Raising Kids Gear and Products The 9 Best Lunchboxes for Kids of 2021 Help make lunchtime fun for your children By Deanna McCormack Deanna McCormack Twitter Deanna McCormack is a beauty, parenting, and lifestyle writer who has written for Bustle, Byrdie, TheEverymom.com, and more. Learn about our editorial process Fact checked by Cara Lustik Fact checked by Cara Lustik on June 20, 2021 LinkedIn Cara Lustik is a fact checker and copywriter. She has more than 15 years of experience crafting stories in the branding, licensing, and entertainment industries. Learn about our editorial process on June 20, 2021 Print Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Bentgo Kids Lunch Box at Amazon A quality product specifically designed for kids, it has drop-proof, rubber-coated edges and a sturdy design. Best Budget: EasyLunchboxes Bento Snack Boxes at Amazon You get four colorful and stackable four-compartment containers to prep and pack snacks and lunches. Best Bento Box: Omie Bento Box at Amazon It comes with a removable thermos compartment that can be used to keep foods like pasta and soup warm. Best for Big Kids: Art of Lunch Insulated Lunch Bag at Amazon These fun neoprene lunch bags partner with artists around the world that create the unique, stylish designs. Best for Cold Food: PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag at Amazon Instead of worrying about ice packs, simply fold the bag up and put it in the freezer overnight. Best for Toddlers: Pottery Barn Kids Glow in the Dark Lunch Box at Potterybarnkids.com It has a fun pattern and features a water-resistant exterior and an interior that is easy to clean. Best for Teens: CZYY Waxed Canvas Lunch Bags at Amazon They have the look of a brown bag, but are durable enough to withstand spills. Best Insulated: L.L. Bean Expandable Lunch Box at L.L.Bean Fans of the product love putting a bento box inside of it to keep cool and protect from any leaks. Best Thermos: THERMOS FOOGO Food Jar at Amazon The insulation technology in this thermos keeps contents cool for up to 7 hours and warm for up to 5 hours. Don’t let packing your child’s lunch slow down your morning. The best lunch boxes make it easy for the parent and child to enjoy lunchtime and pack food that can be kept cold (or hot) or separated, depending on your needs. Bento boxes are the popular choice lately because they have small compartments that allow for creativity, variety, and plenty of snacks. A traditional insulated bag or thermos also makes a great choice. Look no further, these are our choices for the best lunch boxes for kids in 2021. Best Overall: Bentgo Kids Lunch Box View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bed Bath & Beyond What We Like Separate Compartments Drop-Proof Leakproof What We Don't Like Not Insulated The Bentgo Lunch Box is specifically designed for kids. It has drop-proof, rubber-coated edges and a sturdy design. It comes in fun colors with five compartments that have been thoughtfully designed and portioned out. Fans of the product rave about the sealing mechanism and that the food doesn’t leak into one another. A quality product, this lunchbox is easy to clean and easy to transport making it our best overall option. Best Budget: EasyLunchboxes Bento Snack Boxes View On Amazon View On Walmart What We Like Inexpensive Good for Snacks Stackable What We Don't Like Not Leakproof Require Separate Lunchbox For under $15, you get four four-compartment containers that are colorful and stackable. With these, you can make lunches ahead of time, or buy one set to share if you have more than one child. The lids are not leakproof but can be easily removed by toddlers when it's time to eat. Parents recommend putting these containers in an insulated fabric lunch bag if the food needs to stay cold. Best Bento Box: Omie Bento Box View On Amazon View On Omielife.com What We Like Stores Hot and Cold Food Leak-Proof What We Don't Like Thermos May Make Other Food Warm The OmieBox was invented by a mom who couldn’t find a good solution for both hot and cold food—one of the main reasons we love this bento box. It comes with a removable thermos compartment that can be used to keep foods like pasta and soup warm. For cool foods like sandwiches, you can remove the leak-proof bowl and use the removable rectangular compartment. In general, bento boxes are great for kids because you can pack smaller amounts of food with more variety. Best for Big Kids: Art of Lunch Insulated Lunch Bag View On Amazon What We Like Insulated Machine Washable What We Don't Like Small Interior These fun neoprene lunch bags partner with artists around the world that create unique, stylish designs. The thick neoprene material keeps food fresh and insulated for up to 4 hours, and they’re easy to store at home or in your bag after lunch. They lay flat and can be thrown into the washing machine to clean, and while it is on the smaller side, it has enough room to hold a water bottle along with lunch. The 10 Best Backpacks for Kids of 2021 Best for Cold Food: PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag View On Amazon What We Like Keeps Food Cold Roomy What We Don't Like Not Ideal for Hot Food This lunch bag keeps food cold for up to 10 hours. Instead of worrying about ice packs, simply fold the bag up and put it in the freezer overnight. The patented freezable gel is permanently built into the bag, and the zip closure ensures it keeps all contents inside cold. This bag is large enough to hold a sandwich, a drink, and some snacks. The 9 Best Healthy Snacks for Kids of 2021, According to a Dietitian Best for Toddlers: Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Glow in the Dark Lunch Box View On Potterybarnkids.com What We Like Personalized Organized Compartments What We Don't Like Not Machine Washable Toddlers will love the cool designs on this lunch bag. It glows in the dark and you can even get their name embroidered on it. It has a fun pattern and features a water-resistant exterior and an interior that is easy to clean. To save space inside, the water bottle holder is on the outside and also includes a removable ice pack that fastens inside. Even better, Pottery Barn has a full collection of lunch boxes and accessories to complete the lineup. Best for Teens: CZYY Waxed Canvas Lunch Bags View On Amazon What We Like Simple Design Adjustable Size What We Don't Like No Handle Getting a teenager to take a lunch box to school can be a challenge. We like these waxed canvas lunch bags because they have the look of a brown bag, but are durable enough to withstand spills. They can be cleaned with a damp cloth or rinsed with water. The height can be adjusted and is quite roomy—it can fit a water bottle and lunch with snacks at its tallest point. The 10 Best Labels for Kid Lunch Boxes and Clothing of 2021 Best Insulated: L.L. Bean Expandable Lunch Box View On L.L.Bean What We Like Expandable Fits Ice Pack What We Don't Like Basic Color Options This insulated lunch box from L.L. Bean is durable enough to last for many years, even in the hands of a child. We love the expandable option that gives you two inches of extra room when you need it. The internal mesh pocket fits an ice pack and the smooth plastic interior is easy to clean. Fans of the product love putting a bento box inside of it to keep cool and protect from any leaks. Best Thermos: THERMOS FOOGO Food Jar View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Bed Bath & Beyond What We Like Small Enough for Lunchbox Good for Hot and Cold Food What We Don't Like Only for Single Food Item Most kids don’t have access to a microwave or refrigerator while at school so having a reliable thermos can be a make or break at lunchtime. The insulation technology in this thermos keeps contents cool for up to 7 hours and warm for up to 5 hours. The 10-ounce capacity is a good size for children and the rubber lid is easy for those little hands to grip to open and close. To maximize ensuring the food stays hot, fill the thermos with hot tap water or boiling water beforehand. The 7 Best Water Bottles for Kids of 2021 Final Verdict There aren't many options on the market that can really compete with the flexibility of the Bentgo Kids Lunchbox (view on Amazon). Your child can enjoy snacks and their main course all in one place without worrying about their food mixing into a mess. For a simple option that can store all of your child's food while keeping it cool throughout the day, the L.L. Bean Expandable (view on L.L. Bean) is durable and will last throughout the school year. What To Look for When Buying Lunchboxes for Kids Size Before buying, think about how much room you will need for your child’s food items. If you want to be able to fit a bento box, an ice pack, and a water bottle inside a lunch box then you will require something larger. Also, consider that a larger box may be too bulky and be tough to fit inside a backpack. Typically, older kids can get by with a smaller lunchbox as they don't need to pack several snacks for the entire day while toddlers may need an option that can hold breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Functionality What works for someone else may not work for what you pack for your child’s lunch. A bento box style gives your child lots of snack options, but an insulated box with room for an ice pack is better if the temperature is the priority for you. Keep in mind you may want a box that your child can open and close on their own. Cost A lunchbox can last a whole school year for some, where others may prefer to have a few reusable boxes. Most options range in the $20-$25 mark but there are a few great budget-friendly choices available as well. Why Trust Verywell Family Deanna McCormack is a writer, copywriter, and creative consultant who specializes in beauty, parenting, and lifestyle products. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit