Start Here:
Choosing the Right
Composting Toilet
If you’re new to composting toilets, or still sorting through options, you’re in the right place. A composting toilet can be a great long-term solution, but it works best when you start with the right fit for your use. That’s where the Throne comes in. The Throne is the toilet we wanted to exist โ so we made it happen.
This page walks through what actually matters so you can decide what makes sense for your space, budget, and personal preferences.
This is all the stuff we wish everyone knew first!
What brings you here today?
I’m brand new to compost toilets and want to understand how they work.
Learn how composting toilets work and what keeps them odor-free.
I already know the basics and just need help choosing the right option.
Compare your options: building your own, buying a ready-to-go Throne, or mixing and matching components.
Not sure yet? You can also scroll and explore at your own pace.
If you’re still getting familiar with how composting toilets work, this section covers the basics. If you already know this part, you can jump ahead.
Common Questions Answered
How Composting Toilets Stay Odor-Free โ The two factors that matter most
Composting toilets stay odor-free by managing moisture and covering fresh deposits. When those two things are handled correctly, there’s very little smell.
Cover material is the most important tool for blocking odors. Separating liquids from solids helps keep moisture levels in check, and an optional vent fan removes odors during use and adds forgiveness if conditions aren’t perfect.
Get those fundamentals right, and odor simply isn’t part of the experience.
Why Separating Liquids and Solids Matters โ The detail that makes day-to-day management much easier
Some compost toilets combine liquids and solids, while others separate them. Both can work, but separating the two makes day-to-day management much easier. Keeping liquids out of the solids bin means you need less cover material, containers fill more slowly, and emptying is less frequent. Lower moisture levels also make odor management simpler, and separating the two keeps each container lighter and easier to lift.
Separation isn’t added complexity โ it’s making the system easier to live with.
Features That Actually Matter โ Simple is the most important word
The best composting toilets focus on a few simple things, with SIMPLE being the most important word. A diverter with large openings and steep walls makes use more forgiving and reduces the need for careful aiming. Containers should lift straight out for emptying, without crank arms, augers, or mechanisms that require tipping the entire toilet. Fewer moving parts also make cleaning and maintenance much easier, especially since anything with edges or crevices that touches liquids or solids will get dirty fast.
Simple designs are easier to clean, easier to maintain, and easier to live with long term.
Building Your Own Compost Toilet: What That Really Involves โ A weekend project with a few things to get right
Building your own compost toilet means creating a base to hold the system. That base can be as simple as a wooden box, shaped to take up less space using our rounded plans, or fully customized to fit into your space with integrated storage for cover material and extra toilet paper.
Most DIY builds are a weekend project and work best when you’re comfortable measuring, cutting, and adjusting as you go. The biggest challenges aren’t carpentry โ they’re practical details like waterproofing, managing spills, and making sure everything stays easy to clean over time.
A well-planned DIY build can be simple, functional, and reliable.
Your Options: Buy vs. Build
There are two main ways to get a Throne Compost Toilet. Both work well. The key is just choosing the option that fits your space, your budget, and how hands-on you want to be over time.
The real decision is whether you want to build the base yourself or start with our molded plastic base. From there, you can fine-tune the details.
Option 1: Premium Molded Plastic Base
Throne Deluxe or Throne Deluxe Mix & Match
Why people choose this option
- Simple, clean, easy-to-maintain setup
- Larger capacity so you’re emptying less often
- Feels closest to a regular toilet
What to expect
- Installation takes about 5 minutes to 2 hours, depending on vent fan setup
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- Spills can be wiped out completely with no lingering odor absorption
- Designed for maximum capacity for real life use
We intentionally designed the Throne for larger capacity. Constantly emptying a toilet gets old fast, especially when disposal takes extra effort. For comfort, we also recommend using a small foot stool โ we even offer free plans to build one.
Throne Deluxe (Complete System)
Best for people who want everything done in one shot with the fewest decisions. If you want all the premium components, Throne Deluxe is the best value.
Throne Deluxe Mix & Match (Custom Setup)
Best for setups where some components aren’t needed. Start with the molded base and core components, then add only what makes sense for your system. This option is about flexibility.
Option 2: Build Your Own Compost Toilet
Throne DIY
Why people choose this option
- Tight budgets
- Very small or custom spaces
- Enjoyment of DIY projects
What to expect
- You’ll build the base from wood or another material
- The project typically takes a weekend
Important tradeoffs
- DIY bases are rarely fully waterproof
- If liquids overflow or spill inside, odors can soak into the base over time
- Cleaning takes more effort than with a smooth plastic base
A well-built DIY toilet can work extremely well when paired with a high-performance diverter and a liquid level indicator to help avoid overflows. Cutting corners on the diverter is where many compost toilets go wrong: small openings, poor separation, and unfinished edges lead to overflows, cleaning problems, and long-term odor issues. That’s exactly what the Throne diverter is designed to prevent.
What to Expect Cost-Wise
Now that you’ve seen the different ways to build a Throne toilet, here’s how cost fits into those choices. Composting toilets don’t need to be expensive, but they do need to be designed to handle real life use.
Where costs start to vary is in materials, capacity, and cleanability. Those details might not feel important on day one, but they matter a lot over time, especially when you’re tired, distracted, or not perfectly on top of maintenance. No one is.
Materials & Cleanability Matter
Cheaper toilets and diverters are often made from thin, flexible plastic that cracks more easily and has grid-like backing that creates hard-to-clean crevices. Urine scale forms anywhere urine lingers โ and once it builds up, it’s extremely hard to remove.
The Throne parts are made to be rigid and durable enough to hold up to repeated emptying, accidental bumps, and aggressive scrubbing. Durable, smooth materials cost more up front, but they’re far easier to keep clean long term.
Capacity Is About Avoiding Bad Moments
Capacity isn’t just about convenience โ it’s about peace of mind. Undersized containers obviously fill up more frequently and therefore are more likely to overflow, usually in the middle of the night (been there too many times).
Our personal experience says that you should plan to have a second liquids and solids container to help you avoid emptying at inconvenient times.
Starting Smaller Is Okay
If budget is your top priority, or you’re not ready to commit to a complete system yet, starting with a DIY toilet doesn’t have to be a forever decision. The Throne system is modular, so you can build in stages and upgrade over time.
If you follow the DIY plans, nothing you buy is wasted. Some people start small and upgrade over time. Others choose Deluxe from the start to simplify ownership. Both approaches work.
Based on what you’ve seen,
here’s where most people go next:
Want the simplest, most complete option?
Start with a Throne toilet
- Molded plastic base for easy cleaning
- Fewer decisions and less trial and error
- Best for long-term, low-hassle use
- $500โ$900 depending on selections
Thinking about building your own?
Start with a DIY compost toilet
- Lowest upfront cost โ $95โ$400
- Most hands-on approach
- Easy to upgrade over time if you follow the plans
Not sure yet? That’s okay. You can keep scrolling to see real-world examples, or come back to this decision later.
How These Toilets Work for Real Customers
If it helps to see how others have approached this, here are a few real-world setups.
Elizabeth, Cabin, Vermont
THRONE DELUXE
From frozen winters and overflowing pee jugs to a thoughtfully built timber frame house with a Throne composting toilet front and center, theyโve lived the full arc of tiny, off-grid, and now rooted-but-still-sustainable living.
Nick, Outhouse, Kentucky
DIY THRONE
Nick has upgraded his family campsite in the renowned climbing haven, Red River Gorge, by installing a DIY THRONE composting toilet.
Scott and Ash, Skoolie, traveling
DIY THRONE
Scott and Ash converted their beautiful Skoolie by themselves, and every part of it is an example of that perfect balance between a cozy home and efficiency in a tiny space. Their bathroom is no exception, with the THRONE diverter in their DIY composting toilet.
Need a Little Help Deciding?
If you’re still learning, the resources on this page will get you most of the way there. If you’re early in the process, it’s often helpful to keep exploring on your own before reaching out.
If you have a specific question about fit, components, or your setup, our team is happy to help.