How to Pee in a Bottle

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 3, 2021 References

We’ve all been there: you’re on a road trip or stuck in a tent camping somewhere and there isn’t a bathroom in sight. And when you gotta go, well, you gotta go! Luckily, if you have a bottle around, you may have a solution to your problem. Peeing in a bottle may seem tricky, but with the right approach, it’s much easier than you might think. To help you do it, we’ve put together a simple list you can follow to relieve yourself without making a mess.

1

Use a pee funnel to direct the urine into the bottle.

This can be especially useful for women. There are a variety of devices that serve this highly useful purpose such as Whiz Freedom, She-Wee, and Ms. Whiz. If you’re worried about potential spills or missing the opening of the bottle, place a pee funnel against your body to direct the stream into the bottle. Just be sure to clean the funnel when you’re finished!^{[1]
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- You can find pee funnels at your local sports and outdoors shop. You can also order them online.
- If you’re in a pinch, you could make a cone with a sheet of paper to act as a makeshift funnel.

2

Choose the largest wide-mouth bottle you have.

You don’t want to run out of room while you’re still going. While it can vary from person to person, most people pee about 2 cups at a time.^{[2]
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Research source} The last thing you want is an overflow situation, so make sure you choose a bottle that can hold enough liquid. Go with as wide of a mouth as you can to avoid potential messes. A sports drink bottle such as a Gatorade bottle will often have a wider mouth than a water bottle.^{[3]
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- If you’re using an empty drink bottle, it’ll usually list how much volume the bottle holds on the label.
- It can be tougher to “aim” for smaller openings on bottles.
- Avoid using a glass bottle, which often have much smaller openings. Steer clear of cans as well, which have edges that could potentially cut you—which is something nobody wants happening.

3

Place the bottle’s opening as close to your body as possible.

Make aiming as easy as possible to avoid messes. When you’re ready to go, get into a position that allows you to hold the opening of the bottle right next to your body. For guys, that may be a kneeling position, and girls may want to take a comfortable squatting position, especially if you’re in a cramped space such as a vehicle or tent.^{[4]
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- If you’re driving a car, pull over so you can safely go to the restroom. Don’t try to go while you’re driving or it could lead to spills—or worse, a car accident.
- It might be helpful to climb into the backseat to give yourself more room to use the bottle.

4

Tilt the bottle at a downward angle as you go.

It can help prevent spills and overflows. With the bottle in position close to your body, slowly start to pee, making sure you’re making it into the bottle. Keep the bottle held so the bottom is tilted toward the ground or floor. That way the liquid doesn’t quickly overfill the bottle or potentially flow back toward you and create a mess.^{[5]
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5

Seal the bottle when you’re finished

Keep it closed up nice and tight until you can dispose of it. Once the deed is done, try to quickly close the lid to help keep the smell contained. Keep the bottle stored away until you can properly dispose of it.^{[6]
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- If the bottle doesn’t have a lid or you don’t want to keep it stored, you can empty it out somewhere such as the side of the road. But don’t litter and leave the bottle behind!

6

Wash your hands after you go.

Reduce the spread of germs that could get you sick. There’s a reason why washing your hands after going to the bathroom is important: you’ll get rid of germs that can make you and others sick. Use some hand sanitizer or a sanitizing wipe to wash up when you’re finished.^{[7]
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- If you have access to it, use soap and water to wash your hands.

7

Mark the bottle so you don’t forget.

You don’t want there to be any potential mix-ups. Take a marker and make some kind of identifying marking on the bottle such as an “X.” You could even write something like “Do not drink.” Just clearly mark the bottle so that you or another person don’t accidentally use it or drink from it.^{[8]
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- You may want to keep the bottle stashed away out of sight as well. Just to be safe.

8

Dispose of the bottle properly when you’re done with it.

Find a garbage can and please don’t litter. Leaving bottles full of pee on the side of the road is not only gross, in many places it’s illegal and you could face a hefty fine for it. Wait until you come across a dumpster or trash can you can use to properly dispose of the bottle.^{[9]
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- You don’t want to pollute the environment or force someone else to have to pick up your bottles.

Expert Q&A

Question

What does it mean when you pee way too much?

Robert Dhir, MD
Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.

Robert Dhir, MD

Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon

Expert Answer

Frequent urination is often a sign of drinking too many fluids, but it's also associated with more serious conditions, like diabetes or neurological issues. Be sure to meet with a urologist if your frequent urination gets worse over time.
Question

How much should you pee per trip?

Robert Dhir, MD
Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.

Robert Dhir, MD

Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon

Expert Answer

It depends on how long you're traveling for, as well as how much fluid you're drinking. Most people can hold their bladder for 3-4 hours, but you might have the urge to go if you have drunk a lot.