How many you actually need per crew size under NSW WHS, how often they get serviced, what drives the price, and the setups we run most on Sydney sites.
Every builder we deal with in Sydney asks the same three questions about portable toilets: how many do I need, how often does it get pumped out, and how much is it going to cost per week? This guide answers all three, plus the practical stuff — where to put it on site, how to handle a long job, and how to avoid the WorkCover risk of under-providing.
Under the NSW Work Health & Safety Regulation 2017 and the SafeWork NSW Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice, every construction site must provide toilets for workers. The code doesn't publish a rigid worker-to-toilet ratio the way some overseas standards do, but the widely accepted industry benchmark — and what SafeWork inspectors look for — is:
| Crew size | Minimum toilets | Typical setup |
|---|---|---|
| 1–10 workers | 1 toilet | Standard single unit |
| 11–25 workers | 2 toilets | 2 standard units, or 1 unit + handwash |
| 26–50 workers | 3 toilets | Bank of 3 with separate handwash station |
| 51–75 workers | 4 toilets | Consider a mains-connected block if long-term |
| Every extra 25 workers | +1 toilet | Scale linearly |
If you have women on site (increasingly common on Sydney projects), the code requires separate facilities once the workforce is mixed and sustained — in practice, a second unit designated female-only, or a unisex ambulant-access unit. On sites where workers are on for more than a few days, handwashing facilities are required near the toilet, not just at the site office.
One standard portable toilet on the nature strip or driveway, serviced weekly, hired for 8–16 weeks through demolition and slab. This is the workhorse job — probably 60% of what we deliver across the Hills, Parramatta and Sutherland shire.
One standard unit for the first stage, upgrade to two units once framing and multiple trades are on at once. If site access is tight (common in the Inner West and Eastern Suburbs), position on the footpath side with a fenced gate — talk to us at quote stage about council footpath permits.
Bank of 2–3 units plus a separate handwash station. Serviced twice weekly. Often bundled with our Site Packages — fencing plus toilets on one hire, one invoice.
Multiple banks positioned near each work zone rather than one cluster. Servicing 2–3× weekly. On jobs running 12+ months we'll often recommend a mains-connected amenity block instead — cheaper over the long haul.
A standard portable toilet holds around 220 litres of waste. On typical usage that's about 10 uses per day before it starts to smell and around 60–80 before it's full. Practical servicing frequency:
Every service includes pump-out, chemical top-up, restock of toilet paper and hand sanitiser, and a clean-down of the seat and internal surfaces. If your site is going to be shut over Christmas or Easter, tell us — we'll pump before and after the shutdown so you don't come back to a problem.
Portable toilets in Sydney are delivered by a truck with a hydraulic tailgate or a HIAB — the driver needs 3m of clear side access and a reasonably level surface. The best positions on a Sydney construction site:
Delivery and pickup across Sydney metro typically runs from $120 each way. Same-day delivery is usually possible if you call before 10am. Next business day is standard.
Our minimum hire is one week — which covers 95% of Sydney site work. If you only need a toilet for a single day (a one-day tree removal, small demo), you're still better off with a weekly hire than an event-style short-term unit — the delivery costs make sub-week hire uneconomic. For hires over 8 weeks, we'll drop the weekly rate. For 6+ month jobs, ask about a long-term rate.
A basic construction portable toilet in Sydney is typically $35–$55 per week, all-in with weekly servicing. What pushes it up or down:
Send us the site address, crew size, hire duration and any access notes. We quote in an hour, deliver same or next business day, and cover all of Greater Sydney and the Central Coast — from Parramatta and Penrith through the Sutherland Shire and the Northern Beaches. Call 0451 117 275.
Direct Site Hire Team — Sydney's temporary fencing & portable toilet specialists. One-week minimum hire, same-day delivery available. Free quote: 0451 117 275.
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