Workplace toilet calculator
Based on the minimum numbers in HSE's Approved Code of Practice (L24). It runs in your browser; nothing is sent to us.
How many toilets per employee: results at a glance
The minimum toilets, urinals and washbasins the calculator gives for some common workplaces, counting the most people at work at the same time, with no public use and no fixed break times. Click a row to open the calculator with those figures filled in.
| Workplace | People | Toilets | Urinals | Washbasins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 people, shared toilets | 5 | 1 | – | 1 |
| 25 people, shared toilets | 25 | 2 | – | 2 |
| 40 people, shared toilets | 40 | 3 | – | 3 |
| 20 women and 20 men, men's with urinals | 40 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 100 people, shared toilets | 100 | 5 | – | 5 |
| 50 women and 50 men, men's with urinals | 100 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| 150 people, shared toilets | 150 | 7 | – | 7 |
| 40 people, shared toilets, dirty work | 40 | 3 | – | 4 |
How many toilets per employee: key facts
- The law is the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992: employers must provide suitable and sufficient toilets and washing facilities at readily accessible places (regulations 20 and 21).
- HSE's Approved Code of Practice L24 sets the minimum numbers. Following it is enough to comply; if you don't, you must be able to show you complied another way.
- Count the most people likely to be at work at the same time, not the total on the payroll.
- Mixed workplaces: 1-5 people: 1 toilet and 1 washbasin; 6-25: 2; 26-50: 3; 51-75: 4; 76-100: 5; then one more of each per 25 people (or part of 25) above 100.
- Men-only toilets can use HSE's Table 2: for example 46-60 men: 3 cubicles and 2 urinals. A urinal can be an individual urinal or at least 600mm of urinal trough.
- Dirty work that heavily soils faces, hands and forearms needs more washbasins: one per 10 people up to 50, then one more per 20.
- If the public uses the same toilets, or everyone takes breaks at the same time, HSE says you may need more than the minimum.
- Women's toilets need a suitable way to dispose of sanitary dressings, and every toilet needs paper and a coat hook.
What does the law say about toilets for employees?
The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 say employers must provide suitable and sufficient toilets and washing facilities at readily accessible places. HSE's Approved Code of Practice, L24, turns that into minimum numbers based on how many people are at work at the same time.
Two regulations cover workplace washrooms in Great Britain:
- Regulation 20 (toilets): suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences at readily accessible places. The rooms must be adequately ventilated and lit and kept clean, and there must be separate rooms for men and women unless each toilet is in its own room with a door that can be locked from the inside.
- Regulation 21 (washing): suitable and sufficient washing facilities, including showers if the work or health reasons need them. They must be right next to the toilets, with clean hot and cold (or warm) running water, soap or similar, and towels or another suitable way of drying.
The regulations don't give numbers. Those are in HSE's Approved Code of Practice (ACoP), published as L24. An ACoP has a special legal status. If you follow it, you're doing enough to comply on the points it covers. You can do things another way, but if you were prosecuted and hadn't followed it, you would have to show that you'd complied in some other way.
In practice, the L24 tables are the numbers employers, landlords and designers work to. They are minimums: HSE says more may be needed in some situations, and many workplaces provide more for comfort and to avoid queues.
How many toilets and washbasins does HSE say you need?
Table 1 of L24 gives the minimum for mixed workplaces: one toilet and one washbasin for 1 to 5 people, two for 6 to 25, three for 26 to 50, four for 51 to 75 and five for 76 to 100. Above 100, add one toilet and one washbasin for every 25 people or part of 25.
Table 1: toilets and washbasins (any group of workers)
| People at work at the same time | Toilets | Washbasins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 to 25 | 2 | 2 |
| 26 to 50 | 3 | 3 |
| 51 to 75 | 4 | 4 |
| 76 to 100 | 5 | 5 |
| Over 100 | One more toilet and washbasin for every 25 people (or part of 25) above 100 | |
Table 2: toilets used only by men (alternative to the toilet column above)
| Men at work at the same time | Cubicles | Urinals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 15 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 to 30 | 2 | 1 |
| 31 to 45 | 2 | 2 |
| 46 to 60 | 3 | 2 |
| 61 to 75 | 3 | 3 |
| 76 to 90 | 4 | 3 |
| 91 to 100 | 4 | 4 |
| Over 100 | One more cubicle for every 50 men (or part of 50) above 100, with at least as many extra urinals | |
Source: HSE L24, Tables 1 and 2 and paragraph 200. Table 2 only replaces the toilet numbers: men's washbasins still follow Table 1.
Worked example: a workplace with 130 people on site at the busiest time and shared toilets needs 5 for the first 100, plus 2 more for the next 30 (one for 101 to 125 and one for the part-group of 5), so 7 toilets and 7 washbasins.
How does the workplace toilet calculator work?
It applies HSE's L24 tables to the most people at work at the same time: Table 1 for women's and shared toilets and for all washbasins, Table 2 for men's toilets with urinals, the over-100 rule, and the dirty-work rule for washbasins.
- Separate or shared. Separate toilets: women and men are worked out as two groups. Shared toilets: everyone is one group, and each toilet must be in its own room with a door that locks from the inside (regulation 20).
- Toilets. Table 1 for women's and shared toilets (1 for 1-5 people, 2 for 6-25, 3 for 26-50, 4 for 51-75, 5 for 76-100, then one more per 25 or part of 25). Men's toilets with urinals use Table 2 instead (for example 2 cubicles and 1 urinal for 16-30 men; above 100, one more cubicle per 50 or part of 50, with at least as many extra urinals).
- Washbasins. Table 1 for every group, or, for dirty work, one per 10 people up to 50, then one more per 20 (L24 paragraph 201).
- Total. The groups are added together.
- Inputs: separate or shared toilets; women and men (or total people) at work at the busiest time; whether men's toilets have urinals; dirty work; public use; set break times.
- Assumptions and exclusions: minimums only, for Great Britain. Public use and set break times add a note, not a number, because HSE doesn't give one. It doesn't include the wheelchair-accessible toilet the building regulations expect in new buildings, customer toilets, showers, or construction sites (separate rules). Sources: HSE L24 and regulation 20.
- Pre-filled links: add
mode(separate or shared),peopleorwomenandmen, and if neededurinals,dirty,publicorbreaks(yes or no) to the address and the result shows when the page opens. For example /how-many-toilets-per-employee?mode=shared&people=40.
Which employees do you count?
Count the maximum number of workers likely to be in the workplace at any one time. If separate toilets are provided for different groups, such as women and men, or office and production staff, work out each group separately.
Getting the headcount right matters more than anything else in the sums. HSE's rules are:
- The busiest time, not the payroll. A business with 120 staff over two shifts, with no more than 70 on site at once, works from 70.
- Each group separately. If women and men have separate toilets, work out each one from its own headcount. The same applies if, say, office staff and warehouse staff use different toilet blocks. Separate calculations usually give more toilets in total than one shared calculation, because each group rounds up.
- Set break times. If everyone takes breaks at the same time or finishes together and needs to wash before leaving, HSE says more facilities may be necessary.
- Members of the public. If customers or visitors use the same toilets, HSE says to increase the numbers so workers can still use them without unreasonable delay.
- Visiting delivery drivers. HSE has said it will update its guidance to make clear that drivers must have access to welfare facilities at the premises they visit as part of their work.
Facilities don't have to be inside your own unit, but HSE says they should be in the building if possible, available whenever people are at work, and that relying on public toilets is only acceptable as a last resort. If your landlord provides shared toilets, they still need to meet the code for everyone who uses them.
Can urinals or shared toilets count towards the numbers?
Yes. Where toilets are used only by men, HSE's Table 2 lets urinals make up part of the provision. Shared toilets for men and women are allowed where each toilet is in its own room with a door that locks from the inside.
Urinals
Table 2 replaces some cubicles with urinals in men-only toilets. A urinal can be a single bowl or a section of trough or slab urinal at least 600mm long. For more than 100 men, add one cubicle for every 50 men (or part of 50) and at least the same number of extra urinals.
Urinals save floor space and are quicker to use, but they are no help to anyone who needs a cubicle, so don't cut cubicles below the table. In new buildings and refurbishments, Approved Document M also expects an ambulant cubicle in separate-sex toilets for people who need support.
Shared (unisex) toilets
Regulation 20 allows toilets to be used by both men and women if each toilet is in a separate room with a door that can be secured from inside. Small workplaces often have one or two such rooms. In that case, use Table 1 for the total number of people.
For new non-domestic buildings and material changes of use in England, Approved Document T (from 1 October 2024) also sets expectations for single-sex toilets and universal toilets in the building's design. Check with your designer or building control body if you're building or converting.
Do you need more washbasins or showers for dirty work?
Yes. For dirty work that heavily soils the face, hands and forearms, HSE says to provide one washbasin for every 10 people up to 50, then one more for every 20. Showers or baths are needed where work is particularly strenuous, dirty or contaminates the skin.
The standard table assumes ordinary use: washing hands after the toilet. Workshops, factories, farms, waste sites, garages and similar workplaces often need much more.
| People at work | Normal washbasins (Table 1) | Washbasins for dirty work |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2 | 1 |
| 25 | 2 | 3 |
| 50 | 3 | 5 |
| 70 | 4 | 6 |
| 100 | 5 | 8 |
Worked from HSE L24 paragraphs 197 and 201. Washbasins should be large enough to wash face, hands and forearms, with hot and cold or warm running water.
HSE also says showers or baths should be provided where the work is particularly strenuous, dirty, or results in contamination of the skin by hazardous or offensive materials. Showers fed by hot and cold water should have a device such as a thermostatic mixing valve to stop people being scalded. Other regulations, such as those for substances hazardous to health, can add specific washing requirements for some work.
What does every workplace toilet need?
Each toilet should be in its own lockable cubicle or room, flushed and connected to drainage, with toilet paper in a holder and a coat hook. Toilets used by women need a way to dispose of sanitary dressings. Rooms must be ventilated, lit, cleanable and kept clean.
The numbers are only part of it. HSE's code also says:
- Privacy: each toilet in a separate room or cubicle with a door that locks from the inside; urinals and communal showers not visible from outside when the door opens; opaque glass or blinds on windows.
- Basics: connected to suitable drainage with a water flush, toilet paper in a holder or dispenser, and a coat hook.
- Sanitary disposal: in toilets used by women, a suitable means of disposing of sanitary dressings. Many workplaces use a washroom hygiene service for this.
- Washing: washbasins next to the toilets with hot and cold or warm running water, soap, and towels or another suitable way of drying (such as hand dryers).
- Ventilation: well ventilated so odours don't linger, and air from a toilet must not be able to get into a room where food is prepared or eaten.
- Cleaning: well lit and kept clean, with walls and floors that can be wet-cleaned, and clear responsibility for cleaning when facilities are shared.
Hand drying is a common question here: the law only says "towels or other suitable means of drying", so both paper towels and hand dryers can meet it. See hand dryers vs paper towels for the pros and cons, or use our running cost calculator.
Do you also need a disabled toilet?
The HSE numbers don't replace the building regulations. For new buildings and building work in England, Approved Document M expects at least one wheelchair-accessible unisex toilet wherever toilets are provided for staff or visitors, and the Workplace Regulations say facilities used by disabled workers must be suitable for them.
Three sets of rules overlap, and it's worth keeping them apart:
- Workplace Regulations and L24: how many toilets and washbasins your workers need, and that facilities used by disabled people are suitable for them.
- Building regulations: for new buildings, extensions, material alterations and some changes of use, Approved Document M (England) expects at least one wheelchair-accessible unisex toilet at each location where toilets are provided, an ambulant cubicle in separate-sex toilets, and an enlarged cubicle where there are four or more. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own building regulations.
- The Equality Act 2010: employers and service providers must make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, which can include changes to existing toilets.
Our disabled toilet regulations guide explains when each applies, and the Doc M pack guide covers fitting one out.
If your headcount means you need more toilets than you have, or you're fitting out new space, it's usually worth planning the accessible toilet, cubicle layout and hand drying together rather than adding them one at a time.
Related guides
How many toilets per employee: frequently asked questions
How many toilets do I need for 10 employees?
HSE's code says 2 toilets and 2 washbasins for 6 to 25 people at work at the same time. If women and men have separate toilets, work out each group separately: for example 5 women and 5 men would need 1 toilet and 1 washbasin each.
How many toilets do I need for 50 employees?
For 26 to 50 people at work at the same time, HSE's code says 3 toilets and 3 washbasins. If you have separate men's toilets with urinals, Table 2 gives 3 cubicles and 2 urinals for 46 to 60 men.
How many toilets for 100 employees?
Five toilets and five washbasins for 76 to 100 people at the same time. Above 100, add one toilet and one washbasin for every 25 people or part of 25, so 101 to 125 people need 6 of each.
Is it a legal requirement to have separate male and female toilets at work?
Regulation 20 of the Workplace Regulations requires separate rooms for men and women, except where each toilet is in its own room with a door that can be locked from the inside. So a workplace can use shared toilets if each is a separate lockable room.
Do urinals count as toilets?
In toilets used only by men, HSE's Table 2 lets urinals make up part of the provision, for example 2 cubicles and 2 urinals for 31 to 45 men. A urinal can be a single bowl or at least 600mm of trough urinal.
Do part-time staff count?
HSE says to count the maximum number of workers likely to be in the workplace at any one time. Part-time and shift staff count when they're on site, so the figure is the busiest moment, not the number of contracts.
Can my staff use public toilets or another building's toilets?
HSE says facilities don't have to be in your own workplace but should be in the building if possible and available whenever people are at work. Using public toilets is only acceptable as a last resort when no other arrangement is possible.
Do customers count towards the numbers?
The tables are for workers. If customers or the public use the same toilets, HSE says to increase the numbers so that workers can use them without unreasonable delay. Customer toilets in shops, restaurants and venues may also be covered by planning or licensing conditions.
Do I need hand dryers or paper towels?
The law requires towels or another suitable means of drying next to the washbasins, so either can comply. Running cost, noise, waste and, in healthcare or childcare settings, infection-control guidance are what usually decide it.
Does the calculator work in Northern Ireland?
It uses HSE's code for Great Britain. Northern Ireland has its own workplace regulations, so check the guidance from HSENI before relying on these numbers there.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources on 11 November 2026:
- Workplace health, safety and welfare: Approved Code of Practice and guidance, L24 (HSE)
- L24 Workplace health, safety and welfare, second edition 2013 (PDF, HSE)
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, regulation 20 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, regulation 21 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Access to and use of buildings: Approved Document M (GOV.UK)