Do You Need Showers at Your Event? A Decision Guide

Working Out Whether Your Event Needs Shower Facilities

Not every outdoor event needs showers. Most do not, in fact. But for certain types of events, providing showers transforms the attendee experience from endurance test to something people genuinely enjoy. The question is whether your event falls into that category — and if it does, what you actually need to provide.

When Showers Are Essential

Multi-day camping events

If your event runs for two or more days and attendees are camping on site, showers move from "nice to have" to "essential." People who have slept in a tent, walked around a field, and stood in sun or rain for twelve hours need to wash. Without showers, standards of personal hygiene decline rapidly, and by day three the atmosphere — both social and literal — deteriorates.

Festivals, scout jamborees, multi-day sporting events, and camping-based corporate retreats all fall into this category.

Sporting events with active participation

Events where participants are physically exerting themselves — obstacle course races, triathlons, rugby tournaments, cycling sportives with a campsite — generate sweaty, muddy people who need to wash. Showers at the finish line or in the camping area are expected and appreciated.

Events with significant mud exposure

Some events are inherently muddy. Agricultural shows after wet weather, cross-country running events, and outdoor activity days for children all produce attendees who are covered in mud and need washing facilities before they can drive home or enter a building.

Welfare provision for workers

Long-term site work — construction projects, forestry operations, agricultural contracts — may require shower facilities as part of the welfare provision. The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 require washing facilities, and for work involving hazardous substances or significant physical exertion, showers may be necessary.

When Showers Are Not Needed

Single-day events without camping

A village fete, a one-day music event, a food festival, a charity fun run — these are events where people arrive clean, spend a few hours, and go home. Showers add cost without adding value.

Events with nearby facilities

If your event is held at a venue with indoor facilities — a sports club, a village hall, a conference centre — the venue's existing showers may be sufficient. Check capacity and availability before assuming they will cope with your numbers, but do not duplicate provision unnecessarily.

Short-duration events

Events lasting less than six hours rarely justify shower provision. Even in warm weather, the duration is too short for personal hygiene to become an issue.

Types of Shower Provision

Standalone shower units

Individual shower cubicles that operate independently. They include a water heater, a pump, a showerhead, and a small changing area. Typically powered by LPG gas for water heating and either mains electricity or a generator for the pump.

Best for: Smaller events, construction sites, and situations where a small number of showers is needed.

Shower trailers

Multi-cubicle shower units built into a trailer. Typically four to eight individual shower cubicles with a central boiler and water system. They include changing areas, mirrors, and proper drainage.

Best for: Festivals, multi-day events, and any situation requiring higher-volume shower provision.

Open-air showers

Simple showerheads mounted on a frame, often with cold water only. Used for rinsing off mud or saltwater rather than full washing.

Best for: Mud runs, beach events, and agricultural shows where the primary need is to remove surface dirt rather than have a proper wash.

How Many Showers Do You Need?

There is no single formula that works for every event, but these guidelines provide a starting point:

Multi-day camping festivals

• One shower per 75 to 100 camping attendees
• Assume 30 to 40 percent of campers will shower each day
• Peak demand is 7am to 10am — plan for queuing during this window

Sporting events

• One shower per 20 to 30 active participants
• Demand is concentrated in a short post-event window
• Allow for 10 to 15 minutes per shower per person

Construction sites

• One shower per 10 workers if showers are required
• Hot water is essential — cold showers are not adequate for welfare provision

Water Supply and Drainage

Showers consume significantly more water than toilets. A single shower uses approximately 30 to 50 litres of water. Multiply that by the number of showers per day and the event duration, and the water requirement becomes substantial.

Water supply options

• Mains connection: The best option where available. Reliable, consistent pressure, and no tank refilling required.
• Bowser (water tank): A mobile water tank that supplies the shower units. Requires refilling — calculate your daily water requirement and arrange refilling accordingly.
• Tankered water: Bulk water delivered by tanker. Suitable for large events in locations without mains supply.

Drainage

Shower wastewater needs to go somewhere. Options include:

• Mains drainage: Where available, the simplest solution
• Soakaway: Suitable for small volumes on permeable ground — check with the landowner and local authority
• Waste tank: The wastewater is collected in a tank and removed by tanker. The most common solution for temporary events.

Shower wastewater is classified differently from toilet waste — it is greywater, not sewage — but it still requires responsible disposal.

Power Requirements

Heating water for showers requires energy. Most temporary shower units use LPG gas boilers, which are efficient and portable. The pump and any lighting typically require 240V electricity from either a mains supply or a generator.

Discuss power requirements with your hire company before booking. If the event site has no mains power, you will need a generator — and the generator needs to be specified to handle the shower unit's electrical load plus any other equipment sharing the supply.

Practical Considerations

Positioning

Place shower facilities near the camping area but not immediately adjacent to sleeping areas — the noise of generators and early-morning queues is not appreciated by people still in their tents. Ensure the path from tents to showers is on firm ground with adequate lighting.

Changing areas

Showers without changing areas create an awkward experience. People need somewhere dry and private to undress and dress. Most shower trailers include integrated changing cubicles. Standalone shower units may need a separate changing area.

Queuing management

Peak shower demand is predictable — early morning at camping events, post-event at sporting events. Consider how queues will form and whether you need a marshalled queuing system. At large events, a simple rope barrier and a volunteer directing traffic prevents chaos.

Consumables

Decide whether you will provide soap, shampoo, and towels, or expect attendees to bring their own. Festivals typically expect people to bring their own. Corporate events and sporting events usually provide consumables.

Cost Considerations

Shower provision is more expensive than toilet provision on a per-unit basis. The water heating, higher water consumption, and drainage requirements all add cost. Budget for:

• Hire of shower units or trailers
• Water supply (bowser hire or mains connection)
• Waste water removal
• LPG gas for water heating
• Generator hire if no mains power
• Consumables if provided

Get a fully inclusive quote from your hire company so there are no surprises.

Our Recommendation

Talk to us early in your planning process. Shower provision requires more logistical planning than toilet hire — water supply, drainage, power, and positioning all need to be arranged in advance. We can advise on what you need, provide a clear quote, and ensure the facilities are delivered, set up, and serviced properly.

The difference between an event with good shower facilities and one without is stark. For the right type of event, showers are worth every penny.