TL;DR: Portable toilet hire in Reading costs roughly £100 to £170 for a standard unit over an event weekend, £160 to £240 for an accessible unit and £250 to £380 for a luxury flushing unit (2026 GigLoo price bands, VAT included). GigLoo delivers luxury toilet trailers, accessible pods, standard portables and shower units across Reading and the rest of Berkshire. Book 4 to 8 weeks ahead for summer weekends, check the Thames flood map for riverside sites, and if you are selling alcohol, give Reading Borough Council your Temporary Event Notice at least 10 clear working days before the event.
How much does portable toilet hire in Reading cost?
Short answer: a standard portaloo in Reading costs £100 to £170 for a weekend and a luxury toilet unit costs £250 to £380, with accessible units at £160 to £240. Those are the same 2026 bands we publish on our portaloo hire cost guide, because Reading sits inside our normal South East service area and we do not run a separate “out of area” price list for it.
| Unit type | 1 day | Weekend (2 to 3 days) | 1 week | Best for in Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard portable (chemical) | £70 to £110 | £100 to £170 | £120 to £200 | Building jobs, allotment and sports club days, informal gatherings |
| Accessible portable or pod | £120 to £180 | £160 to £240 | £190 to £280 | Any public event, mixed-age family parties, wheelchair users |
| Luxury flushing unit or trailer | £180 to £260 | £250 to £380 | £320 to £480 | Weddings, garden parties, corporate days, Thames-side venues |
Prices are indicative and include VAT. Your exact quote depends on dates, site access, how many units you need and whether the unit needs water and power. Bigger trailers such as the 4+2 toilet trailer are quoted per event. For a full breakdown of what pushes a quote up or down, see our guide to luxury toilet trailer hire costs.
What is included in a GigLoo quote?
- Delivery, positioning and levelling of the unit
- Consumables to start: toilet roll, soap, hand towels or dryer
- Collection and waste removal at the end of hire
- Servicing visits for multi-day or long-term hires (scheduled in the quote, not added later)
Which toilet unit is right for your Reading event?
The right unit comes down to three things: how many people, how long they stay, and what the guests expect. A builder working in Caversham for six weeks needs something very different from a 150-guest wedding in a marquee near Sonning.
| Event or job | Typical numbers | Our usual recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Garden party or 50th in Tilehurst, Earley or Woodley | 40 to 80 guests | 2+1 toilet trailer |
| Marquee wedding in rural West Berkshire | 100 to 150 guests | 3+2 toilet trailer plus an easy access toilet pod |
| Corporate day at a business park off the M4 | 150 to 300 staff | 4+2 toilet trailer or two smaller trailers split across the site |
| Community fete or charity fun run | 500 to 2,000 visitors | 10-bay + urinal trailer plus accessible units |
| Camping event, sports tournament or crew base | Any | Add a 4-bay shower pod or 6-bay shower trailer |
| Building site or home renovation | 1 to 20 workers | Standard portable on weekly servicing |
How many toilets do I need for a party or wedding in Reading?
Plan on one cubicle for every 25 to 30 guests at a seated event like a wedding, where everyone heads to the loos at the same time after the speeches. For drop-in events where people come and go, one cubicle per 40 to 50 people is usually enough. Add more if there is a free bar or the event runs past six hours, and always include at least one accessible unit at a public event. Our full event toilet ratio guide walks through the maths.
Where do we deliver in Reading and Berkshire?
GigLoo is based in Wivelsfield, Mid Sussex, and runs planned delivery routes across the South East, including all of Berkshire. Reading is roughly 70 miles from our yard, so we schedule Berkshire drops in advance rather than offering same-day call-outs. That is the main reason we ask Reading customers to book a little earlier than customers in Sussex.
Areas we regularly quote for include:
- Reading: town centre, Caversham, Tilehurst, Whitley, Emmer Green, Southcote, Calcot
- Wokingham borough: Wokingham, Earley, Woodley, Twyford, Wargrave, Sonning, Shinfield, Finchampstead, Arborfield
- West Berkshire: Newbury, Thatcham, Theale, Pangbourne, Hungerford, Lambourn, Burghfield, Mortimer
- Bracknell Forest: Bracknell, Crowthorne, Sandhurst, Binfield
- Windsor and Maidenhead: Windsor, Maidenhead, Ascot, Cookham, Bray, Sunningdale
- Slough and the border towns into south Oxfordshire and north Hampshire
For sites south of the M4 towards Basingstoke and Hook, see our Hampshire toilet hire guide.
What permits do you need for an event in Reading?
You do not need a licence to hire a portable toilet. You may need one for the event itself. Berkshire has no county council: it is split into six unitary authorities (Reading, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Bracknell Forest, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Slough), and each one handles its own event licensing. Speak to the council where your site actually sits, not the one on your postal address.
Temporary Event Notices (TENs)
If you plan to sell alcohol or put on regulated entertainment at an unlicensed venue, you need a TEN. The key rules, from GOV.UK and Reading Borough Council:
- Fewer than 500 people on site at any one time, including staff
- The event lasts no longer than 168 hours (7 days)
- Apply at least 10 clear working days before the event (the day the council receives it and the event day do not count)
- The fee is £21
- Police and environmental health have 3 working days to object
- Late TENs are possible but if anyone objects, the event cannot go ahead
Staff count towards the 500 limit, so toilet attendants, caterers and bar staff all matter. If you are near 500, your toilet numbers should be planned for the full headcount too.
Events in Reading parks and open spaces
For events in a Reading Borough Council park, the council asks organisers to email events@reading.gov.uk with event details and a site plan showing the layout and boundary. Mark your toilet positions and the delivery route on that plan. It saves a round of questions and helps us confirm the trailer can reach the spot.
Reading site challenges we plan for
This is where local knowledge earns its keep. Most hire pages for Reading are a list of villages. Here is what actually affects a delivery in Berkshire.
Thames-side and Kennet-side ground
Reading sits where the Kennet meets the Thames, and plenty of the prettiest venues around Caversham, Sonning, Pangbourne and Wargrave are on riverside meadows. Check the Environment Agency flood service before you book a field event, especially in spring and autumn. Soft ground does not stop a hire, but it changes the plan: we may need trackway, a firmer spot nearer the access gate, or a pod instead of a trailer.
Narrow lanes and estate drives
Rural West Berkshire and the villages along the Thames have single-track lanes, low bridges and gated estate drives. Send us the postcode, the gate width and a photo of the final approach. A 2+1 or 3+2 trailer gets into most places. The 10-bay and 14-bay units need proper access and a level, firm pitch.
Water and power for luxury units
Luxury trailers flush and have running water and lighting, so they need a water feed (or onboard tank) and power (a 16 amp supply or a small generator). Tell us what the venue has. If there is nothing on site, we will plan around it.
Big-event weekends
The August bank holiday weekend (Reading Festival at Richfield Avenue) and the Royal Ascot week in June put pressure on roads, hotels and kit across Berkshire. If your private event lands on one of those dates, book early and allow extra time for delivery and collection.
How far ahead should you book toilet hire in Reading?
- May to September weekends: 4 to 8 weeks ahead, longer for weddings on Saturdays
- Large events (500+ people): 3 months or more, so units, servicing and attendants can be planned
- Building sites and long-term hire: usually 1 to 2 weeks is fine, see our construction site toilet hire guide
- Autumn and winter events: more availability, but mention heating and lighting needs when you enquire
Do you need shower hire too?
If people are staying overnight, the answer is usually yes. Camping weddings, sports tournaments, scout and youth camps, film crews and festival-style events all need showers as well as loos. Our portable shower hire range includes pods and trailers that can sit alongside your toilets on one delivery. Our portable shower hire costs guide has prices and sizing.
Why hire from GigLoo in Reading?
- We build our own units. GigLoo designs and manufactures its toilet and shower trailers in Sussex, so they are maintained by the people who built them.
- Published prices. Most hire firms only quote on request. We publish our bands so you can budget before you call.
- One supplier for loos and showers. One booking, one delivery, one point of contact.
- Planned Berkshire routes. Delivery is booked with time to spare, not squeezed in.
- Greener options. Read about how we reduce water and chemical use on our sustainability page.
Ready to book? Tell us your postcode, dates and guest numbers and we will come back with an all-in price. Get your free Reading toilet hire quote or call 0330 333 8777. Planning something special? Take a look at our luxury toilet hire in Reading page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a portaloo in Reading?
A standard portaloo in Reading costs about £70 to £110 for one day and £100 to £170 for a weekend in 2026. Luxury flushing units cost £250 to £380 for a weekend. Prices include VAT and depend on dates, access and servicing.
Do you deliver portable toilets across Berkshire?
Yes. GigLoo delivers across Reading, Wokingham, West Berkshire, Bracknell Forest, Windsor and Maidenhead, and Slough, as well as into south Oxfordshire and north Hampshire.
Do I need permission to put a portable toilet on my land?
No. You do not need a licence to hire a portable toilet for private land. You may need a Temporary Event Notice if you are selling alcohol or providing licensable entertainment, and park events in Reading need agreement from the council.
How far in advance should I book toilet hire for a Reading wedding?
Book 4 to 8 weeks ahead for summer weekends, and earlier for Saturday weddings or dates that clash with Reading Festival or Royal Ascot.
Do luxury toilet trailers need water and electricity?
Yes. Luxury trailers need a water supply or onboard tank and a power source, either a mains hook-up or a generator. Standard portables need neither.
Can you supply showers as well as toilets in Reading?
Yes. We supply shower pods and shower trailers alongside toilets, delivered together, which suits camping events, sports tournaments and crew bases.