Thetford Porta Potti Toilets

The Thetford Porta Potti range covers self-contained portable toilets that work without any plumbing, drainage or mains water connection. The collection brings together the 100 Series (Qube 145 and 165), the 300 Series (Qube 335, 345 and 365), and the 500 Series Excellence (565P manual and 565E electric flush), alongside Thetford carry bags, hold-down kits and replacement parts. Each unit has a sealed flush water tank on top and a detachable waste-holding tank below, which lifts off with a quick-release catch for emptying at any chemical disposal point. They're used in touring caravans, campervans, motorhomes, boats, festival tents, awning toilet tents, garden offices and as backup toilets at home during renovations.

What size Porta Potti do I need?

Choose by waste tank size and seat height. The 335 is the smallest at 313mm tall with a 10-litre waste tank, designed to fit under campervan rear seats. The 145 and 345 stand at 330mm with a 12-litre waste tank for short trips. The 165 and 365 share the same 330mm height but hold 21 litres of waste, giving around 56 flushes between empties. The 565 Excellence sits tallest with a 443mm seat height and a 21-litre waste tank.

Within the Qube range you'll find three flush types. The Qube 145 and 165 use a bellows pump, a soft rubber dome you press down to deliver flush water. The Qube 335, 345 and 365 use a piston pump for a stronger, more controlled flush. The 565P Excellence uses a piston pump on a taller body, and the 565E Excellence runs a battery-powered electric flush with hidden controls, four AA batteries and an integrated toilet roll holder. The collection is entirely Thetford-branded, the company that invented the portable toilet in the late 1960s and remains the dominant manufacturer in this segment. You'll also find Thetford Storage Bags sized to fit the 165/365/565 group and a separate version for the 145/335/345 group, plus hold-down kits for the 165/365 and 335, and replacement seals, blades, pumps and pour-out spouts.

Caravanners use a Porta Potti as a night-time backup when site facilities are a walk away or closed off-season. Motorhome owners often keep one as a secondary toilet alongside the fixed cassette. Campervan converters fit the 335 or 345 under the rear bench or rock-and-roll bed, where the lower profile clears the seat base. Tent campers, festival-goers, boaters and wild campers rely on them as a standalone toilet, and they're popular for fishing trips, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions where wild camping requires waste containment, and as a temporary loo during home renovations or for people recovering from surgery who struggle with stairs. If you're kitting out a full toilet area, pair the Porta Potti with toilet chemicals (Aqua Kem Blue or Green for the waste tank, Aqua Rinse Pink for the flush), Thetford Aquasoft toilet roll and a toilet tent for outdoor privacy.

Start with the storage space available. Measure the height of the cupboard or under-seat void before buying, since the 335 at 313mm is the only model that fits most low-profile spaces. The 145 and 345 sit at 330mm, the 165 and 365 stand at 408mm, and the 565 is the tallest at around 448mm. Next, work out how often you'll empty it. The 145 and 345 hold 12 litres of waste, giving roughly 27 to 33 flushes before emptying per Thetford. The 165, 365 and 565 hold 21 litres, closer to 56 flushes between empties. For two adults on a weekend trip, the 21-litre units are the practical minimum. Entry-level pricing covers the bellows-flush 145 and 165, mid-range the piston-flush 335, 345 and 365 (with hold-down kit compatibility on the 335 and 165/365), and premium the 565P and 565E Excellence with their taller seat, integrated roll holder and dual level indicators. All current Porta Potti models carry a Thetford 3-year warranty in the UK.

Common mistakes are buying for height before checking the storage dimension, and assuming all models share the same flush. The 565E's electric flush is the only one that needs power, drawing from four AA batteries inside the unit, so factor that in if you're off-grid for weeks. Don't use household bleach or kitchen cleaners on the bowl, as these damage the lip seal and blade mechanism. Use a dedicated waste-tank chemical (Aqua Kem Green is septic-tank safe for sites that ban Aqua Kem Blue) and dose the flush tank with Aqua Rinse Pink to keep the seal lubricated and prevent limescale. Empty the waste tank every four to five days even if it isn't full, particularly in summer, and rinse with fresh water after each empty. For travel, fit the hold-down kit (available for the 165/365 and 335, with the 565 using a separate floor plate) to stop the unit sliding around the floor.