6 Best Lunch Bags & Boxes for Kids (Washable, Toxic Free, & More!)

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These best lunch boxes for kids are functional and affordable.

stainless steel lunch box with strawberries and crackers

Shop the best lunch bags for kids. Each innovative kids lunch box we found is perfect for summer camp, back to school, and for all budgets.

Planning for back to school? The hottest deals on school supplies have already begun!

Shop all our top lunch boxes for kids picks over on LTK!

graphic of best lunch boxes for kids


1. Bentgo makes the best lunch box for kids, which is airtight and dishwasher safe.

hand holding the corner of a pink and gray bento style best lunch boxes for kids

My daughter used this bento-style kids lunch box for 4 years before she felt she outgrew it. It’s tough as nails, making it more than worth its value! She toted it everywhere, from hiking to kindergarten and beyond!

I’ve also noticed the unique, individual compartments encourage her to try multiple foods since she’s so insistent on filling each of them before we head out the door.

She loved it so much that I recently bought another Bentgo lunch box with an ice pack for this school year! 🧊

pink bentgo bento lunchbox with gray ice pack insert sitting on wood table

Bentgo Chill Kids Lunch Box $32.99 (regularly $39.99) 

Since the compartments in our original Bentgo lunch box are ideal for a small snack, I recently upgraded my daughter to one with just four compartments so we can fit larger quantities of food. As a bonus, this one has a built-in ice pack so food effortlessly stays cold.

hand holding bento lunchbox with style food inside

Best of all, both of them are completely air-tight, so you can pack applesauce or yogurt without a worry in the world. They’re seriously the best lunch boxes for kids! To wash them, simply throw them in the dishwasher, and voila! 

Shopping around? The Freshmage Salad Container is perfect for salads and comes with its own ice pack, too!

Hip Tip: Check out the other highly rated bento lunch boxes for all ages our team loves!


2. Fun Kins lunch bags are machine washable and easy for young kids to open.

close up of boy sitting next to monster lunch bag

Fun Kins Insulated Lunch Bag $8.95+ (reg. $19.95) 

The school cafeteria can be a messy place, so if a more sanitary and cleaner eating experience is at the top of your wish list as a parent, the Funkins bags will be sure to check off everything on your list! They’re machine washable and made of toxic-free fabrics, so they really stand out among all the other kids’ lunch boxes on the market. Even cooler, they zip shut, making it a cinch for even the youngest eaters to use them solo and store flat when you’re not using them.

Funkins also offers many eco-friendly accessories like matching reusable napkins, placemats, and more!


3. PackIt makes lunch bags for kids that you can freeze overnight, so it’s like a refrigerator on the go.

hand holding a rainbow lunchbox in front of open refrigerator

PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box $19.99 (reg. $24.99) 

You won’t even need to buy an ice pack when packing up lunches for the kids with the innovative PackIt lunch boxes! These seriously cool bags are the first and only lunch boxes with freezable, non-toxic gel built between all their walls, so when you freeze them overnight, they’ll mimic your home’s very own refrigerator! WOW!

Even cooler, you’ll have plenty of peace of mind with their thoughtful PVC-free, BPA-free, phthalate- and lead-free materials. Plus, your kiddos will love all the fun prints and traditional styles to choose from!

Shop all PackIt lunchboxes on Amazon!


4. A timeless LL Bean lunch box can coordinate with their bookbag and can even be personalized.

dark green ll bean lunch box on gray background

There’s no lunch box on the market that will scream classy and timeless quite like an L.L. Bean kids lunch box! I, myself, had a neon yellow one back in the ’90s, which perfectly matched my neon yellow backpack. 🤣 And while that wouldn’t be my first choice as an adult now, L.L. Bean makes so many fun prints and solid color options, perfect for any kiddo looking to express their unique style.

And, of course, they still offer the ability to personalize all of your kiddo’s L.L. Bean belongings. Add a monogram for $8 or it’s FREE with your L.L.Bean Mastercard.

Explore all of L.L. Bean’s matching bookbags and lunch boxes.


5. Pottery Barn Kids is another timeless kids’ lunch box that will fit everything, including their water bottle.

floral lunchbox with water bottle pocket

Despite being on the pricier side, Pottery Barn Kids is another popular brand parents seek out when looking for a lunch box that will last for years to come. They offer so many unique designs in aesthetically pleasing colors that are unlike anything you’ll find at other retailers.

Plus, they offer fun and convenient features like water bottle pockets, glow-in-the-dark fabric, and even Bento-style kids’ lunch bags. Other features we love about their lunch bags are removable shoulder straps and their innovative nesting ice packs, which can be used as a divider in the main compartment.

Shop design for older kiddos and teens at Pottery Barn Teen!


6. These Bambaw lunch boxes are tested for heavy metals and keep food fresh, according to my teens.

hand holding Bambaw Stainless Steel Lunch Box with fruit and veggies

Bambaw Stainless Steel Lunch Box $26.34 (reg. $30.99) – Prime member price!
Clip the 10% off digital coupon
Final cost $20.20 shipped!

Another one of our team’s top picks for kids’ lunchboxes is the Bambaw Stainless Steel Lunch Box, and for good reason! Not only does Bambaw test their stainless steel for heavy metals to ensure it’s totally food-safe, but the box itself is super versatile — you can use it on its own or pop it into an existing lunch bag if you just need a reliable way to keep food fresh. We’ve found that sandwiches stay soft, fruit holds up better, and even chips keep their crunch.

And while my teens originally teased that it looked a little old-fashioned, they quickly changed their tune once they realized how well it worked. In fact, now they don’t want to pack lunch without it and specifically mentioned how fresh it keeps the sandwich bread.


Here’s a week of easy sandwich-free lunch ideas kids will love!


About the writer:

Sara is a self-taught blogger & photographer and brings 9+ years of experience to her craft. Her work has been featured in numerous esteemed publications, spanning building, travel, and fashion. Beyond her creative pursuits, Sara’s primary mission is to empower others to embrace a toxic-free & sustainable lifestyle.


Join The Discussion

Comments 9

  1. Rebeka

    We use the Pottery Barn lunch bags. They come in multiple sizes, so they fit different kid’s style.

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for letting us know which lunch bag option is a favorite for you and your kiddos, Rebeka! They sure have some cute styles at PB! 🤗

  2. Angela Porter

    We use a Planet Box rover. My daughter is a Senior this year and we have had the same Planet Box since she was in kindergarten. It is in great shape. She plans to take it to college. It is stainless steel, dishwasher safe, and AWESOME. 🙂

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Wow! SO cool that it has held up so well through the years! Thanks for taking the time to share with us, Angela!

  3. Del

    I will check out the stainless steel one. I’ve been looking for a plastic free alternative. The silicone ones are too flimsy and hard to close properly. School lunch had been free for everyone for the past 5 years but now our school district is going back to paid lunches in a month since pandemic funds ran out.

    • Del

      The problem is that every review I’ve read about any stainless steel bento box says that there is a leakage problem.

  4. grammaC

    Maybe a silly question but I made a mistake I don’t usually do. I promised my granddaughter something w/o checking priced first which I ALWAYS do. She is going back to school after having to leave for a year (3rd grade) and I said she could get a personalized backpack & lunch bag. Well, I read it all wrong reading the prices and what comes with the lunch bag (didn’t even realize the stuff inside cost extra) and it is way more than I thought it was going to be .Too much for this grandma. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone knows if they might be having a sale after the school shopping is over soon so I might be able to get it for her. Thanks so much!

    • grammaC

      BTW I was talking about Pottery Barn Kids

      • Trish (Hip Sidekick)

        Hi there grammaC! When clicking the link above, it seems some of their lunch bags and backpacks are already on sale, but we’ll keep watch for any further price drops on these items. 🤗

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