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The Spruce Eats / Chloe Jeong
Why wait for dinner to dig into yesterday’s yummy leftovers? Save time and indulge even sooner by packing them for lunch. With a trusty lunch box on hand, you’ll always be able to take along your favorite food to work, school, or even on a picnic.
Bringing a meal from home has other benefits besides an automatic five-star review from you, too: It can save you money. Plus, a reusable lunch box or bag means less waste than using a single-use brown or plastic bag for toting your food.
And don’t think for a second that lunch boxes are just for kids (although we did find the perfect pick for little ones, too). As our list below of the best lunch boxes proves, there are plenty of grown-up and stylish lunch boxes out there just waiting to hold your favorite meals.
When choosing a lunch box, consider its insulation properties and ensure that it's made with water-resistant and leak-proof materials. We researched and tested top-rated options to help you find the best one for whatever type of lunch you plan to pack.
See some of the best lunch boxes below.
Best Overall
Hydro Flask Large Insulated Lunch Box
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Amazon
Maximum, long-lasting insulation
Easy-clean interior
Four fun color options
Doesn't include a longer strap for carrying
This lunch box earned our best overall spot because it's a nice, medium size, could work for kids or adults, and comes from a brand trusted and known for its durability and insulation. If you already trust Hydroflask's reusable water bottles to keep your drinks cold (we do), you'll be glad to learn that the brand's lunch boxes boast that same powerful insulation. In fact, Hydroflask’s Large Insulated Lunch Box features two layers of insulation to keep your food perfectly chilled for hours. Plus, this durable design holds up to countless outings like the brand's trademark bottle.
Available in four exterior colors (our favorite is the bright sunflower hue), the lunch boxes also feature fully-lined interiors that can be wiped down and cleaned easily, as well as a zippered pocket for utensils and an ice pack.
Price at time of publish: $44
Materials: Rigid nylon | Compartments: Single, with netted compartment in lid | Size: 9.25 x 9.25 x 4 inches (small), 12 x 10.5 x 4 inches (large)
Best for Kids
Bentgo Kids Lunch Box
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Amazon
Leakproof design
Durable
Easy to clean
Comes in lots of fun colors
Exterior scratches fairly easily
Bento boxes are a great option for packing lunches for kids because they feature separate compartments that allow you to pack a variety of foods. This one in particular features five compartments. The largest one is perfect for a small sandwich, three mid-sized compartments work for everything from cheese puffs to fruit to carrot sticks, and the small round one is great for dips or sauces. The best part? Nothing leaks between compartments or from the box itself.
Our tester packed lunches every day for a week for her 5-year-old son to take to school and both parent and child were pleased with its performance. The rubber sides proved extra durable so it's conveniently drop-proof, although it will inevitably show scratch marks. It's also simple to clean because the removable inner tray is dishwasher safe and the outer shell can be wiped down easily—there aren't any crevices that trap food.
Finally—and perhaps most important to your child—it comes in several prints and colors. You can also mix and match the removable inner trays if you decide to buy a couple. The inner trays are also microwave and freezer safe.
Price at time of publish: $40
Materials: BPA-free plastic and rubber | Compartments: 5 | Size: 8.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches
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The Spruce Eats / Brigitt Earley
"We particularly loved that nothing leaked out into our son’s backpack the entire week he used it." — Linnea Covington, Product Tester
Best Oversized
Mier Adult Lunch Box
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Amazon
Leak-proof bottom
Lots of pockets/compartments
Shoulder carrying strap
Can only be spot-cleaned
Won’t hold an upright bottle
The MIER Adult lunch box is a spacious option that can double as a small cooler for a beach day or picnic. It features two large main compartments that provide plenty of space, as well as the ability to separate your cold drinks and hot food.
Our testers note that it can fit a full day's worth of food—not just lunch—with space left over. One of our testers managed to fit multiple water bottles, canned seltzers, food storage containers packed with leftovers, and a full-size tub of hummus inside. It also includes exterior compartments with unique functions (there’s even a cardholder), and the exterior’s tear-resistant oxford fabric comes in a variety of patterns.
Price at time of publish: $35
Materials: Polyester exterior | Compartments: Two (upper and lower) | Size: 10.25 x 8 x 11 inches | Additional Info: Both upper and lower compartments are insulated
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The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
"If you pack cold food in this lunch box and include an ice pack, the food will still be very cold by the time you get to lunch." — Ashley Ziegler, Product Tester
Best Budget
Rubbermaid LunchBlox Small Lunch Bag
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Amazon
Large interior
Features bottle holder and utensil compartment
Fits Rubbermaid or Tupperware containers
Containers not included
Limited insulation
You don't have to spend a ton on a lunch box to find quality, and this one from Rubbermaid received high praise from our tester. The LunchBlox Lunch Box showcases plenty of practical features like a roomy interior with BPA-free lining, separate compartments for utensils and a water bottle, and both a removable shoulder strap and cushioned handle for easy carrying. And all of that comes at a very affordable price.
Our tester loved how lightweight it is and her son had no problem toting it. It's one large compartment so you will have to package foods separately. It's designed to work with Rubbermaid LunchBlox food containers (sold separately) but you can also use whatever containers or bento box you already own.
Price at time of publish: $16
Materials: Fabric exterior | Compartments: Single | Size: 5.5 x 8.75 x 9 inches | Additional Info: Sized to accommodate Rubbermaid LunchBlox containers, all sold separately
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The Spruce Eats / Brigitt Earley
"If you want the flexibility to pack a wide range of foods, this is a good, lightweight option." — Brigitt Earley, Product Tester
Best for Adults
Modern Picnic The Luncher
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Amazon
Fashion-forward design
Insulated interior
Separate compartments for utensils and more
May be too small for larger meals
Expensive
To anyone who believes lunch boxes to be childish, Modern Picnic is here to change your mind. Woman-founded and led, the brand crafts fashion-forward lunch boxes that look like the designer handbags you’d find in an expensive boutique. Available in a whole host of hues, the exterior of its classic The Luncher bag is made of faux crocodile leather for a modern spin on the mealtime essential.
But these bags aren’t only stylish: They’re also completely functional, thanks to the expertly insulated interior that’ll keep whatever foods you pack nice and cold. Inside, you’ll also find pockets for utensils, and the bag snaps shut via a magnetic closure.
Price at time of publish: $160
Materials: Vegan leather | Compartments: Single, with loops to hold utensils | Size: Appx. 8.5 x 10 x 6.5 inches
Best Electric
CTSZOOM Self-Cooking Electric Lunch Box
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Amazon
Reliable heating function
Layered food compartments for more space
Stylish white and brown design
Needs a separate adapter for a car
Perfect for those who don’t have access to a microwave to warm their food, an electric lunch box is an excellent multitasking option. In addition to transporting meals, it can also warm and even cook food. Electric lunch boxes boast heating components that eliminate the need for a microwave or oven to enjoy hot food. Our favorite option features two-layered, high-temperature-resistant food containers, so you’ll have plenty of space. It can be plugged into a nearby outlet so you can enjoy a warm meal right at your desk. Plus, with a clean white and brown design and nifty handle, it’s also stylish.
Price at time of publish: $38
Materials: Stainless steel | Compartments: Three; one double, one single | Size: 10.25 x 5 x 6 inches
Best Metal
Onyx Two-Layer Sandwich Box
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Food 52
Food-safe and durable stainless steel
Double-layered construction
Comes in a set of two
Metal may rust if not properly dried
We love the minimalist, vintage feel of these metal lunch boxes. With stainless steel construction, they're durable enough to survive endless runs through the dishwasher or being shoved to the back of the fridge. The biggest perk? They boast two compartments: The top is the perfect size for a sandwich, while the bottom can store a snack, salad, quinoa, pasta, and more.
Two simple metal clasps secure the boxes to keep your food safe inside. The set comes with one medium and one large box, so you can choose the right size for every meal or use them to pack up a picnic for the family.
Price at time of publish: $22
Materials: Stainless steel | Compartments: Two | Size: 6.25 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches (medium), 7 x 5 x 2.5 inches (large)
Our top pick is the Hydro Flask Insulated Lunch Box, with a single compartment and netting to pack your food, maximum insulation, an easy-clean interior, and four colors to choose from. For a budget-friendly pick that doesn't skimp on quality, we recommend the Rubbermaid LunchBlox Lunch Bag, with a roomy interior, removable shoulder strap, and cushioned handle.
What to Look for in a Lunch Box
Water-Resistant and Leakproof Fabrics
In case your water bottle or food container springs a leak, you’ll be thankful for a lunch box that features water-resistant or leakproof fabric. This way, the mess will be contained inside and won’t spill over to the interior of your car or inside your office desk drawer. Most of these fabrics can also be wiped clean, so your lunch box will be as good as new to carry your lunch the following day.
Insulation
To keep food from spoiling and drinks refreshingly cold, be sure that your lunch box boasts insulating capabilities. Many lunch box manufacturers proudly tout this feature: Insulation helps keep items at the temperature you want them, and some insulating lunch boxes can keep food cold for hours.
Food-safe Lining
Food-safe linings help ensure your food stays fresh without being contaminated by lunch box materials. Look for the term “BPA-free" in the product’s description, which means that the lining doesn’t contain the chemical bisphenol-A that’s used to craft many common materials and could possibly seep into food and beverages.
FAQs
How can you keep food hot or cold in a lunch box?
Unless you’re investing in a high-tech lunchbox that has built-in chilling or heating features, the first thing to do to help keep food hot or cold is purely logical: Separate hot from cold. Even if that means keeping two separate lunchboxes, it will make it much easier to maintain the desired temperatures. You can also invest in individually insulated containers.
Even with insulated containers, though, there’s more you can do to boost their efficiency. Fill them with hot (or icy) water first, and then let them sit for a bit before emptying the water and filling them with food. That simple step means that the stored food itself doesn’t have to do the heavy lifting of first heating and cooling its own container. (This works for everyday coffee mugs and insulated beverage containers, too.)
Keep reusable freezer packs handy to surround the cold foods in the lunchbox. For hot foods, add a microwaveable hot pack, picking a size that best suits the lunchbox, or go entirely low-tech by insulating each food container with two layers of paper towels (handy later for napkins) and a tight wrap of aluminum foil.
What is a bento box?
Strictly, “bento” describes a type of Japanese lacquered box, but in the world of lunchboxes, “bento” generally means that the lunchbox will have sections, and often a self-contained carrier with onboard utensils and a lid designed to be carried.
How do you wash a lunch box and how often?
How best to keep a lunchbox and its gear clean will depend entirely on the kind you have. First, read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Also, it's best to err on the side of caution and hand wash lunch boxes and gear whenever possible.
Even dishwasher-safe items can warp under heat, and if something warps, its lid won’t fit properly. Worse, the insulating fluids in some containers can leak out if the seals expand, and then you’ll have a real mess on your hands. If the lunchbox has a fabric exterior or thin lining over its inside insulation, all of that should just be wiped and spot-cleaned as necessary unless the manufacturer suggests machine washing.
Clean a lunchbox and its gear after every use, and store open to the air until absolutely dry inside. A shut-up food container or lunchbox with moisture inside will certainly lead to the growth of mold.
How does an electric lunch box work?
An electric lunchbox is basically an insulated container that has interior coils that heat up to warm the food inside. Versions can be found with plugs for home current (110- or 120-volt) or car/camper (12- or 24-volt), and some will have the option of either plug. Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to heat the food, whether to remove or leave on any exterior carriers or covers, and enjoy a warm lunch.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ease of use, material, or price—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Lifestyle writer Jamie Cuccinelli has several years of experience in the wedding, lifestyle, and home décor industries, first as an editor of Brides.com and then as a writer for websites like MyDomaine and The Spruce, where she’s seasoned in outfitting a stunning wedding registry, kitchen cutlery drawer, linen closet, and carefully curated home. Years of living in New York City on a shoestring budget has also made her a pro at packing homemade lunches—and that time that her brown paper bag sprung a leak inside her tote made her vow never to trust anything but the most leakproof lunch boxes again.
Catherine Russell, who updated this roundup, is a writer and editor specializing in food, culture, and home and garden. Grandma’s kitchen was a favorite place for Catherine growing up, and that’s where she first learned to bake, roast, broil, and cook most anything from scratch. Her work has appeared in national publications, such as Bon Appetit, and in film and video.
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