dumpster Porta Potty USA editorial team. We check container sizes, servicing intervals and price ranges against published provider rate sheets and federal guidance, then update the page when those change.
Last updated . Read our editorial policy.
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