Find the best bento lunch boxes for kids and adults with this comprehensive guide. We put the top bento boxes to the test and picked the most durable, affordable, and easy-to-use options to make it easy for you to buy the one that’s right for your family.

Bento Lunch Box

Bento boxes are one of the best lunch box styles out there since they make it very easy to include a mix of different foods in a lunch. This means you have more flexibility with adding a diverse range of foods to a lunch, you can pack foods that don’t touch each other (which is important to some kids!), and you can pack things like dips and desserts, crunchy and soft foods, wet and dry foods without the textures impacting each other.

Below you’ll find my top picks for the best bento boxes. We have tested all of these lunchboxes in real life for durability, ease of use (so whether a child can open them on their own or not), ease of cleaning, and affordability.

There are options that work for toddlers, older kids, school lunches, daycare lunches, and adults so you can choose the one that works best for your family. And a variety of compartments, too, since you may prefer fewer or more spots for food.

Stainless Steel Bento Lunch Box

This Lunchbots Medium Quad Snack Container lunch box is a great option for toddlers and younger kids as it holds a modest amount of food and is lightweight enough to carry back and forth to school or daycare.

This material is super easy to clean and durable. The company makes a few different styles, so you can choose one with three compartments if you prefer or a larger size for an adult.

Prices for Lunchbots are usually between $20-40.

Plastic Bento Lunch Box

These classic Easy Lunchboxes have been our go-to lunch box for years. A set of 4 costs about $14, they nest for compact storage, and they are super durable. We use them for kids and adult lunches for school, work, and traveling.

I’ve been using the same set for about 5 years now.

Toddler Bento Lunch Box

These Easy Lunchboxes Snack Boxes are a perfect lunch box for a toddler since they hold plenty of food, but have four compartments so you can pack a mix. You can also use these as a snack box for older kids or adults.

A set of four usually costs about $13 on Amazon.

Bento Lunchbox with Insulated Thermos

If you want the option to pack a mix of hot and cold foods in the same bento box, this Omielife Bento Box is the one for you. The round part is an insulated thermos and it’s actually removable so you can also use that space to pack a sandwich on days when you want to pack a cold lunch.

This one is more of an investment as it costs around $45, but it’s easy to clean and will last for years and years. The company makes a really nice lunch bag, too.)

Leakproof Bento Boxes

The design of the Bentgo Bento Boxes can’t be beat as they securely seal so the food in each compartment stays put. This box has more compartments than others, which makes it great for little kids who may appreciate a diverse mix of foods. (This also makes it easier to pack a mix of food groups and maybe even a dip or dessert in the middle.)

These bento lunch boxes come in a broad mix of colors, they have a design that fits an ice pack so it stays cold, and make a stainless one, too. They usually start around $27 on Amazon.

Stackable Bento Box

This classic bento box, the Bentgo All-In-One Stackable Lunch Box, features two layers that easily stack together. This is a great adult lunch box since it has ample room to pack enough food for lunch for work (or just on the go).

It comes in a variety of colors and starts priced at about $14.

Bento Lunch Box Recipes

For more ideas on what to put into the bento box, you can see my Bento Lunch Box Ideas for 15 easy options.

You may also like Cold Lunches, No-Cook School Lunches, and Kindergarten Lunch Ideas.

Best Tips for Success

• Choose a lunch box that’s not too big, but one that will grow with your child.
• Most lunch boxes, even if they say they’re leakproof, have the potential to leak, so try not to pack anything super liquidy inside.
• Include a mix of food groups in a lunch to help it satisfy.
• Pack yourself a lunch when you pack one for the kids so you get to eat too.
• Try to wash a bento box when it comes back from school or daycare on the same day to avoid mildew and mold.
• Follow care instructions on the package to help the lunch box last.
• Pack cold food with an ice pack in an insulated lunch bag to keep it cool and safe and don’t forget to pack a drink in a water bottle.

Related Recipes

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