Off-grid toilets are not like regular toilets. And if you are new to the world of off-grid toilets, it can be daunting. There are many different types of off-grid toilets with different water, energy, and maintenance needs. But picking the right off-grid toilet does not have to be difficult. In this post, we will cover the best composting toilets for people who live off the grid.
We spoke with homesteaders and preppers about how they chose their off-grid toilets and which toilets are the best on the market. And based on our findings, the best overall off-grid toilet is the Nature’s Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet.
And if you have any questions before deciding on an off-grid toilet, we addressed 18 of the most common questions people ask about off-grid toilets in a past article.
Now, let’s jump into the review.
Nature’s Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet
Separett Villa 9215 AC/DC Composting Toilet
Thinktank Composting Toilet
The Nature’s Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet is a premium toilet designed to reduce odor and minimize environmental impact.
The Nature’s Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet is the composting toilet we used before moving to a property with a septic tank. But what makes this our top pick for an off-grid toilet is that it doesn’t smell (yes, really).
This composting toilet is designed to separate solid waste from urine and then uses a small fan to move the odor from the solid waste through a vent where the other end can be placed outside. Despite being designed to reduce odor, it is not perfect. You may still notice a smell coming from the toilet if it is not ventilated or cleaned properly.
The Nature’s Head Composting Toilet is also an eco-friendly composting toilet that helps reduce your environmental impact. In addition to helping you make nutrient-dense compost for your plants, these toilets are waterless and demand very little electricity to keep the small fan working. This makes the compost toilet a good option to help reduce your water and electrical consumption.
Additionally, it has a crank handle to mix composting material and keep it well-aerated.
In terms of maintenance, this composting toilet does not require much effort. The waste containers can be emptied and cleaned easily. Still, you should know it requires more upkeep than other options. It is designed for 1-2 two people and has a relatively small capacity compared to other options on this list.
The Nature’s Head Composting Toilet is expensive but a worthwhile off-grid toilet for tiny homes, RVs, boats, and off-grid properties. We recommend this as our top choice because it is eco-friendly, waterless, and requires little electricity, making it a good option for people looking to be off-grid and reduce their environmental impact.
Pro Tip: We suggest keeping a small spray bottle of organic distilled vinegar to sanitize and clean the toilet after every use. Also, if you intend to compost, it’s a good practice to use organic cleaning supplies since inorganic supplies may disrupt the composting process.
What I Like
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The Villa 9215 Composting Toilet is an electric composting toilet that is effective in reducing foul odors. and comes with a built-in battery so you can continue to use it when the power goes out.
The Separett Villa 9215 Composting Toilet is a self-contained toilet that is designed for odor reduction and off-grid uses. And it can also be used in a cabin or boat. We suggest against using it in an RV or tiny home because this toilet is relatively larger than other off-grid toilets.
The Villa 9215 Composting Toilet comes as a single piece and requires a little additional effort to set up the fan, vent hose, and composting container.
This composting toilet is also easy for us. It has a urine diverter and solid waste bin to separate human waste and reduce the smell. The crank handle on the side also allows you to mix the composting material, keeping the compost well-aerated.
Another benefit of this toilet is that it is designed to be odor free. The toilet uses the fan and vent hose to move bad odors outside.
This toilet does require power (either DC (12V) or AC (110V)) to operate the fan, but it also has an internal battery to ensure it can still function during a power outage.
One additional point that is often overlooked is customer support. Separett has great customer service that is available 4 days a week and can help resolve any issues you may be having with your toilet.
These toilets are designed for a family of 2-4 people so they need to be emptied and cleaned less frequently than other composting toilets on this list.
Although these toilets are made to be odor-free, it is not perfect. You may notice a bad smell if it is not properly cleaned or ventilated.
These toilets are also larger compared to other composting toilets, so they are not ideal for smaller living spaces.
In short, the Villa 9215 Composting Toilet is our runner-up choice because although it gets the job done, its large size limits where it can be used. It is designed to be odor-free, which means it has a ventilation fan, separates urine and waste, and has a built-in battery to continue ventilating the system even the power goes out. The toilet is also designed for 2-4 people, so it has a high storage capacity than other off-grid toilets. Still, the large size of this composting toilet may be inconvenient for people in small spaces, and it has a higher energy consumption than other off-grid toilets.
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An off-grid toilet with a modern solution to odor reduction and composting.
The Thinktank Composting Toilet is a high-quality toilet that is not only modern but is also effective at reducing odor and minimizing environmental impact. It is a self-contained dry toilet, making it an ideal toilet for people living in a remote location, tiny home, or boat.
After first looking at this product, one of the defining features is its compact size. This toilet is designed to have a sleek, modern look, as well as fit in small spaces. It is also highly durable and made from hard plastic and stainless steel. In fact, it’s been tested to withstand 350 pounds of pressure.
This toilet has a unique feature in which the gasket seal on the toilet seat can entrap foul odors but also keeps insects out.
Another feature of the Thinktank composting toilet is that it draws ventilation from the outside instead of within the same room as the toilet. This allows for odor reduction and a more hygienic environment. The toilet has two high-quality fans; where one is intended for ventilation, and the other is an intake fan to draw fresh air into a space. Each fan has a 150,000-hour lifespan.
One of the main drawbacks of the Thinktank toilet is how often it requires emptying. These toilets are meant for 1-2 people, and given their relatively smaller size, it needs to be cleaned frequently to maintain a sanitary environment.
Also, this is an easy-to-install toilet, but it does require some basic plumbing and electrical skills to set up properly. People without experience may need to ask for help from a plumber or contractor to install it properly.
In short, the Thinktank Composting Toilet is our pick for the most hygienic composting toilet because it is a modern solution to making a clean and effective off-grid toilet. This toilet has two fans to reduce odor, is made from high-quality material, and is easy to clean. The main downside of this toilet is that it is designed for 1-2 people, so you may find yourself cleaning it often. Another downside of this composting toilet is that it demands more energy than other toilets to function properly.
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A mobile off-grid toilet and sink to provide a hygienic environment for campers, RVs, and on boats.
The YITAHOME Portable Sink and Toilet is a 2 in 1 solution for those who need a mobile off-grid toilet. This off-grid toilet solution is designed for campers and hikers but can be used on a boat, RV, or as a backup toilet in an emergency.
What makes this toilet unique is the design and the fact it comes with a sink. This toilet is designed for mobility and hygiene. It has a compact size, and it is lightweight, so it can easily be carried, moved, and set up. Also, it comes with a 4.5-gallon water tank and a 1.3-gallon waste tank.
The sink can be used for hand washing, but also for washing dishes and food. This can be a convenient sink for people in an RV or at a camping site. Although this is a nice benefit, 4.5 gallons goes by quickly. So keep in mind that you will have to make a few refills a week, which can become inconvenient.
The composting toilet itself comes with a foot pump which allows for hands-free flushing. Some people report having trouble with the foot pump. It can be uncomfortable at times and requires some force to flush the toilet.
This system is also made from high-density HDPE material, which means it is anti-leakage and prevents foul odors from escaping the toilet. It also means the toilet can withstand lots of pressure, and it can be used for a long-time before needing a replacement.
Also, we want to emphasize that this toilet and sink can also be set up in minutes without needing any additional tools. You also will not need the help of a plumber or electrician to do basic installation work.
In summary, this is a good off-grid toilet option for users on-the-go, and in need of a short-term toilet solution. This toilet has many great features, including a separate sink, mobility, foot pump, and durable HDPE material. But it also has its drawbacks, including low capacity and difficult-to-use foot pump. Still, we recommend this toilet and sink combo for people who need a toilet for the campsite, RV, or need a backup toilet at their primary residence.
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A modern, sleek, and elegant off-grid toilet for campers and RVs.
Dometic’s 320 Series RV Toilet is an off-grid toilet made specifically for RVs and Campers. This toilet is designed with the intention of being modern, sleek, and elegant.
The most noticeable aspect of this toilet is the design. The toilet has an elongated base, giving it a standard toilet height of 18 inches. But comes in 14 inches as well.
Also, this toilet is made from ceramic, making it more durable than the standard plastic toilets found in most RVs. The ceramic material also makes it easier to wash away stains and odors than other materials.
This toilet also has a powerful full-rim flush but uses very little water to wash away waste. The 320 series relies on just 1/8 of a gallon per flush. Flushing is enabled by an ergonomic foot pedal.
One of the main downsides of this toilet is the seating. After use for an extended period of time, the toilet seat can be uncomfortable.
In short, the Dometic 320 Series RV Toilet is our top off-grid toilet for RVs because it is specifically designed for campers and RVs. It is made from a hard ceramic material, making it easier to clean. It also has a full-rim flush feature that uses very little water to remove waste from the surface. This toilet is reliable, hygienic, and durable, so we recommend it for people who have a camper or RV.
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A non-stick, non-electric, dry composting toilet that provides a short-term toilet solution .
The Earthec Non-stick Sanitary Toilet is our overall best-value pick. It is a dry composting toilet that is lightweight, portable, eco-friendly, and easy to clean. These features make it a reliable toilet for a campsite, RV, boat, and on an off-grid location.
There are a lot of unique features to this toilet, but our favorite is the non-stick surface. For starters, the non-stick surface makes cleaning easy. Plus, the non-stick feature also prevents bacteria buildup. Since dry toilets do not use water or added chemicals to wash down waste, this non-stick surface is a nice benefit to using an off-grid toilet.
This toilet is also made to be airtight, so it is effective in sealing odor and preventing leakage. Still, it is not perfect, and the odor does escape from the toilet occasionally. Additionally, the material is made from plastic and is not as durable as other materials. So, the material can break easily.
Another benefit of this toilet is that it does not require electricity or water to use, so if you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact, this is a good toilet to use. It also makes this toilet reliable in an off-grid location.
If you are accustomed to using traditional toilets, using this one will take a while to get used to. And generally speaking, it takes a while to transition from a regular flush toilet to a dry toilet.
Overall, the Earthtec Non-Stick Sanitary Toilet is our value pick because it is effective, portable, lightweight, eco-friendly, and easy to clean. We recommend this toilet to people looking for a short-term off-grid toilet solution. Although it is a sanitary and easy-to-use toilet, it is not designed to last a long time.
What I Like
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Once you have a composting toilet, it is also important to maintain it and use the right supplies for a hygienic environment. When you purchase a composting toilet, also consider stocking up on the following supplies.
Composting material helps build healthier compost by adding essential nutrients to your compost. The best composting materials to use for your off-grid toilet are sawdust or coconut coir.
Organic cleaning vinegar is a natural cleaning product that can be used to sanitize the toilet. We recommend using this because it is an organic cleaning product that will not harm the compost.
Biodegradable toilet paper allows you to reduce your pollution and means the toilet paper will not harm the compost.
Velcro, toilet paper holder, and disposable toilet seat covers can all be used to improve your experience when using an off-grid toilet.
You should do a deep cleaning of a composting toilet every 2-3 months using organic cleaning material. Any non-organic cleaning material may disrupt the composting process. Also, after each use, we also suggest spraying the composting toilet with organic distilled vinegar to sanitize the toilet and reduce any foul odors.
Although composting toilets are allowed in most states, some states have specific laws in place limiting what is permitted with off-grid toilets. To learn more about your specific state, consider reading this article from Save Our Water Rebates.
Properly maintaining a composting toilet means you can reduce foul odors, and the toilet continues to work properly. This can be done in four easy ways:
Getting a working off-grid toilet is an important step in becoming self-sufficient. In doing so, you can reduce your energy and water consumption, reducing your overall environmental impact over the long run.
And you get the added benefit of making your own compost for non-edible plants to help them grow strong and healthy.
In this post, we covered our favorite composting toilets based on our experiences and conversations with experts. And we found the Nature’s Head Composting Toilet was our overall favorite, followed by the Seperatt Villa 9215 as a close second. But we decided on Nature’s Head Composting Toilet because of its size and ability to be used in more places. Plus. the Nature’s Head Composting Toilet has a lower energy consumption which means it does more to reduce our environmental impact.
If you enjoyed this article, consider reading our related posts on Off-Grid Plumbing to learn more about off-grid toilets, showers, and sinks. And if you are considering purchasing other off-grid appliances for your home, you can learn about must-have appliances on Soulful Prepper as well.
When evaluating off-grid toilets against one another, we considered different qualitative and quantitative metrics to evaluate the effectiveness and purpose of a specific toilet. For qualitative measurements, we surveyed survivalists, preppers, homesteaders, and digital nomads to determine which toilets they use, why they use them, and their experience with them. In terms of quantitative measurements, we evaluated the toilets based on price, waste capacity, odor reduction capabilities, maintenance requirements, energy consumption, and material durability.
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