DIY Compost Toilet: How We Built Ours Off-Grid (and What We’d Do Differently)

Living off‑grid comes with unique challenges, and building a DIY compost toilet was one of our first big projects. We needed something simple, odor-free, and humanure-friendly. After three years of daily use, it’s still going strong. This guide walks you through how we built it, what we learned, and what upgrades we recommend (or don’t).

Our compost toilet sits just above the terrace wall — all built from salvaged and humble materials.

Why We Built a DIY Compost Toilet

Without a sewage system or running water, we needed a dry, low-cost, and low-tech toilet solution. Compost toilets were the obvious choice, aligning with our sustainability goals and practical lifestyle. Building it ourselves saved money, taught us new skills, and allowed us to tailor the design to our land.

Two simple chambers: one for the bucket, one for the sawdust. That’s all it takes.

Inside Our DIY Compost Toilet

• Footprint: ~2 x 2.5 meters (6.5 x 8 ft), accessed from an upper terrace

• Structure: Built on a raised pallet base, supported by a gravel foundation to prevent wood rot during Portugal’s wet winters

• Cladding: Overlapping live-edge pine boards for a natural finish

• Roof: Bitumen sheets (lightweight, but we regret not using different material)

• Layout:

  • Main chamber with a lidded bucket + toilet seat

  • Side chamber with sawdust and an aluminium mug to scoop sawdust

• No ventilation system or urine separation

• Beautiful views, basic comfort, and no tech required

Tools & Materials We Used

We built our DIY compost toilet using simple, off-grid-friendly materials and battery-powered tools. Here's what we used and recommend:

Materials

• Pallets (reclaimed): Raised base with airflow and storage space

• Pine live-edge cladding: Outer walls with rustic charm

• Bitumen roofing sheets: Easy to transport, but not ideal long-term

• Toilet seat: Standard, mounted on a wooden lid

• Sealed plastic container: Rubbermaid-style bin with lid

• Sawdust: Absorbs moisture and odor

• Aluminium scoop: Lightweight and durable for covering waste

• Screws & metal brackets: Basic fastening and structure reinforcement

Our daily drivers — all cordless, reliable, and ready for off-grid builds.

Tools

All tools were cordless and battery-powered — perfect for remote building.

• Cordless Drill/Driver: For fast, flexible construction

  Our daily driver: Bosch Professional Cordless Drill Kit – Ideal for Off-Grid Builds.

• Cordless Circular Saw: Cutting pallets and wood panels cleanly

  Our go-to cutter: Bosch Cordless Circular Saw – Built for rugged off-grid jobs.

• Battery-Powered Planer: Smoothing down live-edge boards

  Our edge-taming champion: Bosch Cordless Planer – Shaves rough cuts like butter, no power cord needed.

• Sliding Mitre Saw: Clean cross-cuts and precise angles on framing timber

  Our precision pro: Bosch Single-Bevel Slide Miter Saw – Accurate, fast, and made for repeatable off-grid cuts.

• Measuring Tape & Level: Essential layout tools for straight lines and true angles, every time.

• Safety Gear: Gloves, eye protection, and ear protection are a must, because injuries slow down dreams.

Tough Tip: Choose one battery system (like Bosch, Makita or Milwaukee) for all your cordless tools to simplify charging and increase efficiency.

Tough Kraut Compost Toilet Product Suggestions

If you're building your own compost toilet, here are some helpful upgrades:

• DIY Compost Toilet Ventilation Kit: Lightweight, reliable, and part of a versatile battery system.

• BOXIO Dry Toilet Container: Sealed, stackable, and specifically designed for dry toilet builds. Bonus: no odor or spills.

• Insulated Flexible Duct Kit – 4" (Ø10 cm): Helps you add a passive vent pipe and keep internal moisture down.

Handmade with love. MuDan’s clever toilet paper roll hanger hangs beside our dual-chamber box for sawdust and waste.

How It Works

1. Do your business

2. Cover completely with sawdust

3. Keep lid closed between uses

4. Once the container is full, carry it to a secluded spot and dump

5. Let it decompose. We’re giving ours several years before compost use

   
   

We’re not yet reusing the composted material, but that’s a future step once we’ve renovated our stone house and install a complete gray and blackwater system.

The Failed First Attempt

We started with a tall rain barrel as a “long drop” container. Sounds clever, but wasn’t.

Problem 1: Filled too quickly

Problem 2: Impossible to swap without hassle

Problem 3: No sealing = flies and smells

Solution: Go with a sealed, removable container system. Simpler, cleaner, better.

Bonus feature: shaded, dry storage underneath the raised platform.

What Worked and What We’d Do Differently

What Worked:

• The sawdust-bucket combo is low-maintenance

• No electricity or water needed

• Simple design still functions after 3+ years

• Side sawdust chamber with scoop is handy

• Firewood storage under the raised base is a bonus

What We’d Do Differently:

• Upgrade the roof (bitumen gets hot and brittle)

• Use a purpose-built sealed container

• Consider a ventilation pipe to reduce internal moisture

• Think about long-term handwashing integration (though not for toilet graywater)

We’re not planning those changes right now, but they’re valuable tips for others building their own DIY compost toilet.

Work in progress. A few boards still needed fastening, but the structure was already fully functional.

Optional Upgrades to Consider

Even if you're going basic, these add-ons are worth thinking about, especially if you're in a colder or wetter climate:

• Rainwater catchment → basin for handwashing

• Passive ventilation pipe to reduce humidity and odor buildup

• Urine-diverting options (if you’re designing from scratch)

• Firewood storage under the raised base

• More permanent roofing like corrugated metal or clay tiles

• Gravel base or drainage layer. If you live in a region with heavy rain or damp winters, like we do here in Portugal, a compacted gravel foundation under your toilet base helps avoid pooling water, wood rot, and long-term structural decay.

• Solar motion-sensor lighting — A small upgrade that makes a huge difference. We use two Outdoor Motion Sensor Solar Lights — one is screwed to an old mimosa tree to light the path to the toilet, and the other is mounted on a lower point inside the chamber to catch some morning sun. They charge during the day and light up when movement is detected, making late-night trips safer, easier, and hands-free.

• Proper insulation. Cold winters make early morning toilet trips uncomfortable. In our case, we still use the outhouse year-round, but freezing temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) are no fun. To make things easier during winter, I built MuDan a small indoor-friendly wooden toilet structure with a lidded bucket, which she keeps in our mobile home. It’s a simple but effective seasonal backup that works well on frosty mornings.

Tough Tip: If you plan to use your compost toilet in freezing conditions, insulation can help, but be prepared for added cost, material sourcing, and complexity.

Three years in and still going strong — the compost toilet has aged with character but held up through all seasons.

Herman’s Tough Kraut Fixes: Common DIY Compost Toilet Challenges

When it comes to building a DIY compost toilet, it’s not always sunshine, sawdust, and serenity. Like most off-grid solutions, there’s a learning curve, especially when you’re trying to balance simplicity, sanitation, and sustainability. That’s why this troubleshooting and FAQ section tackles the real issues that often come up with dry toilets.

Below are the most common DIY compost toilet challenges and how we’ve dealt with them after three years of real-life use here at Tough Kraut.

Q: Flies in the Chamber?

A: Always keep your bucket tightly sealed when not in use. Use enough cover material (sawdust, wood shavings, or coco coir) to completely cover every deposit.

Q: Does it smell?

A: Nope, not if you use sawdust and keep the lid closed.

Q: Do I need ventilation?

A: Optional. But a simple vent pipe improves air exchange and helps with moisture build-up, especially if your container is tightly sealed.

Q: What kind of container should I use?

A: We used a lidded plastic bin (like a Rubbermaid). A sealed, purpose-made compost toilet bucket is even better.

Q: Do you compost the waste right away?

A: Not yet. We dump the full container in a secluded compost site to decompose slowly. We plan to use the material in 2–3 years on non-edible plant systems.

Building a DIY compost toilet may sound intimidating, but it’s one of the easiest and most rewarding off-grid projects you can tackle. Ours is three years old and still going strong. With some sawdust, elbow grease, and a container with a lid, you’re good to go — literally.

Composting with a view. Not bad for a zero-water toilet system.

Have questions? Got your own tips? Drop them in the comments or join the Kraut Crew for more off-grid DIYs, behind-the-scenes stories, and upcoming freebies.