7 Best Lunch Boxes for Kids
From durable stainless steel to insulated lunch boxes that pack flat after using, we've got something for every kid.
Expert consulted: Nicole PapantoniouKitchen Appliances Lab Director
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Your kid's lunch box takes a beating with near-daily use, so you'll need one that will last the entire school year. With back-to-school season upon us, now is the perfect time to find the best (and cutest!) lunch bag to keep that healthy lunch you made intact.
Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab have tested dozens of lunch boxes and bags in recent years. The top performers in our tests keep sandwiches, snacks and fruits chilled throughout the morning and often feature extras like Thermoses for soup or built-in ice packs. We evaluate style, weight, size, seal and other additional features to find options suitable for all needs and budgets. Looking for more top-tested lunch gear for back-to-school season? Check out our guides to the best reusable sandwich bags and kids' water bottles, too.
PackIt Freezable Lunch Box
Pros
- Freezable gel liner keeps food cold for hours
- No extra ice pack needed, saving space and weight
- Folds flat for storage
Cons
- Heavier than some other lunch box styles
Who needs an ice pack when you have an insulated lunch box to keep your kid's food cold? PackIt's freezable gel liner eliminates the need to jam a separate ice pack alongside all that food: Simply pop the whole bag into the freezer overnight, and it will keep food chilled throughout the school morning.
In a recent Lab test, the PackIt was the only lunch bag to keep its contents below 40˚F (a safety benchmark for perishables) for 5.5 hours. While the gel liner makes it heavier than a standard lunch box with an ice pack — one of our Lab directors felt it added too much weight to her kid's backpack — it's still lighter than the stainless steel options on our list.
The lunch box folds flat, making it easy to fit in your freezer while it gets cold for the next day. Your kid can also easily pack it back into their backpack to bring home. When unfolded, we found it to be spacious enough for packing a good amount of food, too.
On Amazon, there are three kid-friendly designs available: a rainbow (shown), an astronaut version and a cupcake design. Additional styles are available at Kohls. PackIt's original Freezable Lunch Bag has a more mature design, suitable for older children or even for your own lunch if you take one to work.
Capacity: 2.5 liters/2.6 quarts | Dimensions: 8" x 10" x 4" when open | Weight: 13.3 oz
RELATED: We Tested 24 Food Storage Containers to Find the Best
Pros
- Ideal for kids who prefer their foods stay separated
- Low price
- Freezer-, dishwasher- and microwave-safe
Cons
- Drink has to be packed separately
Picky kids will appreciate this bento box, which keeps all their favorite foods separate with no risk of touching or transferring tastes. Two removable trays nestle in to form this compact, lightweight bento box for around $10, which we think is a great deal.
The round container includes a screw-on lid to keep up to five ounces of foods like yogurt, hummus or fruit salad contained. Our Lab pros especially appreciate the Sistema clamp, which forms a tight seal on the outer box to help prevent spills.
Every piece of this tidy box can be popped in the freezer or used in the microwave (without a lid). It can also be cleaned in the dishwasher. On Amazon, you can even buy a two-pack, ensuring one is always available while the other is being washed. Note that this box does not come with a drink compartment, so kids will need to store drinks separately.
Capacity: 1.65 liters/1.74 quarts | Dimensions: 8.6" x 7.3" x 3" | Weight: 11.04 oz
RELATED: The Best Lunch Bags for Adults, According to Testing
Pros
- Lightweight but holds a lot
- Easy-to-clean lining
- Exterior and interior pockets
Cons
- Drink must ride inside or separately
This lightweight, durable nylon lunch box is a longtime favorite amongst GH staffers for school lunches. It can hold up to 4.6 quarts, plus we found that the smooth plastic interior is easy to clean and resists stains, even if grape juice is left in it overnight. Online reviews praise this lunch box as a "workhorse."
One of our contributors reports that she ran her child's L.L.Bean lunch box through the dishwasher every Friday at the end of the school week. It only needed about a day to dry on a dish rack afterward.
There's a zip pocket on the exterior for stashing cash or a lunch card if your child buys a drink each day or something from the vending machine after school. Inside, there's a mesh pocket that can hold a snack separate from everything else or an ice pack to keep food chilled.
This bag is large enough on the inside to fit both a Hydroflask insulated food jar and a stainless steel water bottle. But be aware that a drink can take up a lot of room and if you need that space for food, your kid will have to carry their drink separately.
Capacity: 4.4 liters/4.6 quarts | Dimensions: 9.5" x 7" x 3.25" | Weight: 6 oz
Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Cold Pack Lunch Box
Pros
- Add a name or monogram
- Highest capacity on our list
- Holds a drink on the side
Cons
- No user reviews on the PBK site
Personalize your child's lunchbox with this spacious option from Pottery Barn Kids, which allows you to add a name or monogram to the front. It'll make it easy for your child to spot (or for you to retrieve from lost and found!).
With a wipeable interior and rigid walls that keep delicate foods from getting crushed, a water bottle or drink can also fit neatly in the mesh side pouch. While the Classic version is a bit less expensive, we like the Cold Pack option even more than the original because it features two insulated compartments inside as well as a larger interior mesh pocket for a matching ice pack. And in our Lab tests, we confirmed that the main double zipper won't come open if the bag is shaken or dropped.
The Mackenzie comes in a bunch of kid-bait patterns including Hot Wheels Monster Trucks, Glow-in-the-Dark Spider-Man and a Disney Princess Adaptive Lunch Box that can snap onto a wheelchair or walker. Pottery Barn Kids also sells matching backpacks. We just wish — as parents and as analysts — that the PBK site allowed shoppers to post their own reviews.
Capacity: 7 liters/7.3 quarts | Dimensions: 9.25" x 7.75" x 3.75" | Weight: 1 lb
Bentgo Kids Print Bento-Style Lunch Box
Pros
- Keeps food separated but easily accessible
- Simple latches for preschool- and Kindergarten-age kids
- Lots of patterns available
Cons
- Smallest capacity on our list
Bento boxes are especially great for kids ages 3 to 7, since they keep food separated and make it easy for little hands to pick up their snacks. This leakproof version keeps food accessible and has two easy-to-use latches.
There are dozens of kid-friendly patterns to choose from, including dinos, puppies, camo, rainbows and more. Though it nearly doubles the cost, if you buy the full Bentgo Lunch Set, it includes the bento box plus matching ice packs and a matching carrier tote with a space for a drink on the side.
Featuring five compartments, the Bentgo box itself can easily slide into your child's backpack and is also dishwasher-safe. Our one gripe: It doesn't hold a lot — it's got the smallest capacity of all the boxes on our list. That said, it's specifically designed for preschoolers and Kindergarteners who generally don't eat a lot, in our experience!
Capacity: .56 liters/.6 quarts| Dimensions: 8.5" x 6.5" x 2" | Weight: 1.3 lbs
RELATED: 30 Easy, Healthy Snacks for Kids
Alternatively, kids can carry their Bentgo box inside the Bentgo Lunch Tote, an insulated tote designed to keep food warm or cool for up to four hours.
Pros
- Removable Thermos-like container for hot or cold foods
- Moveable dividers to change up compartment size
- Box features a tight rubber seal to help prevent leaks
Cons
- With the thermal food jar, this is our heaviest pick
This insulated bento box–style lunch box from Omie comes with a removable, Thermos-like container meant to hold hot or cold foods. It's perfect for toting last night's reheated leftovers or some warm mac and cheese for a picky eater.
The screw-on lid for the Omiebox's hot food container is designed for a child to be able to open on their own at lunchtime, thanks to a handle that pops up. If you aren't packing the stainless steel container, its square compartment can be used for a sandwich instead. The rectangular compartment has a movable divider that allows you to adjust the size to fit your foods.
When packed with the food container, this box becomes one of the heaviest lunch boxes on our list, comparable to the Planetbox. It is recommended for ages 3 and up. (FYI: A smaller version will be available soon.)
For cleaning, the brand recommends removing the box's leakproof rubber seal and washing it along with all the other parts. While we found it a bit tricky to reinstall the seal, we appreciate that this feature helps prevent spills.
Capacity: N/A | Dimensions: 7.5" x 8.5" x 3" | Weight: 1.8 lbs
Pros
- Easy to clean and plastic-free
- Keeps food nicely separated
- Durable
Cons
- Stainless steel is heavier than other lunch box materials
If you're looking for a plastic-free option, stainless steel is a popular, easy-to-clean choice — not to mention extra durable. Just note that it is heavier than nylon or plastic, so consider how much weight your child will be carrying in their backpack.
PlanetBox's ROVER has four compartments plus a smaller spot for dip or dessert. If you purchase just the box, your child will need to carry their water bottle separately, though PlanetBox does sell an Insulated Lunch Bag designed to fit its stainless-steel bento box that includes a pocket for your child's water bottle.
We found that the latch on this box isn't the simplest to use, but the brand age-grades it for ages 3 and up. The capacity is listed as "a pound," which might not suit older kids with larger appetites, though we think it's ideal for elementary school ages. But for kids who pack larger sandwiches, note that PlanetBox sells a deeper two-compartment version and a three-compartment version.
Capacity: N/A | Dimensions: 10" x 7.5" x 2" | Weight: 1.7 lbs
More kids' lunch boxes we tested and recommend
•Most stylish: The Modern Picnic Mini Luncher (pictured) looks like a chic patent-leather purse but can hold a kid's lunch containers on the inside.
•Affordable licensed characters: The Thermos Dual Lunch Box (BB-8 version) is a well-made favorite that's available for about $15 on Amazon; at Walmart the Thermos Pokemon Lunch Box is around $10.
•Best for toddlers: For kids in daycare or nursery school, we like the affordable Munchkin Bento Box for Kids, which comes with a spoon and kid-safe fork.
•Best with a water bottle included: The Go Green lunch box fell off our list of top picks in the most recent update to this guide, mainly because it's nearly the size of a laptop at 13" x 9" — but if you're looking for a lunch box that comes with a stainless-steel water bottle and ice packs, it's a solid option.
How we test lunch boxes
We test all kinds of gear at the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. The picks in this guide are based on data from testing over 50 lunch boxes and bags over the last seven years. When testing, we consider:
✔️ Ease of use: We ask adults — as well as a 6-year-old and a 5-year-old — to open and close the bags and boxes to ensure they're easy to open and close. (The 5-year-old found zippered, soft-sided bags easier to handle than latched, rigid boxes.) We also experiment with packing various amounts of food in each lunch box.
✔️ Durability: We drop each lunch box to check if it stays closed. We also test for staining. All of the lunch boxes in this story can be cleaned, but we found that those with a smooth plastic or metal interior are easiest.
✔️ Performance: Our testers add an apple, a juice box, a sandwich and an ice pack to each lunch bag before performing a temperature-evaluation test (pictured) to determine how long each can maintain a safe temperature over a six-hour period. (Our best overall pick performed the best in this test.) We also add two tablespoons of apple juice to each lunch box to determine if it is leak-resistant.
✔️ Real-world experience: Our Lab pros survey real-life consumers, scour online reviews and evaluate lunch boxes with the kids in their own lives to make sure we aren't missing anything.
What to consider when buying the best kids' lunch box
✔️ Your child's age: The fewer steps required to open a lunch box, the quicker a small child can start eating. A bento box that has all the food ready and accessible is appealing for this reason. Have your child practice opening and closing the lunch box at home before sending it with them to school.
✔️ Weight and size: Consider whether the lunch box fits in your child's backpack or if you'll need a separate tote. If it goes in a backpack, choose something compact and lightweight that can hold its shape to avoid being crushed. If your child has a short walk or is driven to school, weight may be less of a concern for you.
✔️ Materials: Stainless steel is durable, plastic-free and easy to clean in the sink or dishwasher, though it is the heaviest lunch box material. A rigid plastic bento box is lighter and usually dishwasher-safe.
Nylon and other fabric bags are lightweight, open with a zipper and pack flat when empty. They are often the easiest for kids to open and usually come with insulation. However, you may need to fill them with food containers, which means kids will have some unpacking to do.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing consumer products for over 100 years, and our experts specialize in everything families need for the back-to-school season. We continually test kid-related food products, from baby bowls to the best blenders for your tween's smoothies.
Lead reviewer Nicole Papantoniou directs the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, overseeing all testing related to cooking products, including lunch boxes. She has been testing cooking tools, gadgets, gear and appliances for 10 years, often involving her family members. Trained in classic culinary arts, Papantoniou is also a professional recipe developer.
This guide was written by Jessica Hartshorn, a mom of two and a former editor at Parents magazine. A contributing writer for GH, she brings decades of experience evaluating products for babies and children, especially back-to-school gear.
Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
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