Composting toilets are ecological, practical, convenient and simple to use, and for tiny house owners – as well as those who live off-grid, those with RVs or those who own boats – they can be the perfect solution to the problem of where to go when nature calls.
Nowadays, there are quite a few models to choose from, and finding the right one can be a challenge – so here are our top picks for best tiny house composting toilet to help you find the right one for your needs.
Best Tiny House Composting Toilet
1. Separett Villa 9215 AC/DC
If you’re looking for a reliable dry composting toilet for installation in a tiny home, the Separett Villa 9215 should be worth a look.
It’s a waterless, urine-diverting toilet system that dries the solid waste and vents away odors, which means you won’t notice any unpleasant smells from using it.
The dry solid waste is kept in a bucket, which usually needs to be emptied every three to four weeks, depending on the level of use. Liquid waste needs to be disposed of separately.
It’s a versatile toilet, and there are several possible installation configurations – for example, you can hook it up so that urine is disposed of automatically.
It also runs on both AC and DC power supplies, so you can simply connect it to your mains electricity, or you can run it off something like solar panels if you don’t have access to the electricity grid.
One big plus is that this model is specifically manufactured for the US market – other models by this company are made to EU specifications, making them more complicated to install in the US.
Something that some people might consider a downside is that this toilet doesn’t completely finish the composting process. Rather, it dries the waste and begins composting, but you’ll need to add the waste to your regular compost pile to complete the process.
Otherwise, you’ll need to take the waste and dispose of it elsewhere – but you won’t be able to spread it directly over your garden.
Also, it is a little on the expensive side, but for all the convenient features, most people will find the price reasonable.
In short, this is an effective, hygienic, odor-free toilet option that’s easy to install and operate and that will be a great solution in a range of situations – so if that sounds like the kind of thing you’re looking for, this could be a great pick.
Pros
- Waterless toilet – no need to connect to water supply
- Urine diverting – separates liquids and solids
- Runs on AC or DC – more flexibility for installation
- No smells – vent takes care of all odors
- Made for the US market – comes with standard US-sized fittings
Cons
- Waste not fully composted in toilet – needs to be removed and composted further
- Expensive model – although plenty of features to justify the price
2. Nature’s Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet
This composting toilet from Nature’s Head features a traditional design that’s simple but that gets the job done. It’s easy to install, and once in place, the fan does a great job of removing all odors, so you won’t need to worry about unpleasant smells emanating from your toilet.
Once it’s full, it’s easy to empty, and for two people using it, this will need to be done every month or so – its large capacity means you don’t have to empty it as often as some other models. It’s a urine-diverting model, and the urine needs to be removed once every couple of days.
One big plus here is that the company takes great pride in providing customer service and after-sales support, so you can rest assured that they will be there to help you if you need it. The toilet comes with a five-year warranty too, which means the company backs their product.
On the downside, it can be a fairly unpleasant job to empty the solids. However, as mentioned, you don’t need to do it too often, and if you use a bulking agent like coconut coir, it’s less unpleasant than emptying the septic tank of a chemical portable toilet.
Also, some people might find the system a little rudimentary, but there’s no reason to make things more complicated than they need to be, and it does the job it’s meant to do, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.
This toilet would be an ideal pick for anyone who wants an ecological alternative to a flushing toilet for a tiny house and who needs something that works without being connected to running water.
Pros
- Easy to install – most people will be able to do it themselves
- No odor – fan effectively removes all smells
- Large capacity – for less frequent emptying
- 5-year warranty – for extra peace of mind
- Company takes pride in customer support – there for you if you need help
Cons
- Rudimentary system – but no need to over-complicated things
- Can be a little unpleasant to empty – but something you get used to
3. Poo Pod Waterless Composting Toilet
The Poo Pod Waterless Composting Toilet is extremely simple both to install and to operate. It doesn’t need to be connected to the water or sewer system, and most people will be able to fit it without help – you may just need to cut a hole in the wall for the vent.
It features an innovative peat spreading system that allows you to control how much composting medium you use while also ensuring it is evenly spread – which, in turn, helps make composting more efficient.
There’s also a clever system for separating urine from poop – the urine goes to the back of the unit and then just needs to be drained out while the rest stays in place and turns into compost.
We also like the way this toilet is just like a regular toilet in size, so it’s comfortable to sit on and use.
That said, some people might find it a bit strange to use at first since the experience of pooping onto the composting medium instead of into water takes a bit of getting used to. However, most people will quickly adapt – and this is also an issue with most other composting toilets.
Also, the fan that’s included is a little small, and depending on your installation, you might prefer to swap it out for a better one.
However, these minor gripes aside, this is a composting toilet that could be ideal in a range of situations, including tiny houses and more. It’s an ecological toilet that’s easy to use and that sells at a very reasonable price point, making it another option to consider.
Pros
- Auto-drain system – effectively separates solid and liquid waste
- Waterless model – doesn’t need to be connected to water supply or sewage system
- Easy to set up – no plumbing required
- Standard toilet size – comfortable to use
- Peat spreading system – easy to control how much peat moss is used
Cons
- Included fan a little small – may be better to swap for a better one
- Strange to use at first – takes a little getting used to
4. SUN-MAR GTG TOILET
If you’re the kind of person who prefers to keep things simple, this composting toilet from Sun-Mar should be the kind of thing that appeals.
Installation is extremely easy, and you can have it ready to go in just a few minutes – although it might take a little longer to get the fan and vent set up.
When you use it, it separates solids and liquids, storing them each in a separate compartment. Then, when it’s time to empty either, the seat lifts off, making it super-easy to access the container you need.
Another plus is the unit’s aesthetics since it looks better than many of the other options out there. This might not be the most important consideration, but it’s still nice to have an attractive toilet rather than an ugly one in your tiny home.
On the downside, it is a little bulky, so be sure to check the dimensions to see if it will fit where you plan to use it.
Also, it doesn’t have any mechanism for churning, and the solid waste just sits in the bucket until you empty it. This means it isn’t particularly efficient at composting, and for something at this kind of price point, you might expect a little more functionality.
However, the big advantage here is the simplicity of this unit, and if that’s something you value highly, this is still a composting toilet that’s worth checking out.
Pros
- Attractive design – unlike some other uglier options
- Easy to clean – due to the simple design
- Separates liquids and solids – and easy to dispose of both
- Simple to install – ready to go in minutes
- Includes vent – to remove unpleasant smells
Cons
- Bulky toilet – takes up quite a bit of space
- No churning device – solids just sit in the waste bucket
5. Kentucky Rustic Crapper
For the simplest, most inexpensive composting toilet model, it’s hard to beat the candidly named Kentucky Rustic Crapper. It consists of the toilet base and a bucket for five gallons of waste, which you just need to empty whenever it gets full.
The toilet itself is an attractive unit in a rustic sort of way, and it’s portable, so you can take it anywhere you go – it’s suitable for tiny house installations but also for off-grid use, RVs, boats and more, and due to the extremely simple design, it’s easy to use and maintain.
Furthermore, it’s made by a small US company, so it’s a great option if you want to support homegrown businesses.
However, there are a couple of downsides to mention too.
This toilet doesn’t have a churning mechanism, so there’s no way to turn the wase. There’s also no ventilation, so the composting process isn’t particularly effective.
This means when you empty it, you’re essentially tipping out human waste mixed with whatever medium you add rather than true compost.
In addition, it doesn’t separate solid and liquid waste, which adds to the smell and also doesn’t help the composting process.
This is the kind of unit someone might choose if they are just looking for a rudimentary toilet solution for a tiny house. However, if you want a toilet that converts waste into ready-to-use compost, there are more effective, more sophisticated options to consider.
Pros
- Beautiful design – looks like a work of art
- Inexpensive option – very reasonable low price
- Portable unit – can be used almost anywhere
- Extremely simple design – easy to operate and maintain
- Made by a US-based small business – support local enterprises
Cons
- No churning device – not efficient at composting
- Doesn’t separate urine – all waste goes into the same bucket
6. OGO™ Compost Toilet
This composting toilet is an extremely well-designed unit, and although it’s certainly not cheap, for the quality and the functionality, it’s still extremely good value.
Among the outstanding features is the electric agitator, which removes the need to churn the waste by hand. The toilet also separates liquids and solids, and at 2.4 gallons, the urine compartment is larger than on most other similar units.
Something else we like is the indicator light that tells you when the urine tank is full and needs emptying.
Another positive for many people will be the unit’s small footprint, but at the same time, the rectangular shape might not appeal to everyone – it doesn’t look much like a toilet.
Also, although we like the electric agitator, there’s no way to crank it manually if you have no power, which may be a deal-breaker for some.
All in all, this is a high-quality composting toilet that’s worth the price you have to pay – and apart from the minor negatives we mentioned, most people will be very pleased with its performance.
Pros
- Electric agitator – no need to churn by hand
- Separates urine – and includes indicator light to tell you the level
- Large urine capacity – holds 2.4 gal of liquid
- Compact design – small footprint
- High-quality materials – built to last
Cons
- No manual crank – a problem if you have no power
- Strange shape – doesn’t look like a toilet
Several models to choose from
As you can see, when it comes to composting toilets, there’s no shortage of models to choose from, ranging from the very basic to the most advanced.
If you’ve decided a composting toilet is the solution you’ve been looking for but are having a hard time deciding which model to opt for, any of the picks in our review would be a great place to start your search.
