Key takeaways
- Fans in composting toilets wear over years; some owners keep a spare.
- Liner bags tear if thin. Use heavy-duty bags.
- Too much liquid in a composting bin causes odor. Keep urine diverted or use enough bulking material.
- No ventilation is the leading cause of smell in any waterless system.
- Skipping local rules. Check permitting and disposal rules for composting and incinerating toilets.
- Harsh cleaners kill composting organisms; use mild cleaners.
The best waterless toilet depends on how long you need it: a bag-based or bucket toilet such as the Reliance Luggable Loo suits emergencies and short trips, a urine-diverting composting toilet such as Nature’s Head or the Separett Villa suits cabins, vans and off-grid homes, and an electric incinerating toilet such as the Incinolet suits remote sites that need to avoid handling waste. All three work with no water supply and no sewer.
For storm preparedness, waterless toilets matter because a failed pump, a boil-water order or a flooded sewer line can leave you without a working flush for days. This guide separates the main types of waterless toilets, compares leading models by capacity and maintenance, and gives you a quick way to match a type to your situation.
Quick Comparison of the Best Waterless Toilets
| Pick | Type | Best for | Key specs | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Luggable Loo | Bucket / bag | Best for emergencies | 5-gal pail, snap-on seat, about 3 lb, no power | Budget |
| Cleanwaste Go Anywhere | Folding bag toilet | Best for go-bags | Folds flat, gelling-powder bags | Budget |
| Nature’s Head | Composting, urine-diverting | Best overall off-grid | Hand crank, 12V fan, about 4 to 6 weeks for two people | Premium |
| Separett Villa 9215 | Composting, urine-diverting | Best for cabins | No mixing, small fan, solids to a bag or bin | Premium |
| Sun-Mar Excel | Self-contained composting | Best for full-time homes | Large capacity, electric fan and optional heater | Luxury |
| Incinolet | Electric incinerating | Best for no-handling remote sites | Reduces waste to a small amount of ash; needs substantial power | Luxury |
Specifications are approximate and taken from manufacturer listings; confirm capacity and power requirements on the current spec sheet.
The Four Types of Waterless Toilet
- Bucket and bag toilets. The simplest design. Waste goes into a bag, gelled or absorbed, and you dispose of it. Cheap and reliable, but you create bagged waste.
- Urine-diverting composting toilets. Liquids and solids go to separate containers; solids dry or compost. Low odor, but you must empty bins.
- Self-contained composting toilets. Larger units where waste composts inside the unit, usually with a fan and sometimes a heater.
- Incinerating toilets. Electric (or gas) burn waste to ash. They need serious power and ventilation.
Best for Emergencies: Reliance Luggable Loo
A pail, a seat and a lid. It stores bags and absorbent inside, needs no tools, and costs little. It is the benchmark for short-term waterless sanitation in a storm. The weak spots are the low seat height and the need for bags and powder; stock enough for your household.
Best for Go-Bags: Cleanwaste Go Anywhere
A folding stand with gelling-powder bags that packs flat. It suits vehicle kits and evacuation bags. The bags are consumable, and the stand is light, so check its weight rating.
Best Overall Off-Grid: Nature’s Head
Nature’s Head is a self-contained urine-diverting composting toilet, widely used in boats, vans and cabins. Solids go into a bin with a bulking material such as coir; a hand crank mixes it; a fan vents odor outdoors; and the liquid bottle is emptied every day or two. The maker offers a five-year warranty. Capacity for two full-time users is commonly cited as four to six weeks between solids emptying.
Best for Cabins: Separett Villa
Separett Villa separates liquid and solids and uses a fan to dry the solids. There is no crank and no bulking material to mix, which makes it very easy to operate. It needs a small 12V or mains supply for the fan and a place to compost the bagged solids. It works well in cold climates because it does not hold water.
Best for Full-Time Homes: Sun-Mar Excel
A larger composting system suited to year-round family use. It offers high capacity and automated drying, but it costs the most among composting models and needs space and power for its fan and heater.
Best for No Handling: Incinolet
The Incinolet burns waste to a small amount of sterile ash using electric heat. It is the lowest-maintenance option for remote sites such as hunting cabins and construction camps. The trade-offs are high power draw during each burn cycle (it needs a dedicated circuit or a large generator or inverter system), a vent to the outside and a higher price.
Which Waterless Toilet Fits Your Situation?
| Situation | Best type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Storm kit, 1 to 7 days | Bucket / bag toilet | Cheap, no setup, no power |
| Evacuation or vehicle kit | Folding bag toilet | Packs flat |
| Weekend cabin, no plumbing | Urine-diverting composting | Low odor, minimal work |
| Full-time off-grid couple | Nature’s Head or Separett | Weeks between emptying |
| Family of four, year-round | Self-contained composting | Larger capacity |
| Remote site with strong power | Incinerating | No waste handling |
Cost per Use: A Worked Example
Consumables change the math. Suppose two people use a bag toilet for 14 days at about five uses each per day. That is 140 uses. If a bag system costs roughly the equivalent of a budget purchase and each bag-and-powder set handles two or three uses, you need 50 to 70 sets. A composting toilet has a high upfront cost but almost no consumables beyond bulking material, so over months of use it becomes cheaper per use, while the bag system wins for short emergencies. For an incinerating toilet, remember that each burn cycle consumes electricity, often a kilowatt-hour or more according to the manufacturer, which matters if you are running a generator.
What Wears Out and Common Mistakes
- Fans in composting toilets wear over years; some owners keep a spare.
- Liner bags tear if thin. Use heavy-duty bags.
- Too much liquid in a composting bin causes odor. Keep urine diverted or use enough bulking material.
- No ventilation is the leading cause of smell in any waterless system.
- Skipping local rules. Check permitting and disposal rules for composting and incinerating toilets.
- Harsh cleaners kill composting organisms; use mild cleaners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best waterless toilet for emergencies?
A bucket-style toilet like the Reliance Luggable Loo is the most practical emergency waterless toilet. It is inexpensive, needs no power, and works with bags and absorbent. For longer outages or off-grid living, a urine-diverting composting toilet is a better long-term fit.
Are waterless toilets sanitary?
Yes, when used as directed with proper ventilation, hand washing and safe disposal. Sealed bags, urine diversion and drying all limit odor and contact with waste. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and local rules for disposal.
Do waterless toilets smell?
Well-designed ones do not smell much. Odor control relies on urine diversion, a ventilation fan, bulking material or absorbent powder and regular emptying. Smell usually points to a blocked vent, a wet bin or a bag that was left too long.
Do waterless toilets work in freezing weather?
Yes, because they hold no water that can freeze. Composting action slows in the cold, so a heated space or insulation helps, and some models offer optional heaters. Always keep the vent clear of ice.
How much does it cost to run an incinerating toilet?
It depends on the model and your electric rate, but each cycle typically uses a significant amount of electricity, often around a kilowatt-hour or more per burn according to maker specifications. Calculate this before relying on one with a generator.
Can I use a waterless toilet in an apartment during a blackout?
A bucket or bag toilet is the practical choice indoors for a few days, provided you can store tied bags and dispose of them later. Composting models require ventilation to the outdoors, which is harder in an apartment.
