Campervan Toilets and Showers: Options, Pros and Cons

The washroom is the most personal choice in any campervan. Some owners swear by a full cassette toilet and in-van shower; others happily use site facilities and keep the space for living. Neither is wrong — but knowing the trade-offs helps you choose a van that matches how you actually travel.

The cassette toilet: the UK standard

A cassette toilet is a sealed toilet with a removable waste tank you empty at a chemical disposal point. It is the most common UK fit because it is simple, odour-controlled with the right chemicals, and independent of mains plumbing.

• Pros: works anywhere, empties in two minutes, no site-dependent plumbing.
• Cons: the tank needs emptying every few days, chemicals cost money, and the space could be living area.

Porta-Potti and no toilet at all

A porta-potti is a free-standing cassette toilet you can stow in a locker. It saves floor space but must be carried to a disposal point. Many small campervans have no toilet at all — fine for weekends on serviced sites, a headache for wild camping. If you buy a van without a toilet, a porta-potti at £40–£120 is the honest stopgap.

Showers: in-van vs site facilities

An in-van shower with a hot-water heater is a luxury that costs space, water and battery. Wet room showers (where the whole small room is the shower) are compact but leave everything damp; separate shower cubicles are rare in panel vans. The alternatives — site showers or a solar shower bag at £15–£30 — cost nothing in van space but add a walk in the rain.

• In-van shower pros: privacy, speed, no site queue, works off-grid with the right water.
• In-van shower cons: wet room = condensation, water tank runs out fast, heater adds weight and cost.
• Site facilities: zero van space, often excellent on UK club sites, but closed or busy in winter.

Emptying and cleaning basics

Always empty cassettes at a designated chemical disposal point — usually at sites, service points or public toilets — never a normal drain. Use a quality cassette chemical to control odours, and give the tank a proper rinse with fresh water after each empty. A tiny bottle of tank cleaner and a pair of gloves live in the washroom cabinet.

Choosing a washroom layout

Think about who uses the van. Couples doing long trips usually want a cassette toilet at minimum. Families with young children want a shower. Day-van users and festival-goers are often fine with a porta-potti and site showers. If you are still deciding, browse campervans for sale and compare the washroom layouts across conversions and coachbuilts.

The best washroom is the one you will actually empty and clean. If you would rather queue for a site shower than carry a cassette, buy accordingly.