To help you find the best composting toilet for off grid or marine lifestyles, we have tried a multitude of top models, looking for easily accessible and self-contained designs made from high quality and ultra-durable components, including stainless steel. We also liked models that shipped with all necessary materials needed for installation, including vent hoses and fans, and those that reduced foul odors via a combination of methods. Finally, we admired items that began composting solids immediately. This is one of the best eco-friendly bathroom essentials.
The best product we tried was easily the Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet, which features hardware made entirely from stainless steel, a design that easily disassembles for emptying and a full-size seat, which we found to be extremely comfortable. We also liked that it arrived with all necessary installation materials and that the included low volume air circulation fan did a fantastic job at eliminating nasty odors associated with bathroom use. Keep reading to learn more about the Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet and the other models on this list.
Top 2 Best Composting Toilet
#1 Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet
Award: Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: Luxury design, manufactured with stainless steel hardware components, with a best-in-class ventilating fan that makes short work out of nasty odors and a composting system that performs quickly and efficiently.
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- Best luxury
- Ventilating fan does great job at eliminating odors
- Solids take up little space, thanks to quick composting
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- Not quite as small as number two pick
- Does not ship in one piece and requires slight installation
- Design makes placing item against wall somewhat difficult
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The Nature’s Head Self Contained Composting Toilet is the best luxury composting toilet on this list, thanks to a design that features stainless steel hardware components and many quality-of-life improvements over other available models. The built-in vent hose and ventilating fan does an absolutely fantastic job with the elimination of odors and the design allows for quick and efficient composting. As such, solids do not take up too much space in the toilet and liquids only need to be emptied every few days. The solid waste container in this high capacity compost toilet can take 90 uses before the need to empty it, since it has a peat moss starter that helps with decomposition. The Nature’s Head Toilet system uses a spider handle instead of a crank handle which is better because it uses less energy and space, ideal for a cabin, RV or a tiny house.
Though this Nature’s Head Composting Toilet model does ship with all necessary installation materials, the toilet does require a small bit of set-up, though we found it to be relatively painless. Additionally, the design of this self-contained composting toilet folds out for the purposes of emptying liquids, which is handy but does make it difficult to place the toilet directly against a wall. It is easy to keep clean with the best toilet bowl cleaner as well. If you want to clean up when showering, use the best body lotion.
#2 Sustainable Village Sun-Mar GTG Composting Toilet
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: An extremely compact form factor, making it perfect for off grid lifestyles, with a design that automatically separates solids from liquids and an incredibly simple install that only takes a couple of minutes.
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- Extremely compact design
- Solids and liquids automatically separate
- Simple install
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- Though compact, it is heavier than top pick
- Built-in fan not as adept at odor removal as top pick
- Company does not accept returns
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The Sustainable Village Sun-Mar GTG Composting Toilet is the best composting toilet for off grid lifestyles, thanks to an extremely compact design that can easily fit into an RV, camper or other cramped spaces. The toilet automatically separates solids from liquids, which we found to be extremely handy during clean up, and the install was extremely simple, taking only a few minutes and requiring no tools whatsoever.
Though this toilet does feature a built-in air circulating fan for the purposes of odor removal, we found it to be not quite as effective as our top pick, though it still did a decent enough job. Also, the company does not accept returns, which may be an issue for some consumers. Naturally, the best toilet brush is a must accessory. As is the best toilet paper holder.
Update: Another compost toilet worth mentioning here that was not included in the review is the Sun-Mar Excel Non-Electric Self-Contained Composting Toilet ideal for off the grid use, and the Camco Portable Compost Toilet with latches on the comfy toilet seat to keep from sliding off.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we tried out plenty of models, discounting products that didn’t excel with a variety of metrics. We preferred composting toilets that effectively eliminated odors, even in RVs, campers and other relatively closed-in areas. This task was usually completed via a built-in ventilation system of some kind, typically using fans.
On the composting front, we made sure each toilet we featured was able to begin the process quickly and complete it efficiently, making it so solids rarely needed to be emptied. We also liked models that automatically separated liquids from solids, shuttling them to different compartments, and those that made the removal of said liquids as easy as possible.
As far as size and weight goes, we tended to like toilets that were small enough to squeeze into a standard RV bathroom area with room to spare and those that were light enough to move around when needed. Finally, we really enjoyed products that were supremely easy to install, such as our number two pick, requiring merely a few minutes of time and no external tools whatsoever. Speaking of easy to install, the best tankless water heater is another great addition to your bathroom, along with the best lighted makeup mirror. If you have long hair, you could also get the best curling iron.
Best Composting Toilet Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Composting Abilities
Composting toilets are perfect for camping and RV lifestyles, as their designs allow the toilet to actively compost solids, transforming whatever is placed into the toilet into, essentially, soil and evaporated air. This is done by adding composting liquids, such as those manufactured by Sun-Mar and similar companies, to the solids container. Liquids are evaporated and sent outside via a ventilation system, while remaining solids can eventually be emptied outdoors. - Odor Removal and Cleanup
These toilets boast a number of mechanisms intended to reduce the foul odors associated with solid and liquid waste. The composting abilities on offer will naturally reduce odors as solids are transformed into soil and evaporated air. Additionally, many top products, including our picks, have built-in ventilation systems, which eliminate smells via fans that push the odors outside. Well designed toilets can effectively eliminate lingering odors, even in cramped spaces such as RVs and campers. - Install
We know that living an off grid lifestyle often requires these composting toilets to be placed in different locations, to suit a wide array of differing needs. To that end, make sure you choose a product that is light, compact and extremely easy to install. The best composting toilets on the market, such as our top picks, often feature near plug-and-play installation procedures, which require no external tools. Look for an item that can essentially be placed in a room, plugged into a ventilating shaft and then be ready to go.
