Best Bento Boxes for Kids School Lunch – an expert review of our favorite tried-and-true lunchboxes! I tested out the top 9 bento boxes to help you find the perfect lunch box for your toddler, preschooler, or big kids that can go anywhere they go – school, preschool, a school pod, lunch at home, a playdate, or a fun outing. Plus, there are great options at all price points!
Kids Lunch Boxes
I’ve spent the last 7 years packing school lunches, as well as buying and trying almost every bento box on the market.
I had quite the bento box storage situation happening in my house for a while 🙈, but I was determined to find the perfect lunch box for my kids.
My determination (and messy cabinets) is your gain!
I narrowed the field down to my favorite 9 bento boxes 🍱 and then came up with 6 different categories to test them against each other. I packed my 5 and 7-year-old lunches in each of the bento boxes, and, like all kids, they gave me their very honest thoughts and opinions on each box.
I’ll share everything you need to know about the best bento boxes for kids in this review! Starting from how to find the best lunch box, to the top 9 bento boxes on the market, as well as what boxes are my all-time favorite winners, and so much more! This guide is great for kids 2 – 12 years old. You can also check out my best-selling school lunch cookbook for even more information and recipes!
In this review, you will find:
- How to Find the Best Lunch Box
- Things to Note
- Bento Boxes Reviewed
- Best Bento Boxes for Kids – Winners
- Best Bento Box for Each Age
- PlanetBox
- Omiebox
- Easy Lunch Boxes
- Bentgo
- Innobaby
- Ecolunchbox
- Yumbox
- Lunchbots
- Rubbermaid
How to Find the Best Lunch Box
- Leakproof: Will the lunch actually get to school without everything spilling everwhere? I go into way more detail about this below.
- Easy to Clean: Maybe the most important topic – how easy is it to clean, because none of us busy parents want to spend hours cleaning our kids’ lunchboxes.
- Kid-Friendly: is the bento box easy to open, is it too heavy, are the containers sharp, this guide goes into all the details.
- Materials: I talk about what type of materials are used for each bento. If you are looking for a plastic bento, plastic-free lunchbox or one made with only stainless steel – we’ve got you covered.
- Fit in Lunch Bag: to me it’s important to know which lunch bag the bento box will actually fit into.
- Capacity: You don’t want a bento box that’s too big or too small, you want one that will hold just the right amount of food for your child.
Things to Note
- Honest Review: Below you will find a very in-depth and honest review of all of the bento boxes for kids. This isn’t a paid sponcership from any of these brands and I purchased every box below with my own money so that I could personally give you the best review possible. Bento boxes are not cheap, I wanted to make sure your money was well spent.
- Tried-and-True: We have had most of these bentos for years and I have tried each bento box and brand multiple times before I wrote this review.
- Capacity: I started with the same amount of food and tried to show what it would look like in each bento box – 9 small flower pb&j sandwiches, 1/2 cup peaches and blueberries, 8 cucumber spears, a container of ranch, 1/4 cup carrot coins, 1/4 cup bunny crackers and 4 bunny gummies. If I couldn’t fit that much food into a container, I noted it in my review.
Looking for School Lunch Inspiration? Then check out my best-selling cookbook Little Bento: 32 Irresistible Bento Box Lunches for Kids!
Bento Boxes Reviewed
- Planetbox: Rover
- OmieBox: Insulated Lunch Box with Leak Proof Thermos
- ECOlunchbox: Three-in-One Stainless Steel Bento Box
- Yumbox: Original Leakproof Bento Lunch Box
- Bentgo: Kids Leak-Proof 5-Compartment Lunch Box
- LunchBots: Medium Trio II Snack Container
- Easy Lunch Boxes: 3 Compartment Lunch Containers
- RubberMaid LunchBlox: Kids Box and Meal Prep
- Innobaby: Din Din Stainless Divided Platter with Sectional Lid
Best Bento Boxes for Kids
If you just want to cut straight to the chase – these are our absolute favorite lunch boxes for kids.
Best Overall Bento Box: OmieBox
We love the OmieBox because it has a built-in thermos that can be inserted into the lunch box for warm or cold foods that can be removed if needed. How brilliant is that? Plus, you can insert dividers in the 2 smaller sections to separate the food, and each section is leakproof.
Best Eco-Friendly Bento Box: PlanetBox Rover
We have been using the Planetbox Rover for years, and we all absolutely love it! The Rover holds a good amount of food for both my 5 and 7-year-olds, and I know I can pack it with even more food as they grow. My girls love the fun magnets, the carrying case, and the small colorful pods you can add into the bento for small amounts of food. This lunchbox is made completely without plastic – it is made with only stainless steel and food-grade silicone.
Best Value Bento Box: Easy Lunch Boxes
A very basic bento that comes in a 4-pack with different colored lids. This set of Bentos comes with the smallest price tag, and you can get all 4 boxes for under $20. This bento is a great size for both kids and grown-ups which means you can use them for the entire family. They aren’t made with the highest quality of materials (BPA-Free Plastic), but we have had our bento boxes for over 6 years, and they are still going strong. I think every family should have a set of these. They are also a great option if your kid tends to misplace everything in their life;).
Best for Younger Kids: Bentgo (close runner up – Innobaby Bus Bento)
This is a great little lunch box for younger kids or kids who don’t eat very much. I loved that it is a compact, lightweight, and completely leakproof lunchbox. My kids loved the fun designs on the front. Plus, this lunchbox is super easy to open and shut for younger kids.
Best Bento Boxes for Each Age
Great for 2-5 Year-Olds
Great for 5-10 Year-Olds
Great for 10+
The Full Review of the Best Bento Boxes
PlanetBox Rover
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5 stars)
Quick Review: We have been using the Planetbox Rover for years, and we all absolutely love it! The Rover holds a good amount of food for both my 5 and 7-year-olds, and I know I can pack it with even more food as they grow. My girls love the fun magnets, the carrying case, and the small colorful pods you can add into the bento for small amounts of food. This lunchbox is made completely without plastic – it is made with only stainless steel and food-grade silicone.
Age: Great for kids 4-12 years old.
Price: $85 plus accessories
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
The Rover really only fits in the Carrying Bag from PlanetBox. So factor getting one of those as well. The good news is that they have some cute colors and patterns that will surely please any child. I love that their Carrying Bags have a water bottle holder, a utensil strap, a snack pocket, and an ice pack holder.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
The Rover itself is not leakproof, but the 2 round containers that come with the bento box are completely leakproof with items such as yogurts, dips, hummus, etc.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
The PlanetBox is completely dishwasher safe. I also find it easy to hand wash as I am able to get in all of the corners because they are all slightly rounded.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
My kids started using Planetboxes when they were 3 years old and never had any problems opening them by themselves. Although, I will say that they are on the heavier side of the bento boxes, and sometimes my younger one complains about carrying it in her backpack.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
If you are trying to stay away from plastic, then this is the bento for your family. The Rover is a stainless steel lunchbox that contains no lead, PVC, phthalates, or BPA materials. The lids of the added containers are silicone.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
I love the rounded edges of the different sections and find that it makes it easy for younger kids to eat from. Holds a good amount of food for 4-12-year-olds.
Tip: I would recommend ordering the Pods and the Carry Bag as well. Also, the magnets are super fun, and my kids love them.
OMIEBOX
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5 stars)
Quick Review: We love the Omie box and use it for lunches all the time. I love that there is a thermos that can be inserted into the lunch box for warm or cold foods that can be removed if needed.
Age: Great for kids 4-10 years old.
Price: $42.50 without accessories
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
The Omie box will fit in most standard-sized lunch bags. While they say you can carry it with the attached handle, I always like to put it in a lunch bag with an ice pack, a napkin, and utensils. Omie also makes a silverware attachment that clips to the handle, which is fun.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
The entire lunch box, as well as each section of the Omie box, is leakproof. Plus, you have the thermos section that is completely leakproof for very watery foods like soups, yogurt, etc.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
The Omie box can be hand-washed, and the base of the box can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher. I have washed our boxes both ways and have never had a problem, but some of the reviews say their boxes warped in the dishwasher, so I would hand wash to be safe.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
It was easy for my 4-year-old to open it by herself, but I have to make sure not to tighten the thermos lid too tight.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
The OmieBox is made of ABS, PP, silicon, and 18/8 food-grade stainless steel and is BPA‐free and Phthalates‐free.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
It is a deeper bento box and will hold enough food for 4-12-year-olds. The thermos holds just over 7 ounces of food.
Tip: Make sure to order more of the dividers so you can section off your food.
EASY LUNCH BOXES
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5/5 stars)
Quick Review: A very basic bento that comes in a 4-pack with different colored lids. This set of Bentos comes with the smallest price tag, and you can get all 4 boxes for under $15. This bento is a great size for both kids and grown-ups which means you can use them for the entire family. They aren’t made with the highest quality of materials (BPA-Free Plastic), but we have had a set of these bento boxes for over 6 years, and they are still going strong. I think every family should have a set of these. They are also a great option if your kid tends to misplace everything in their life;).
Age: Great for kids 4 years – adult.
Price: $14 for a 4-pack
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
It would fit in pretty much any standard flat lunch bag.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
They say they are not leakproof, but I have had no problems sending yogurt, hummus, or pudding in them without any problems. You can get small sauce containers if you are worried about leakage.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
The lid and bento box are completely dishwasher safe.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Both of my kids can easily open this bento box.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
Easy Lunch Boxes are made from FDA-approved, high-quality polypropylene #5 plastic; no BPA, PVC, or phthalates.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Hold enough for a large kids lunch or even a small/medium adult lunch.
Tip: I would recommend getting some silicone muffin molds to hold a bigger variety of foods for a kids’ lunch and these small sauce containers for anything you don’t want to leak.
BENTGO
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Quick Review: This is a great little lunch box for younger kids or kids that don’t tend to eat as much at school. I loved that it is compact, lightweight, and completely leakproof. My kids loved the fun designs on the front.
Age: Great for kids 3-7 years old.
Price: $27.99
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
It would fit in pretty much any standard flat lunch bag. Bentgo also sells their own lunch bags that fit their bento boxes perfectly.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
The entire box, as well as each section, is leakproof.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
The plastic tray comes out of the base, but I found it hard to get into the corners of the smaller sections to clean. On the other hand, the plastic tray is top-rack dishwasher safe.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Both my kids loved using this bento box. They both loved their fun designs. They could easily open the box up without any help.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Bentgo Kids products are FDA-approved, BPA-free, and made with no PVC, phthalates, lead, or vinyl.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
Held about 2/3 the amount of food as the Omie or Planetbox. My 7-year-old has a big appetite, and this was too small for her. It would be great for younger kids or kids who don’t eat as much at lunchtime.
Tip: I would get the Bentgo Fresh for kids ages 5-9.
Innobaby Bus Bento
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Quick Review: We used this Innobaby bento for years when the girls were younger, and they loved it. The compartments are small, shallow with curved edges, making them easy to eat from for toddlers and preschoolers. The lid is mostly leakproof but will warp if you put it in the dishwasher.
Age: Great for kids 2-5 years old.
Price: $19.95
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️ (2/5 stars)
It is hard to find a flat lunch bag that will fit the bigger size of this bento.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
The lid separates each compartment, so each compartment’s contents won’t move. While they don’t say it’s leakproof, I have never had any problems packing yogurts, hummus, pudding, or other thicker liquids in this bento. You couldn’t pack soups or very watery foods in it, though.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
The metal base of the bento is dishwasher safe, while it’s best to hand wash the lid.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
Both my girls had no problem getting the lid off by themselves from 3 years and up. 2-year-olds would probably need a little help. The size is perfect for smaller kids. Each compartment is separate, which is great for picky eaters.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
Innobaby Bus Bento is made of the highest quality, food-grade stainless steel and is nontoxic, BPA free, Phthalate free, PVC free, and lead-free.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
It is the perfect size and depth for younger eaters.
EcoLunchbox: 3-in-1 Lunch box
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5 stars)
Quick Review: I love how small, compact, and lightweight this bento box is. I personally use this for my lunch more than my kids do as I have found that it is great for an adult salad and some small sides.
Age: Great for kids 6-10 years old.
Price: $34.95
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
You would need a square or upright lunch bag to fit into – like this one.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️ (2/5 stars)
The only part of this bento box that is leakproof is the small removable rectangle container.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
There are many pieces, but they can all go directly into the dishwasher (or can be hand washed).
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
My 4-year-old had difficulty understanding that there were multiple layers to this box, and sometimes the bottom food would come home completely intact. Also, the removable leakproof container can be hard to open. This lunch box is better suited for older kids or adults.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ (5/5 stars)
The ECOlunchbox uses 100% food-grade stainless steel.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Holds the same amount as the OmieBox and Planetbox, just in a different configuration.
Tip: I would recommend getting these cute silicon muffin liners (pictured above) to help section of your food.
Yumbox
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Quick Review: This was my first time using the Yumbox, and I was presently surprised. It was lightweight and very compact yet still held a decent amount of food. Next time, I would definitely get the Panino style so I could pack bigger foods, but overall, we all liked this bento box. I, of course, didn’t follow the suggested food items in each section:)
Age: Great for kids 4-8 years old.
Price: $30
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
This bento box would fit in pretty much any standard flat lunch bag.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
The entire box, as well as each section, is leakproof.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
The plastic tray comes out of the base, but I found it hard to get into the corners of the smaller sections to clean. On the other hand, the tray is top-rack dishwasher safe.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Both my kids loved using this bento box. However, next time, I would get the Panino to pack larger sandwiches, pizza, wraps, etc.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Yumbox is made of high-quality BPA-free, food-safe material ABS, Tritan, and silicone.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
It held slightly less than the PlanetBox but still held a decent amount of food. One thing that I found hard was non of the food could be large – i.e., a sandwich.
Tip: I would recommend getting the Panino version so it would grow more with your child. The Panino has a bigger section for larger food items like sandwiches, pizza, wraps, etc.
LUNCHBOTS: Medium Trio Container
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
Quick Review: This snack container was way too small for a kid’s lunch (which is my fault for ordering too small of size). I didn’t like how each compartment isn’t leakproof, and my kids said it was a little sharp on their wrists as they were eating.
Age: Great for kids 3-7 years old.
Price: $26.99
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
It would fit in pretty much any standard flat lunch bag with room to spare.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️ (2/5 stars)
This container is not leakproof, nor is each compartment, as there are small gaps from where the walls of the bento meet the sides and bottom. Super poor design, in my opinion. It will only hold extremely dry food. The juices from the peaches started leaking into the sandwich section, so I had to put them in a different separate container.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Both the lid and base are totally dishwasher safe. Mine did, however, get spots on them while the other bento boxes did not.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
Both of my girls didn’t like how scarp this bento box was. It does have a very industrial feel about it. However, they did like the colored lid.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
LunchBots are made from the highest quality 18/8 stainless steel.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
This snack container is very small (which was my fault for ordering this version). I would definitely get the bigger Lunch Box Trio for ages 5-10.
Tip: I would recommend getting the LunchBots Large Trio Bundle that comes with 2 leakproof containers and 2 silicon cups.
RUBBERMAID LUNCH BOX
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
Quick Review: I will have to be honest, we didn’t care for this bento box. It has too many containers and pieces for my girls to open, and the size was hard to fit into a lunch bag. I think maybe for older high schoolers, this would be a good fit, but for younger kids, it was just too much for them to handle.
Age: Great for kids 9-18 years old.
Price: $14.97
THE DETAILS ON THIS LUNCH BOX
Fit in Lunch Bag: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
It just fits in a flat lunch bag, but you won’t have any room for a water bottle, drink, or utensils.
Leakproof: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Each separate container was leakproof, except for the pink container, which has a divider in-between the two sections, this was not leakproof.
Easy to Clean: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
Everything is dishwasher safe.
Kid-Friendly: ⭐️⭐️ (2/5 stars)
Both of my girls complained how hard it was to open the lids of each container, and they both had a hard time closing the lids back up after lunch.
Materials: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
Made with BPA-free plastic.
Capacity: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
This snack container is huge for elementary-age kids. However, I would recommend this bento for older kids.
Thanks for this post. I am a long time subscriber and this is really helpful, especially showing how much food each one can hold.
Thank you! I am glad it helped.
How do you usually pack a drink in with the omiebox? What kind of lunch bag do you put that into?
I got a lunch bag from target similar to this one so I put the drink on the side, or you can pop a water bottle inside if it’s small enough.