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.

  1. 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]
    • 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.
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2

Choose the largest wide-mouth bottle you have.

  1. 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] 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]
    • 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.

  1. 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]
    • 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.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What does it mean when you pee way too much?
    Robert Dhir, MD
    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
    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.
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Warnings

  • Don’t use glass bottles or aluminum cans so there isn’t any risk of injuring yourself.
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About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 496,754 times.
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Co-authors: 94
Updated: December 3, 2021
Views: 496,754
Categories: Urination
Article SummaryX

To pee in a bottle, you’ll need to find one with a capacity of at least 465 milliliters to make sure you have enough space for your urine. Then, find a discreet place where you won’t be seen by onlookers. Once you’ve found some privacy, angle the bottle so that your urine hits the bottom of the bottle, which will prevent it splashing back at you. If you’re a female, consider using a female urination device, like a SheWee to help you control the flow. When you’ve finished peeing, dispose of the bottle in a bin or wait until you find a toilet, then pour it down the bowl. For more tips, including how to train your bladder so you only feel the urge to pee when you really need to, read on!

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