Free Public Toilets Near Me

Need a free public toilet near you? Most public restrooms are free to use - you just need to know where to look. Below is a live map of public toilets near your location, followed by a guide to the places that almost always have a free toilet, and links to free public toilets city by city.

View free public toilets near me on a larger map

Are public toilets free?

In most places, yes - public toilets in libraries, parks, shopping centres, supermarkets and museums are free to use. A few charge a small fee (often 20-50p in the UK, by card or contactless, mainly at some railway stations), and a few cafes expect a small purchase, but the large majority of public restrooms cost nothing.

Where to find a free public toilet

When you need a free toilet right now, these everyday places are your most reliable options - and they rarely require a purchase:

• Public libraries - free, clean and quiet, in almost every town and city.
• Parks and gardens - most large parks have free public toilets, open during daylight hours.
• Shopping malls and centres - free toilets, usually on multiple levels, with baby-changing and accessible options.
• Supermarkets and big-box stores - larger branches (Target, Walmart, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda) usually have free customer toilets.
• Fast-food restaurants - McDonald's, Burger King and similar; many are open late.
• Gas stations and convenience stores - your best bet late at night, as many are open 24 hours.
• Museums and galleries - many are free to enter and have free toilets.
• Railway, bus and transit stations - free or low-cost, and handy because they open early and close late.
• Hotel lobbies - the restrooms are usually just off the main entrance.

Free toilets in the UK: the Community Toilet Scheme

In the UK, many councils run a Community Toilet Scheme, where cafes, pubs and shops let the public use their toilets for free without having to buy anything. Look for a "Toilet" or "Community Toilet Scheme" sticker in the window. Council-run public conveniences are almost always free, while some station toilets charge a small fee.

Find free public toilets by city

Every one of our city guides lists the free public toilets in that city, with a live map and addresses. Browse by country:

• Public toilets in the USA - New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and more.
• Public toilets in the UK - London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and more.

Do I have to buy something to use a free toilet?

At dedicated public toilets - in libraries, parks, malls, stations and council conveniences - no. At cafes and some coffee shops a small purchase is sometimes expected (note that since 2025, Starbucks requires a purchase to use its restroom), but supermarkets, big-box stores and fast-food restaurants generally let you use the toilet without buying anything.

Looking for something more specific? See our guide to public toilets open now, or find public toilets near you on the home page - it works anywhere in the world.