Sanitary containers
Sanitary containers bring toilets, showers and washrooms to places without fixed plumbing. They arrive ready to connect, complete with pre-wall installation, water heater, floor drain and tiled or GRP linings, and only need hooking up to water, waste and power. Versions range from a simple WC unit to a combined module with changing area, shower row and separate sections for men and women.
Typical uses
- Toilet and shower rooms for the workforce on building sites
- Sanitary facilities for festivals, town fairs and sports events
- Replacement washrooms while schools, nurseries or sports halls are refurbished
- Staff washroom with clean/dirty separation in industry and civil engineering
- Shower units for harvest helpers and seasonal workers in agriculture
- Sanitary provision in camps, shelters and reception facilities
- Visitor toilets at campsites, lakes and leisure facilities
- Decontamination and washing area during demolition and remediation work
Sizes and dimensions
| Variant | Size (example) | Fit-out (example) | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small WC container | 8–10 ft | 1–2 WCs, basin | small site, club |
| Separate WC container | 20 ft | ladies/gents, 2–3 WCs plus urinals | site, event |
| Shower container | 10–20 ft | 2–4 showers, changing area | camping, accommodation, sport |
| Combination container | 20 ft | WC, shower, wash trough | crew accommodation |
| Accessible | 10–20 ft | wheelchair-accessible WC, ramp | events, public use |
Examples; configurations and dimensions depend on the manufacturer.
✓ Advantages
- Completely pre-installed and operational within a short time
- Frost-proof versions with trace heating available
- Cost-effective to rent for short periods
- Various equipment levels from a single WC to a full shower row
- Rugged, easy-to-clean surfaces
! Points to consider
- Requires water and waste connections or a tank solution
- Higher rental and purchase price than plain room containers
- Needs regular cleaning, servicing and legionella prevention
- Without heating, frost can damage the plumbing
Equipment and options
- WCs, urinals, basins or wash trough
- Water heater
- Frost protection heating for pipes
- Extract fan
- Slip-resistant floor with floor drain
- Connections for fresh water, waste water and power
- Optional: showers, baby changing table, dispensers, tank system
Price guide
- Hire
- approx. €150 – 500 / month plus service
- Purchase used
- approx. €6,000 – 14,000
- Purchase new
- approx. €12,000 – 20,000
Rough orientation values without guarantee; prices vary by region, condition and market.
What to look out for
- Clarify connections in advance: is there a sewer and water at the site, or are tanks with an emptying service needed?
- For winter, plan frost protection heating and a way to drain the system.
- Plan the number of WCs by headcount and peak usage – break times are the bottleneck.
- Fix cleaning and disposal service in the hire contract.
- For public events include an accessible module.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sanitary container need a sewer connection?
Not necessarily. Without a sewer, fresh and waste water tanks are used and regularly filled and emptied. Over longer periods that costs more than a connection.
Can a sanitary container be used in winter?
Yes, with frost protection heating and insulated pipes. During longer idle periods the pipes should be drained.
Related guides
Planning with sanitary containers?
Compare sizes, costs and buying vs. renting in our guides.
