For off-grid cabins, emergency kits and camps with no power: Separett’s compact body without the fan, at a much lower price.
Amazon $549A composting toilet needs no water, no sewer and no septic system, which makes it the usual answer for a cabin, a tiny house, a van, a boat or an off-grid homestead. These rankings cover self-contained toilets, where everything happens inside the unit, and compare what the makers publish on the same terms.
There are two kinds. A urine-diverting toilet sends liquids to a bottle or a drain and keeps solids in a bin with coir or peat, where they dry out instead of smelling. It’s compact and most run on a small 12 V fan, or no power at all, but the urine bottle needs emptying every day or two and the solids bin every few weeks. A composting toilet mixes waste in a larger drum or chamber, often warmed by a heater, and you empty finished compost every few months. It handles a full-time household with less handling, but it’s bigger, costs more and usually needs 120 V power.
Before you buy, check your local rules. Many health departments only allow toilets certified to NSF/ANSI 41, and some don’t allow composting toilets in place of a septic system at all.
Top Picks
A cheap, power free diverting toilet for weekend camping and truck campers, from the maker of the OGO.
Amazon $199.99Shop by Type
Urine-diverting
19 rankedSelf-contained toilets that keep liquids and solids apart: compact, nearly odor free, for vans, boats, tiny houses and cabins.
Top rated: Separett Weekend Prime $549
Composting
6 rankedLarger toilets that turn waste into compost in a drum or chamber, rated for full-time households in cabins and off-grid homes.
Top rated: Sun-Mar Excel NE $1,825
Narrow It Down
Prices were last checked October 31, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Best Urine-Diverting Composting Toilets
- Separett Weekend Prime#1 of 19Full review
For off-grid cabins, emergency kits and camps with no power: Separett’s compact body without the fan, at a much lower price.
Amazon $549$549-None needed- - OGO Nomad#2 of 19Full review
A cheap, power free diverting toilet for weekend camping and truck campers, from the maker of the OGO.
Amazon $199.99$199.99-None needed- - BOXIO Toilet#3 of 19Full review
An ultralight dry separating toilet for car camping, roof tents and short van trips; too small for full time use.
Amazon $199.90$199.90-None needed- - Sun-Mar GTG#4 of 19Full review
Sun-Mar’s low cost urine-diverting toilet for cabins, boats and RVs, with a normal seat height and a tiny fan draw.
Amazon $633$633-12V- - TROBOLO WandaGO Lite#5 of 19Full review
A compact, travel ready diverting toilet for weekend campervans, with a lid that latches shut on the road.
Amazon $199$1998 usesNone needed-
Best Self-Contained Composting Toilets
- Sun-Mar Excel NE#1 of 6Full review
For off-grid cabins that need a certified toilet with no power; plan for a drain line and a tall vent.
Sun-Mar $1,825$1,8252 peopleNone neededYes - Sun-Mar Excel#2 of 6Full review
For cabins and homes on grid power that need a certified toilet for a full time household; its power draw rules out vans and small solar systems.
Sun-Mar $2,040$2,0403 people120VYes - BioLet 55#3 of 6Full review
For grid-powered cabins and cottages that want a hands-off composting toilet: automatic mixing and evaporation with no urine bottle, at a high price.
BioLet $2,255$2,255-120V- - Sun-Mar Spacesaver#4 of 6Full review
For a small cabin bathroom on grid power with one full time user or occasional guests, where a certified toilet is required.
Sun-Mar $1,935$1,9351 people120VYes - BioLet 65#5 of 6Full review
For full-time households on grid power that want a hands-off composting toilet with no urine bottle; the price and power needs rule it out for vans.
BioLet $2,970$2,9704 people120V-
How We Rank
Each toilet is ranked against others of the same kind, and scored on its price, how much it holds between emptying, how much power it draws, whether it’s certified to NSF/ANSI 41 and its warranty.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | current price | 30% |
| Capacity | uses between emptying and urine bottle size; composting type, full-time household rating | 25% |
| Power | fan and heater draw; no power needed scores full marks | 15% |
| Certification | NSF/ANSI 41 certification | 15% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 15% |
How we rank explains each factor in full.