Written by the GigLoo team, luxury portable toilet and shower hire specialists serving Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, London and the wider South East. Last updated July 2026.
Quick answer: what does portable shower hire involve and what does it cost?
Portable shower hire is the temporary supply, delivery, plumbing, servicing and collection of self-contained shower units for events, festivals, construction sites, campsites and homes without working bathrooms. Units range from single easy-access shower pods up to six-bay shower trailers with hot running water, changing space and lighting. As a rough guide for 2026, a single portable shower pod typically costs from around £150 to £350 for a weekend, a four-bay shower pod from around £400 to £800, and a six-bay shower trailer from around £700 to £1,500, plus delivery, servicing, water and drainage setup and VAT. Longer hires cost less per day. For an exact figure, get a tailored portable shower hire quote from GigLoo.
That is the headline. Below we explain the types of units, what affects the price, how many showers you need, and how to pick the right setup so nothing gets missed on the day.
What is portable shower hire?
Portable shower hire means bringing in temporary shower facilities wherever there is no permanent plumbing, or not enough of it. The unit arrives on a trailer or as a pod, is connected to a water supply and drainage, and gives people a warm, private, proper shower on site. When the hire ends, the company services and collects the unit.
Unlike a basic garden hose or camping shower, a hired portable shower is built for real use across a busy event or a long working week. Good units have instant hot water, non-slip flooring, lockable cubicles, lighting and a dry changing area. They are the shower equivalent of a portable toilet trailer, and they are often hired alongside toilets so guests, campers or crew have a full welfare setup.
What types of portable showers can you hire?
Most hires come down to three unit types. Matching the unit to your audience and site is the single biggest driver of both comfort and cost.
Shower pods
Compact, self-contained single or multi-cubicle units that suit smaller groups, crew welfare, VIP areas and tight spaces. A four-bay shower pod gives four separate showers in one neat footprint, ideal for medium events and work sites.
Shower trailers
Larger, towable units with several bays, built for high-volume public use at festivals, sporting events and campsites. A six-bay shower trailer handles a steady flow of people all day and is the go-to for camping events.
Easy-access shower pods
Step-free, wider units with grab rails and space for a wheelchair or a carer, so your provision is inclusive and meets accessibility expectations. See our easy-access shower pod for the full spec.
Here is how the three compare at a glance.
| Unit type | Typical capacity | Best for | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single shower pod | 1 cubicle | Crew, small groups, home use | Hot water, private, small footprint |
| 4-bay shower pod | 4 cubicles | Medium events, work sites | Multiple showers, compact |
| 6-bay shower trailer | 6 cubicles | Festivals, campsites, sport | High volume, all-day use |
| Easy-access pod | 1 accessible cubicle | Inclusive provision | Step-free, grab rails, wider door |
How much does portable shower hire cost in 2026?
Shower hire is priced on the unit, how long you need it, where you are and how much servicing the job needs. Water supply and drainage also play a part, because a unit that needs a bowser (a water tank) and a waste tank costs more to set up than one plumbed straight into the mains.
As a planning guide for the UK in 2026, typical prices look like this.
| Unit | Typical weekend hire | Typical weekly hire |
|---|---|---|
| Single shower pod | £150 to £350 | £250 to £500 |
| 4-bay shower pod | £400 to £800 | £600 to £1,200 |
| 6-bay shower trailer | £700 to £1,500 | £1,000 to £2,200 |
| Easy-access pod | £180 to £400 | £300 to £600 |
These figures are indicative and exclude delivery, servicing, water and drainage connection and VAT. The best way to get an accurate number is a quick quote based on your dates, location and site. What tends to push the price up or down:
- Duration, because longer hires drop the cost per day.
- Delivery distance from our Sussex base to your site.
- Whether the unit connects to mains water and drainage, or needs a water tank and waste storage.
- How often the unit needs servicing across a busy multi-day event.
- Add-ons such as extra units, toilets or attendant service.
When do you need portable shower hire?
Showers turn a basic site into a comfortable one. These are the situations where hiring in showers is either essential or a big upgrade.
Festivals and camping events
If people are staying overnight, showers are now expected. A rough planning figure for camping festivals is one shower per 30 to 50 campers, scaled to how long people stay and how hot the weather is. Showers also matter for traders and crew working long shifts. For the full sanitation picture, see our guide to festival toilet hire, which covers toilets and showers together.
Construction sites and long-term projects
Site welfare rules mean workers need access to washing facilities, and on many sites that includes showers. Portable shower units keep a crew clean and comfortable across a long project, and they can be hired for weeks or months at a time. Our long-term hire service is built for exactly this.
Sporting events and challenges
Runs, obstacle races, cycling sportives and open-water events all need somewhere for participants to rinse off. A six-bay shower trailer near the finish line keeps things moving and sends people home happy.
Home renovations and bathroom refits
If you are ripping out the only bathroom in the house, a single shower pod in the garden or driveway keeps the household going until the new bathroom is ready. It is a small cost next to the relief of a hot shower during the works.
Glamping and campsites
Glamping guests expect a comfortable wash, not a cold trickle. Hired shower pods and trailers let campsites and pop-up glamping sites offer proper facilities without building permanent blocks.
Emergency and temporary welfare
When permanent showers fail, in a care setting, a school, a workplace or after a burst pipe, a portable shower unit restores facilities fast while repairs happen.
How many showers do you need?
There is no single legal ratio for showers the way there is for toilets, so the right number depends on how many people are on site and how long they stay. As practical planning figures:
- Camping events: roughly one shower per 30 to 50 campers.
- Construction sites: check your site welfare requirements, then provide enough that a crew can wash without long waits at shift end.
- Sporting events: size to the peak, which is usually the hour after the main finish.
The safest approach is to tell us your headcount, dates and site, and we will size the units for you so there are no queues and no wasted capacity.
What is included in portable shower hire?
A quality shower hire package is more than dropping a unit on site. With GigLoo you can expect delivery and positioning, connection to your water and drainage or a tank-fed setup where mains is not available, instant hot water, non-slip flooring, lighting, lockable private cubicles, servicing across the hire period, and collection at the end. Many customers pair showers with our toilet hire range so the whole welfare setup arrives and leaves in one go.
How to choose the right portable shower hire
Work through five quick questions and the right setup usually becomes obvious.
- How many people, and how long are they on site? This sets the number and type of units.
- Is there mains water and drainage nearby, or do we need to bring tanks? This affects setup and cost.
- Do you need accessible provision? If anyone needs step-free access, add an easy-access pod.
- Is it a public crowd or a small crew? Crowds suit trailers, crews suit pods.
- Do you also need toilets? Hiring both together is simpler and often cheaper.
If you are not sure, our team will talk it through and recommend a setup for your exact event or site.
Portable shower hire across Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, London and Reading
GigLoo delivers portable shower hire and mobile shower units across the South East, including Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, London and Reading. We are based on the Sussex and Surrey border, which keeps delivery quick and costs sensible across the region. Whether it is a festival in Kent, a construction site in Surrey, a glamping site in Hampshire or a home refit in London, we will get warm, reliable showers to you and take care of the servicing.
Ready to book portable shower hire?
Tell us your dates, location and how many people you are catering for, and we will send a tailored quote with the right units for the job. Get a portable shower hire quote from GigLoo or call the team on 0330 333 8777.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a portable shower?
In 2026, a single portable shower pod typically costs from around £150 to £350 for a weekend, a four-bay pod from around £400 to £800, and a six-bay shower trailer from around £700 to £1,500, plus delivery, servicing, water and drainage setup and VAT. Longer hires cost less per day.
Do portable showers have hot water?
Yes. Quality hired shower units provide instant hot water, along with lighting, non-slip flooring and lockable private cubicles, so they feel like a real bathroom rather than a camping rinse.
Do you need mains water for a portable shower?
Not always. Many units connect straight to mains water and drainage, but where that is not available we can set up a tank-fed supply and waste storage so the showers still work on remote sites.
Can you hire showers and toilets together?
Yes, and most customers do. Hiring showers alongside portable toilets gives your event or site a complete welfare setup that arrives, is serviced and is collected in one go.
How many showers do I need for a festival?
A common planning figure is one shower per 30 to 50 campers, adjusted for how long people stay and the weather. Tell us your headcount and we will size it precisely.
How long can you hire a portable shower for?
Anything from a single weekend to several months. Long-term hire suits construction sites, glamping sites and temporary welfare, and works out cheaper per day than short hires.