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The 12 Best Lunch Boxes for Kids

These lunch containers are so convenient for home or school.

best lunchboxes
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You've made a healthy, tasty lunch for your kid's school day. Now you need a lunch box that will help keep the food stored safely so it's still cool (or warm!) when it's time to eat. As we roll into back-to-school season, we looked at thermal lunch bags and lunch boxes with compartments that will help carry your child's midday meal.

Instead of a brown paper bag, opt for one of these cute kids' lunch boxes this back-to-school season, whether they're heading into the yard for a picnic or bringing lunch to school. Just don't be surprised when you find yourself wanting to "borrow" their new bag. Here are the best kids' lunch boxes:

1
Best Overall Lunch Box

PackIt Carryall Freezable Lunch Bag

PackIt Carryall Freezable Lunch Bag

Thanks to a freezable gel liner, this was the only bag to stay below 40°F (a safety benchmark for perishables) for 5 1/2 hours in our test. It's super spacious, comes with a long strap for easy carrying, and is available in dozens of fun colors and patterns. We recently tested PackIt's Everyday Lunch Box Cooler, too, which is a new, cubed shape, perfect for stocking up with goods for picnics. Both fold up for storage – and taking up minimal room in your freezer!

2
Best Bento Lunch Box

YUMBOX Bento Lunch Box

YUMBOX Bento Lunch Box

Bento boxes are great for kids because they get a little taste of everything with various lunch and snack portions. It only has one latch, so little hands can open their lunch box with ease. Plus, these lunch boxes are available in a variety of different colors.

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3
Best Lunch Box for Bento Boxes

Bentgo Lunch Bag

Bentgo Lunch Bag

These Bentgo lunch bags were specifically designed to fit an assortment of bento boxes (but you could still use 'em separately!). It's insulated, and it claims to keep food warm or cold for up to four hours. There's even an interior mesh pocket and an exterior pocket, too.

4
Best Lunch Box for Picnics

Flatbox Lunch Bag

Flatbox Lunch Bag
Credit: FlatBox

The Flatbox is a soft-sided lunch bag with a comfortable handle on top. When you unzip the sides and lay it flat, it becomes a placemat, making it a great companion at picnics and other venues with messy surfaces (field trips!). It's also machine washable.

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5
Best Lunch Box Set

Go Green Lunch Box Magical Sky Set

Go Green Lunch Box Magical Sky Set

This five-piece set is the ultimate lunch box starter kit — it comes with a lunch bag, food box, reusable ice pack, water bottle, and even a mini white board so you can leave them a new note each day. If your kid isn't into unicorns, these lunch box sets also come in other patterns.

6
Best Lightweight Lunch Box

BUILT Soft Neoprene Lunch Tote Bag

BUILT Soft Neoprene Lunch Tote Bag

The Gourmet Getaway Lunch Tote from Built is super lightweight, plus the polyester and neoprene material is flexible enough to fold up for storage after lunch. Careful with liquids, though, as this bag leaked in our testing.

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7
Best Lunch Box for All Ages

Bentgo Kids Stainless Steel Leak-Resistant Lunch Box

Bentgo Kids Stainless Steel Leak-Resistant Lunch Box

This stainless steel bento-style lunchbox has three separate food compartments plus a removable silicone container for even more options. The lid seals super tight and the five available colors are fun and bold for younger kids, but sophisticated enough for teens (or adults!) too.

8
Best Customizable Lunch Box

Bentology Lunch Bag and Box Set

Bentology Lunch Bag and Box Set

The Bentology lunch bag set is a great pick for kids who like to customize their lunch. The separate plastic containers mean your child can eat various snacks with their lunch!

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9
Best Lunch Box for Hot and Cold Foods

OmieBox Bento Box for Kids

OmieBox Bento Box for Kids

This bento box style lunch box from OmieBox is insulated and comes with a removable leak-proof container for liquids. The rectangular compartments come with dividers that you can use with or without to make larger or smaller.

10
Best Personalized Lunch Box

Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Classic Lunch Bag

Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Classic Lunch Bag
Credit: Pottery Barn

The Mackenzie bag is super spacious and the rigid walls keep delicate foods from getting crushed. There are zippered pockets inside and out, and its double zipper won't come open if shaken or dropped. Plus, you can get it customized with your little one's name!

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11
Best Leak-Proof Lunch Box

L.L. Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box

L.L. Bean Flip-Top Lunch Box
Credit: L.L. Bean

The Flip-Top was one of the only bags we tested that proved totally leak-proof and stain-resistant. It didn't break when dropped and earned perfect scores for ease of packing.

12
Best Slim Lunch Box

L.L. Bean Insulated Lunch Box

L.L. Bean Insulated Lunch Box
Credit: L.L. Bean

This lightweight lunch box has a smooth plastic interior that lets you clean up sticky spills easily. Plus, it won't stain, even if you leave grape juice on it overnight.

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