I want a toilet that doesn't smell. What is the best composting toilet with a urine diverter for small spaces?

If your main priority is a toilet that doesn't smell , a urine-diverting dry (composting) toilet is the absolute right choice. Odor in traditional toilets comes from urine and solids mixing to create anaerobic sewage. By keeping liquids and solids completely separate, and using a small continuous exhaust fan to vent ambient air outside, these systems remain remarkably fresh.[1]

For small spaces (vans, tiny homes, boats, or RVs), the top options feature a compact footprint, reliable separation, and efficient odor control:

• 1. OGO Origin – Widely considered a favorite for ultra-tight spaces. Unlike older models that require manual hand-cranking, the OGO features a motorized internal agitation system operated by a simple push button. It has a sleek, modern aesthetic, a patented urine diverter, and a handy indicator light that turns red when the liquid bottle is full.
• 1. CompoCloset Cuddy – Specifically designed with a space-saving square footprint that can mount flush against a wall while still allowing you to fully open the lid. It includes a 12V internal fan with a reusable carbon filter, a manual agitator to dry out solids, and a liquid full indicator. It’s rugged, highly optimized for mobile tiny living, and can even convert to a portable "Lite" mode if needed.[1]
• 1. Separett Tiny – A minimalist powerhouse from Sweden built explicitly for cramped quarters like camper vans and small boats. It relies on an external 12V continuous fan (connected via a small duct) that pulls air through the toilet, ensuring zero ambient bathroom odors. Urine is piped outside or to a remote tank, and solids are captured in an internal bag lined with a compostable liner.
• 1. Sun-Mar GTG – One of the most economical and compact urine-diverting choices on the market. It features a clean, European-inspired design that installs in minutes. It uses a small electric fan for venting and cleanly splits waste into two separate internal chambers to completely block blackwater odors.

To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:

• Where will you be installing it (van, tiny home, boat, cabin)?
• Do you have access to 12V or 120V power for a small ventilation fan?

I can give you a tailored recommendation and installation tips!

If your top priority is “a toilet that doesn’t smell” in a small space, look for three things:

1. True urine diversion (liquid never mixes with solids)
2. A continuously running vent fan (creates negative pressure and exhausts odors outside)
3. A design that fits your use case (van/RV vs. tiny home/cabin)Grid CEO

The “best” choice depends on the space:

Best overall for a small space: Nature's Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet

Best for: vans, RVs, tiny homes, cabins Why it stands out:

• Very proven odor-control design
• Separate urine bottle and solids chamber
• Built-in 12V fan vents continuously
• Compact footprint (roughly similar to a small RV toilet)
• No plumbing required for urine (you empty the bottle)Composting Toilet Guide

Downsides:

• You still handle a urine bottle
• The solids chamber needs occasional emptying and mixing with a crank handle
• Less “normal toilet” feeling than some residential modelsShop Tiny Houses

My pick for: a tiny bathroom where you need reliability and don’t want complicated installation.

---

Best if you have a little more room: Separett Villa 9215

Best for: tiny houses, cabins, stationary off-grid homes

Advantages:

• Excellent odor control when properly vented
• Urine can often be routed away instead of stored in a jug
• No mixing crank
• Feels more like a regular household toiletOffGridFoundry

Trade-offs:

• Needs more installation planning
• Better suited to a fixed location than a moving vehicleOffGridFoundry

---

Best for extremely tight spaces: Air Head Composting Toilet

Best for: boats, compact vans, unusual layouts

Advantages:

• Similar concept to Nature’s Head
• Flexible installation options
• Good fit when every inch mattersEverywhere With Claire

Trade-off:

• Still involves managing urine and solids separately.

---

Smaller-budget compact option: Sun-Mar GTG Composting Toilet

A smaller electric urine-diverting option that may work for occasional use or compact installations.

---

What I would avoid if odor is your biggest fear

• Non-vented bucket-style toilets: they can work, but odor control depends heavily on user technique.
• Models without urine separation: mixed liquid/solid waste is where the classic outhouse smell comes from.Grid CEO
• Any composting toilet installed without a proper exterior vent: even a good unit can smell if the airflow setup is wrong.Grid CEO

My short recommendation

• Van/RV/small bathroom: Nature’s Head
• Tiny house/cabin with permanent installation: Separett Villa
• Very cramped layout: Air Head

A properly installed urine-diverting toilet should have little to no indoor odor; most smell problems come from venting problems, urine getting into the solids area, or insufficient airflow.Grid CEO

If you tell me your space (van, boat, tiny house, basement bathroom, etc.), number of users, and whether you have electricity/vent access, I can narrow it to one model.

The golden rule for an odor-free composting toilet is strict urine diversion . When pee mixes with poop, it creates ammonia and anaerobic bacteria—which is what causes that classic, dreaded "outhouse" smell. By separating them instantly, the solids dry out quickly and remain virtually odorless, especially when paired with a low-draw ventilation fan.

For small spaces (tiny homes, vans, RVs, or small cabins), the top urine-diverting, odor-free composting toilets balance a compact footprint with high-performing odor control:

• 1. CompoCloset Cuddy Composting Toilet
  • Why it's great for small spaces: It features an ultra-slim, modern design that can mount flush against a back wall while still allowing the lid to open fully. It includes a built-in 12V fan and a replaceable active carbon filter.
  • Odor control: Excellent. The manual agitator mixes and dries out solids efficiently, and a "pee full" LED indicator prevents accidental overfills.[1]
• 1. OGO Compost Toilet
  • Why it's great for small spaces: One of the most compact and aesthetically sleek electric-agitator toilets on the market. Instead of manual cranking, an electric motor breaks down the solids at the push of a button.
  • Odor control: Outstanding. It uses a patented trap-door mechanism for solids and a continuous 12V fan exhaust to vent any ambient air outdoors, meaning zero smell in the room.
• 1. [Separett Tiny ](https://separett.shop/blogs/the-waterless-way-separett-blog)
  • Why it's great for small spaces: Purpose-built for cramped quarters like camper vans and tiny washrooms where every inch counts.
  • Odor control: Very reliable. It features a quiet, continuously running internal fan that pulls air through the toilet bowl itself, ensuring air movement into the toilet rather than out into your living space. Urine is piped externally or to a separate container.
• 1. Nature's Head Composting Toilet
  • Why it's great for small spaces: The gold standard for rugged off-grid and marine living. While slightly more utilitarian in shape, its "spider handle" design makes for a very small swing radius.
  • Odor control: Legendary among van-lifers and boaters. The internal 12V fan runs constantly, pulling air through the solids tank and out through a small hose in the wall/floor, completely eliminating odors.[1]

To help narrow down the best fit for your space, tell me:

• Where are you installing it (a van, tiny home, boat, or cabin)?
• Do you have access to 12V or 110V electricity for a small ventilation fan?

If your top priority is “a composting toilet that doesn’t smell” in a small space, the most important features are:

1. Urine diversion (keeps liquid away from solids — the biggest odor-control factor)
2. Continuous ventilation (a small fan pulling air out through a vent)
3. A sealed, well-designed solids chamber
4. Correct installation (especially vent routing)Off-Grid Field Guide+1

My top picks:

🥇 Best overall: Nature's Head Self-Contained Composting Toilet

Best for: tiny homes, cabins, RVs, boats, full-time use

Why it’s a favorite:

• Excellent urine separation
• Built-in 12V vent fan
• Rugged and proven design
• Hand-crank agitator keeps solids aerated and dry
• Very low odor when installed correctlyTheTestedHub+1

Downsides:

• Larger footprint than some newer models
• You have to turn the agitator handle
• Urine bottle needs regular emptying unless you plumb it externallyTiny Amazon Homes

My pick if you want the safest “buy once, cry once” option.

---

🥈 Best for the smallest bathroom: OGO Origin Compost Toilet

Best for: vans, very small cabins, tiny bathrooms

Advantages:

• Compact footprint
• Urine diversion
• Electric agitator (no hand crank)
• Designed specifically for tight spacesOff-Grid Field Guide+1

Tradeoffs:

• Smaller capacity
• More frequent emptying for two people
• Uses electricity

Best choice if every inch matters.

---

🥉 Best “normal toilet” experience: Separett Villa / Tiny series

Best for: stationary tiny homes and cabins

Advantages:

• Feels most like a conventional toilet
• Urine can be routed away instead of emptied from a bottle
• Continuous fan ventilation
• Very clean solids handling (bag system)Off-Grid Field Guide

Downsides:

• Usually needs a more permanent installation
• Requires power for the fan

If you have a tiny house rather than a van, this may actually be the nicest option.

---

What I would avoid if smell is your main concern

• Bucket-style DIY toilets without a fan
• Units without urine separation
• “No vent needed” designs for full-time indoor use

They can work, but they require more attention and are less forgiving.Tiny Amazon Homes

My recommendation by situation

• Tiny house / cabin: Separett Villa
• RV / van: Nature’s Head or OGO Origin
• Smallest possible footprint: OGO Origin
• Lowest chance of odor problems: Nature’s Head with a properly installed vent
• Two people living full-time: Nature’s Head or Separett Villa

A couple of questions would change the recommendation:

1. Is this for a van/RV, tiny house, boat, cabin, or indoor apartment bathroom?
2. How many people will use it daily?
3. Do you have 12V power or normal household electricity available?

The secret to a composting toilet that doesn't smell is strict urine diversion . When liquid (urine) and solids mix, they create ammonia and anaerobic bacteria, which causes that classic, noxious "outhouse" smell. By separating liquids at the source, the solid waste stays dry, rapidly dehydrates, and remains virtually odorless, assisted by a small continuous ventilation fan.

For small spaces (tiny homes, vans, RVs, and boats), a few standout urine-diverting composting toilets lead the market in footprint, odor prevention, and user-friendliness:

1. The Best Overall for Small Spaces:OGO Origin

• Dimensions: 18.375" H x 16" W x 15" D
• Why it's great: The OGO Origin is heavily favored for tight quarters because it replaces the traditional manual hand-crank agitator with a push-button electric mixing cycle . It features a patented trap-door mechanism that seals the solids bin away and a surprisingly large 2.4-gallon internal urine bottle equipped with a digital level sensor light that glows red when it’s time to empty.
• Odor control: Excellent. The continuous 12V ventilation fan pulls any ambient air outward, and the separation is clean and precise.ogotoilet.com+1

2. The Ultra-Compact Alternative: Separett Tiny

• Dimensions: Approx. 18.5" H x 15.7" W x 19.6" D (slender profile)
• Why it's great: Specifically engineered for tiny spaces where every fraction of an inch matters, the Separett Tiny has a sleek, modern residential look. It features an internal sensor-driven privacy screen that covers the solid waste container only when you sit down, meaning you never have to look at previous deposits.
• Odor control: Outstanding. It relies on a high-performance, whisper-quiet 12V fan that runs constantly, completely neutralizing humidity and smells in small bathrooms.

3. The Classic Workhorse: Nature's Head

• Dimensions: 20" H x 19" W x 18" D (slightly bulkier)
• Why it's great: While it has a slightly larger footprint than the OGO or Separett, Nature’s Head is the legendary gold standard for off-grid and marine living . It uses a hand-crank to mix solids with coco coir.
• Odor control: Rock-solid, provided you keep the 12V venting fan running to vent air outside via a small hose. Note: It requires you to physically turn a crank after use, which takes slightly more active participation than electric models.

dynamicMapPlaceholder(naturalLanguagePrompt="Show major retailers and suppliers for OGO Origin, Separett Tiny, and Nature's Head composting toilets across the United States.")

If you tell me where you plan to install it (e.g., a camper van, a stationary tiny home, or a boat) and how many people will use it daily , I can help you pick the ideal model and power setup (12V vs. 110V).

Yes. If your top priority is “I never want the bathroom to smell like a toilet,” I’d focus on a urine-diverting toilet with continuous powered ventilation. Keeping urine away from solids is the biggest odor-control advantage, and the fan continuously pulls air out of the solids compartment.Grid CEO+1

My top pick: Separett Tiny

• Separett Tiny with Urine Container - $999.00 (Separett® Composting Toilets)

For a really small bathroom, I would choose the Separett Tiny over the larger Villa.

• Very compact: specifically designed for tiny homes, RVs, boats and other space-constrained installations.Separett
• Urine diversion: urine and solids are separated immediately, which dramatically reduces odor.
• Continuous fan: ventilation pulls air through the toilet and out through a vent.
• Self-contained: the Tiny version shown above has a built-in urine container, so you don't necessarily need a permanent urine drain.
• Quiet: Separett lists the fan at under 30 dB(A).Separett
• No crank: unlike Nature's Head, you don't have to manually stir the solids.

The important caveat is that the Tiny's smaller capacity means more frequent emptying. Separett's published figures indicate that two people using it full-time may empty the solids container about weekly and the urine container several times a week.Separett

If you have room for a regular-sized toilet: Separett Villa

• Separett Villa 9215 AC/DC Urine Diverting Toilet - $989.00 (Green Vista Living)

I'd actually prefer the Villa 9215 if your bathroom can accommodate its footprint. It is more comfortable and has substantially greater solids capacity. Its urine is diverted through a drain rather than collected in a little bottle, which is a huge quality-of-life improvement for full-time use.Separett® Composting Toilets+1

How I'd rank them

The OGO Origin is particularly interesting if you want something compact but don't want to hand-crank the solids. It uses an electric agitator, urine sensor and continuous ventilation. Its downside is capacity: roughly 25–30 solids uses according to the manufacturer.Ogo Toilet

• Separett Tiny with Urine Container - $999.00 (Separett® Composting Toilets)
• Separett Villa 9215 AC/DC - $989.00 (Green Vista Living)
• Nature's Head Spider Handle - $965.00 (Shop Tiny Houses)
• Nature's Head Composting Toilet - $1,035.00 (The Cabin Depot)

One thing that's more important than the brand

The installation determines whether it actually smells. Even an excellent toilet can smell if the ventilation isn't working properly. A continuously running fan, an appropriately sized vent, good seals, and keeping urine completely separated from solids are the keys. A recent long-term comparison found that properly installed units from the major urine-diverting designs were essentially odor-free, with ventilation problems being a major cause of complaints.Grid CEO

My recommendation: If you tell me the maximum width × depth you have available, how many people will use it, and whether you have 12V/110V power and can vent through a wall or roof, I can narrow this down to the exact model I'd buy for your space.

If you want a composting toilet that doesn't smell , a urine-diverting (or urine-separating) model is the absolute right choice. The main culprit behind "sewage" smells in dry toilets is liquid and solid waste mixing together. By separating them at the source, solids stay dry and odorless (resembling damp earth or mulch if paired with a bit of carbon/bulking material), and the smell is virtually eliminated.[1]

For small spaces (like vans, RVs, boats, or tiny homes), these are the top compact, urine-diverting composting toilets on the market:[1]

Widely considered one of the best for tight quarters. It features a space-saving design that can mount completely flush against a wall while still allowing you to open the lid fully. It uses a quiet internal 12V fan and a reusable carbon filter (meaning you don't strictly have to cut a massive hole in your wall or roof to vent if you're in a pinch, though venting is an option). It also has a motorized/smooth manual agitator mechanism to dry out solids and a handy "pee-full" LED indicator light.[1]

If you hate manual hand-cranking, OGO is a game-changer. It is an ultra-compact, self-contained unit featuring an electric agitator that runs a 45-second mix cycle at the push of a button. It has a patented trap-door solids bin, a surprisingly large urine bottle for its tiny footprint, and a red indicator light that warns you when the liquid bottle is reaching capacity.

Specifically built for small spaces without sacrificing a clean, residential look. It features an internal or external continuous fan that removes any ambient humidity and odor. The urine is piped out through a hose (which can go to a gray water tank, a specialized soak-away, or an injection tank), while solids are gathered inside a compostable bag.

Sun-Mar’s smallest and most economical model. It’s a simple, low-profile, European-styled dry toilet that separates waste into two distinct internal chambers. It plugs in to power a small turbo fan to keep things fresh and dry . It's a bit more budget-friendly than OGO or Cuddy , though it lacks some of the automated bells and whistles.[1]

To help narrow down the ideal option for your specific setup, could you let me know:

• Where are you installing it (van, boat, tiny home, cabin)?
• Do you have access to a 12V electrical system or plug-in power for a small continuous fan?
• How you prefer to handle venting (through a wall/floor vs. vent-free/carbon filter)?