[amazon table=”3479″]
It’s commonplace these days to go into any home and find that there’s a composting system in place.
However, unlike the standard fruit and vegetable scraps that go into most household compost piles, there’s a new trend emerging that sees a whole new manner of materials being composted.
Composting toilets are becoming a big thing in the environmentally friendly home, and although it might sound unpleasant, these devices have come a long way to make them more convenient, enjoyable, and easy to use than ever before.
They come with a range of benefits, most importantly being able to conserve water, and are designed for all kinds of setups.
What is the best composting toilet on the market today?
Composting toilets come in three main styles: self-contained, batch composting, and continuous composting, so depending on your needs, there’s likely to be one that suits best. These toilets should be convenient, easy to use, and as minimally impactful as possible, so ticking all of these boxes is crucial.
If you live somewhere with water restrictions or want to reduce how much water your household uses, composting toilet systems are the way to go.
With such a huge market to consider and so many options, we’ve compiled a list of the best compost toilet options around and what each of them brings to the table.
A composting toilet is a great idea for all kinds of abodes, whether it’s an RV, tiny house, or your regular suburban home.
These are our recommendations for the best composting toilet for all of these purposes and those that fit within everyone’s budgets, with a little more about their best and worst points.
Best Composting Toilet – Reviews & Buying guide for 2020
Best Overall: Porta Potti Curve
- Size: 17” x 17 x 15”
- Type: Portable toilet
- Volume: 5.5 gallons
Porta Potti is one of the most trusted names in portable toilets, so it’s no surprise that they’ve won our composting toilet review with their Curve model.
This portable toilet is built to resemble your toilet at home with a large bowl and comfortable seat but it uses minimal water and stores the waste underneath until you’re ready to empty it. Designed for home, RVs, camping, tiny houses, and anything else you need it for, it’s a truly versatile vessel.
What makes this such an amazing choice is that just one tank of water will give you over 60 flushes with the Porta Potti Curve.
When you’re trying to save water running costs or don’t have any tap water to use, having something so efficient is a godsend, and can make a real difference. Some people mentioned using some water to fill the bowl before using it to save from making a mess, and even doing this will give you days of flushing capabilities.
On the downside, it can be a pain to set up and get right, with some users stating they had to read through the manual quite a bit to get it working.
There’ll likely be some trial and error with this composting toilet so don’t go out on the road or anywhere with it unless you’ve experimented first. As far as the easiest and quickest composting toilets go, this isn’t one of the greatest.
This issue aside, there are loads of features worth mentioning on the Porta Potti Curve, with the most impressive being the water tank and carrying handle. This makes it easy to empty whenever you need and minimizes mess and spills.
The toilet was designed to be completely odorless and leak-free for your peace of mind, so you don’t have to worry about nasty smells or messes that come with some other types of portable toilets.
The Curve’s tank holds around 55 gallons of water which is enough for days of use, and you can save a whole lot of water using this approach.
Porta Potti has built-in an integrated holder to keep your toilet paper close by and an electric flush for your convenience, making it the best composting toilet for off-grid use that still feels like home.
If you’re looking for a handy and eco-friendly alternative to your usual toilet, the Porta Potti Curve is our top choice.
For the ultimate in cleanliness and conservation when it comes to composting toilets, the Porta Potti Curve won’t let you down.
Runner Up: Camco Portable Toilet
- Size: 15.5 x 14 x 16”
- Type: Portable toilet
- Volume: 5.3 gallons
When you’re shopping for the best compost toilet for RV and outdoor use, something as basic as the Camco Portable Toilet is a good pick.
There’s nothing fancy to this unit but it gets the job done, and beats having to use the bathroom outdoors. With a 5.3-gallon holding tank for waste and 2.5-gallon flush tank, you can fill it with clean water and use it for days on end without ever needing to fill it again.
What customers loved most about this, aside from the seriously low price tag, was how pleasantly it smelled.
Even after days of use, people didn’t smell a thing, which is a testament to how well the sealing slide valve works on the tank. It operates with a simple latch that keeps everything closed off, so you won’t get the usual nasty smell that comes with many dry toilet models.
The big letdown of this toilet was a lack of waste hose attached to the holding tank, which meant eventually you were going to smell everything.
Although the tank detaches from the main system, it’s not the easiest thing to empty, and when you’re trying to get rid of a few days of waste, you want all the help you can get. This might take a learning curve to get right, and in the meantime, you need to be prepared to go slowly and carefully.
The Camco Portable Toilet is a durable system for such a low price, and although smaller measuring 15.5 x 14. X 16 inches, it’s more comfortable than most portable toilets out there.
The seat width is 13 inches which gives you ample space, and you can keep everything closed up whenever it’s not in use.
The tank and toilet are attached with latches that hold them in place, so even if this is in your RV or going on the road, you don’t have to worry about it moving anywhere.
If you’re after a smaller model, Camco makes a 2.6 gallon that’s just as effective, but the 5.3 is more reasonably priced.
If you want to give a composting toilet a try but don’t want to spend a fortune, the Camco Portable Toilet is a great option. You’ll be hard-pressed finding a better bargain elsewhere. This is a small and easy way to reduce your water waste and a convenient toilet option that beats going in the bush.
Best Composting Toilet for RV: Nature’s Head Self Composting Toilet
- Size: 22 x 20.5 x 21.7”
- Type: Self-composting
- Volume: 2.2 gallons
Traveling in an RV is all about living off the grid, and what better way to do just that than with a composting toilet. Our pick for the best composting toilet for RV is the Nature’s Head Self Composting Toilet, offering a more permanent solution to this type of bathroom accessory.
This toilet holds 2.2 gallons of waste in the liquid tank, and even more in the larger waste tank, so it’s one of the bigger options for your RV.
According to customers, this was the most efficient in terms of water and waste storage, only needing to be emptied every four to six weeks for two people.
If you travel regularly in your RV and need a water-efficient option, there’s no better choice than this, and it saves a whole lot of time from emptying and filling compared to others.
However, for such an expensive option, it could do with an improvement in the liquid waste area. Some users found that the smell of urine became overpowering after a few days and needed emptying, compared to the solid waste compartment which never gave off any odors.
If you’re not interested in having to do this every few days, choosing something with a better liquid storage waste system might be better.
The Nature’s Head Self Composting Toilet measures 22 x 20. X 21.7 inches which makes it one of the biggest we’ve reviewed, with a weight capacity of 300lbs per user.
The installation is easy and it requires no ongoing maintenance, so it’s perfect for people who want a hands-off composting toilet experience.
Because of its strength and durability, it’s a good pick for the best composting toilet for cabin and house use as well, and not just for people on the road.
With solid construction, it would perform as a permanent toilet if you wanted to move your house off the grid, and it’s made with a tough granite material that can withstand the test of time.
Nature’s Head Self Composting Toilet is not a cheap option, but since it’s designed to be a more permanent fixture in your RV or home, it’s worth the money.
You’ll also get Nature’s Head’s five-year warranty for peace of mind and free shipping and returns offered by Amazon. For an RV composting toilet that’s kind to the planet, the Nature’s Head is our favorite find.
Runner Up: Air Head Composting Toilet
- Size: 19 x 19 ¼ x 12 ½”
- Type: Self-composting
- Volume: 5 gallons
If size is an issue in your RV but you don’t want to give up on the benefits of this eco-friendly bathroom amenity, the Air Head Composting Toilet is a great find.
This is priced a bit lower and a lot smaller than other toilets, but still gets the job done. Measuring around 19 x 19 ¼ x 12 ½”, it’s a compact size perfect for RVs and small cabins and weighs less than 20lbs so it’s easy to set up and move around.
The best thing about this toilet is how quickly it breaks down waste and composts it compared to other portable toilets that operate mainly to save water.
People were amazed at how minimal the odors were which was nice when traveling with a toilet on long distances, and there’s nothing offensive or unpleasant about it, even after weeks of use from multiple people.
As far as comfort goes, the Air Head Composting Toilet doesn’t have a lot to offer and people weren’t thrilled about it.
The toilet was designed to be a compact size and doesn’t seem to have the user in mind when it comes to luxury, so customers weren’t impressed with how it felt to sit on it.
If you’re not someone who’s bothered by this when choosing a toilet, you likely won’t care about the comfort level, otherwise, you’ll want to upgrade.
To mount your composting toilet, you can choose a wall to save space, and this works just as well in your RV.
You’ll need around 20 inches of width to make room for the crank handle, but this is a crucial part of the product that helps to get rid of the waste. As an ultra-efficient composting toilet, it’ll work quickly and thoroughly to break down whatever’s in it.
The Air Head Composting Toilet has been around for 12 years and is a favorite for those in the RV world. When it comes time to empty it, you can remove the liquid tank separately without touching the solids, giving you even more use from it.
The toilet is made with an opaque liquid bottle that lets you keep track of the water levels, and it comes with everything you need including a hose filter, fan, and toilet.
If you need a compact composting toilet for your RV and don’t mind something lacking in comfort, the Air Head is a great find. Although not the fanciest toilet around, it is compact and efficient and would serve any eco-friendly RV driver well.
Best Composting Toilet for Tiny House: Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet
- Size: 17.75 x 20.75 x 21.5”
- Type: Dry Composting Toilet
- Volume: NA
Living in a tiny house is all about efficiency, and the most efficient and environmentally friendly toilet we found for this purpose is the Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet.
This toiler operates with a crank handle to assist with the composting process and make it faster and more efficient, for people who don’t have to save on size so much.
According to customers, their favorite thing about this toilet was how much it resembled a standard toilet, but with the added bonus of being friendly to the planet. It is a dry toilet in every sense of the word and doesn’t require running water to use, so there’s minimal work from you to get it going.
However, people have mentioned a very slight odor left behind, mainly from urine and the liquid waste tank.
There are some things you can do to prevent that, and some recommended by Nature’s Head in their instruction manual, but it’s not an issue you want to deal with when you’re installing a permanent composting toilet in your home.
Nature’s Head has created their Composting Toilet to be of the highest standard and it’s made with stainless steel hardware for longevity and durability. The toilet is self-contained and diverts liquid waste away, while it quickly composts solid waste, and is designed to be as hands-off as possible.
Weighing around 28lbs, it’s one of the heavier options, but this further proves its quality and makes it a better pick for somewhere permanent like a tiny house or cabin.
To set up the toilet takes minimal effort, and it can be used as a permanent structure in tiny houses or cabins with an aim to reduce ongoing maintenance.
The measurements of the toilet are 17.75 x 20.75 x 21.5” so it’s much the same as a regular toilet, just with more benefits to the environment and your water use. Included with the toilet you’ll also get a 12v power plug, bottle cap, and five-foot hose, giving you everything needed to set it up.
Nature’s Head offers a five-year warranty on this toilet making it an impressive purchase, and one that you can feel risk-free about purchasing.
To get yourself a toilet that looks and acts like the real deal but without the use of water, the Nature’s Head Dry Composting Toilet is one of the best.
The FAQs of Composting Toilets
The sound of a composting toilet might not be so appealing at first, but when you see how far these devices have come, it seems like the best option for an environmentally friendly home.
If you’re still unsure about the composting toilet reviews and want to learn more about how they work, we’ve got the answers to some FAQs that can do just that.
What Is A Composting Toilet?
Sometimes referred to as a dry toilet, a composting toilet is one that’s set up to operate without the use of water.
These dry toilets collect human waste and then allow it to break down naturally, with the decomposition process doing all of the work, in a way that aims to reduce any unpleasant smells or signs that might otherwise be left behind.
How Does A Composting Toilet Work?
There are a few different styles of composting toilets, each with their other method of composting.
A continuous composting toilet is a popular option that moves the excrement slowly through a chamber as it decomposes, being removed from the chamber when it reaches the end and has turned into compost.
How To Use A Composting Toilet?
A composting toilet that’s been installed correctly can be used just like you would a regular, flushing toilet. There’s a button there that allows the waste to fall through to the chamber or area where it composts, so you get the look and feel of a regular toilet as well.
Additional cleaning and maintenance may be required to ensure that it remains hygienic and free from odors, depending on the style.
How To Make A Composting Toilet?
There are DIY methods for creating a dry toilet for yourself, for the purposes of camping or other outdoor activities, but as ready-made systems are more affordable than ever, it’s usually easier to purchase one without the hassle.
These come in many styles and sizes to suit your needs, so you can get one that’s suitable for your requirements.
A Unique Way to Compost
Gone are the days when the only composting you could do at home was in the backyard with your food scraps.
The composting toilet system is set to change the way we compost and has a dramatically positive impact on how much water the average household uses, and wastes, each year.
With our help and recommendations, you’ll be able to equip your home, RV, or other accommodation setups with the best compost toilet system around.
Something so simple yet effective as one of these toilets will make a huge difference, and let you know that you’re going above and beyond to make your mark and reduce your footprint on the planet.
