Bento Lunchbox Options for All Ages (+ They’re On Sale NOW)
A bento lunchbox will be your answer to better, more organized meals!
The perfect lunch, all in one package! 🍱😍
A bento lunchbox will be your answer to better, more organized meals! Check out our favorite picks that are perfect for adults and kids.
Shopping for back to school? We’re sharing the hottest deals on school supplies right now!
What is a bento lunchbox?
These unique lunchboxes originated in Japan and bento simply means they have individual compartments for packing different textures and types of food in each one. The idea behind bento is to have a complete meal by using the compartments.
So cute, right?!
This Bentgo lunchbox lasted us 4 years! 😍
In case our four years of use isn’t enough of a disclaimer, it’s worth mentioning again how durable and long-lasting this bento lunchbox is! From beach vacations to the pool and lasting throughout my daughter’s first year of kindergarten, we’ve toted this Bento box everywhere! 👏🏻
And I just recently bought another Bentgo lunchbox with an ice pack for this school year! 🧊
Since the compartments in our original Bentgo lunchbox are more ideal for a preschooler, I recently upgraded my daughter to one with just four compartments so we can fit larger quantities of food.
As a bonus, her new bento lunchbox came with its own ice pack so it stays cool on its own! 🤩 We already used it all summer long at the pool so I know she’ll have no problem keeping her food cold before lunchtime.
Plus, there are a bunch of Bentgo Lunchboxes on sale right now on Amazon…
Bentgo Kids Lunchbox – Solid Colors $27.99
Clip the $5 off digital coupon
Final cost $22.99!
*Note that not all styles have the coupon.
Bentgo Kids Lunchbox – Various Patterns $29.99
Clip the $5 off digital coupon
Final cost $24.99!
*Note that not all styles have the coupon.
Bentgo Kids Chill Lunchbox w/ Ice Pack $29.99 (regularly $39.99)
Clip the $3 off digital coupon
Final cost $26.99!
*Note that not all styles have the coupon.
Or save BIG on Bentgo lunch boxes if you’re a Sam’s Club member!
Bentgo Kids Lunchbox Bundle 2-Pack – $29.98
That’s just $14.99 EACH for original Bentgo lunchboxes!
Bentgo Kids Chill Lunchbox Bundle 2-Pack – $39.98
That’s just $19.99 EACH for Bentgo lunch boxes with ice packs!
By far my favorite thing about these Bentgo lunch boxes is the fact they’re all dishwasher safe and clip apart for even easier cleaning. 🙌🏻
More than likely, that’s not something you can probably say about your kiddo’s traditional-style lunchbox.
Plus, my daughter actually LOVES to help pack her lunch and it encourages her to eat a variety of foods!
The unique, individual compartments encourage her to try multiple foods since she’s so insistent on filling each of them with a different food before we head out the door.
Best of all, they’re both completely air-tight so you can even pack applesauce or yogurt without a worry in the world! This also means I’m not needing to pack extra plastic containers and risk them getting thrown out in the school cafeteria trash.
Hip Tip: Check out our ideas for easy sandwich-free lunch ideas. We’ve got your whole week covered!
The only caveat I can think of with this bento lunchbox is they don’t come with a handle, but I’ve found them to fit in any standard lunchbox so it’s an easy fix if that’s a must-have.
Additionally, the original Bentgo box I bought isn’t insulated so storing it with separate ice packs will be necessary for long-term food storage. Otherwise, your best bet is to scoop up the Bentgo lunchbox with the built-in ice pack.
Here are 5 more bento lunchbox options our team loves:
1. My Hip sidekick Erica loves PlanetBox which is non-toxic and comes with a 5-year warranty.
Planetbox makes a non-toxic bento lunchbox made of high-quality stainless steel to keep your food cool for longer and the company claims it’s the only lunch box your kids will ever need!
They’re dishwasher safe and you can personalize your PlanetBox bento lunchbox with their fun magnet designs so your kids will never grow bored of packing their meals! Plus, they come with a 5-year warranty so you know they’re built to last.
Shop PlanetBox carry bags if you need them to stay insulated even longer.
Here’s what my Hip sidekick Erica said about her kid’s PlanetBoxes:
“I love our PlanetBox bento lunchbox! They’re pretty pricey, but after hearing from a few friends how amazing they are, I had to give them a try. The best part is they will literally last forever! I can easily organize my kiddos’ lunches for school with all the different compartments and I know it will stay cool all day since it’s made of stainless steel! Plus, they love the little magnets they get to decorate the lunch box which makes it super fun!”
2. Bentgo makes this bento lunchbox stylish enough for adults and they come with their own silverware.
Bentgo Classic All-in-One Stackable Bento Lunchbox
Only $13.59 (regularly $29.99)!
Almost half the cost of my daughter’s Bentgo lunchbox, you can score this stackable set for yourself from the same reputable company and each one even comes with reusable silverware so there’s plenty of bang for your buck.
Best of all, it’s BPA-free and dishwasher safe so it’s still super convenient too. Speaking of convenience, when you’re done eating, the top portion nests inside the bottom, making storage more convenient.
3. This super inexpensive bento lunchbox on Amazon is perfect for salad lovers.
Freshmage Salad Lunch Container
Only $9.99 (regularly $13.99)!
Salad lovers everywhere will appreciate having this bento lunchbox to tote around to work or school! It features a bottom compartment suitable for all your salad (or a hot entrée if desired). Plus, the top compartment will be just what you need for all your toppings and dressing. Even better, it comes with a fork too so you’ll be effortlessly prepared every day!
Are you a Sam’s Club member? Scoop up a Bentgo Salad Bento Lunchbox 2-Pack for just $19.98. That’s only $9.99 each! 😱
4. Rubbermaid’s Lunch Blox comes with its own ice pack and clips together to fit in any bag.
Rubbermaid Lunchblox Flat Set
Only $13.99 (regularly $17.99)!
While they’re not exactly categorized as a bento lunchbox, these five-star Rubbermaid containers that snap together had to make the cut considering all the fantastic reviews! Plus, they even include their very own ice pack so you can ensure everything is not just staying cool all day, but also staying in the perfect place.
Best of all, this affordable and fun option will fit in just about any lunchbox or bookbag depending on the stacked or flat set you choose!
5. Get a bag, utensils, and the best price with this highly-rated all-in-one bento box!
YBOBK HOME Leakproof Bento Lunch Box – $24.99
You can really have it all with this eco-friendly bento lunchbox! It’s innovatively made of wheat straw and BPA-free, non-toxic plastic so you can feel good about packing your lunch inside. Better yet, it comes with everything you need including reusable utensils, an insulated carry bag, and even a durable elastic band to hold everything together.
These compartments are just as functional as they are stylish too since they can be easily washed in the dishwasher and are microwave safe! You’ll be enjoying every meal with this set in tow!
These highly-rated kids’ lunchboxes are too cool for school.
Thank you for the explanation on these boxes. I’ve been curious about them but my I see that it takes up the entire lunch box for them to carry it to school and wonder about their drink not fitting to stay cold. My older child drinks almost a full bottle of water with meals. Any thoughts?
Sams club has a lunchbox that I bought for my kids that comes with a water bottle and has a spot on the outside of the lunch bag so it takes up no space inside.
We have Bentgo boxes and the Bentgo deluxe bags. In the bag I’m able to fit the Bentgo lunchbox, a snack container, two 12oz stainless water bottles and an ice pack.
Planet Box bags have a pocket on the outside for a water bottle or drink.
I bought the salad bento boxes you need to ones last year for work and I LOVE them. They work fantastically and I love that the compartments separate the toppings that might otherwise get mushy (like cheese and tomatoes). It makes me happy to use. Thank you!
My daughter has had her Planet Box since Kindergarten. She is now going into 8th grade. She takes her lunch to school everyday. We love it. It has held up extremely well. We did replace the bag once during that time frame, the box is still in great condition. 🙂
My son’s Special Education teacher loved his Planet Box because it made him able to independently open his lunch. Opening individual items for each kid can be time consuming. This also gave my son a sense of independence that he loved.
SO happy to hear that this lunchbox is a hit with your family, Jess! ❤️
My girls have the Planet Box since kindergarten too and they will be going to 6th grade this year and they have held up very well. I love that they are a better alternative to plastic containers worth the investment.
That’s amazing, Janet! Thank you for sharing your positive experience with those lunchboxes! 💗
These Bento boxes that are on the market truly remind me of TV dinner trays! I have happy memories of getting them when we had a sitter, as the parents we’re going out for the night. Getting to eat in front of the TV, on the pop-up tiny table on the floor was awesome. I may buy the metal type just to recreate this 70’s fun core memory anytime for myself!
We use the Yumbox and love it. I bought the first one on sale and loved it so much I bought my daughter a second one at full price. My husband and I both used to teach in Japan, so have seen just how amazing some of these lunches can be.
I have ADHD, work full time, study part time, and have two young children, so need to be able to streamline things as much as possible. It takes me under five minutes to make her lunch each evening. I typically put in grapes or applesauce, cucumber or peppers, yoghurt, chocolate chips, baby bell cheese and some sort of cracker. Healthy lunch that hits all the bases. And my daughter prefers it to a traditional lunch.
Thanks for taking a moment to share what your family uses for lunches, Laura! 💗
As a teacher these are nice but not the greatest option for young children like preschoolers. Many of the kids have a difficult time with them. Please make sure your child is able to zip, lock or unlock the option you choose for their packed lunch.
Hi! Do you have any recommendations / thoughts on silicone collapsible bento lunchboxes? Thank you.
We have had our planet box lunch boxes for 4 years and they are perfect. So easy to throw in the dishwasher and no signs of wear and tear yet. Definitely worth the investment!
SWEET! Thanks for the recommendation! Good to know how well they’ve held up the past few years! 🙌💕 Being able to put them in the dishwasher is awesome!
Curious what the recommendation is for lunch boxes that can be microwaved. My kids go to a small private school where they’re able to warm up their lunches so bentgo boxes don’t seem like a good fit. Stainless steel is out too. We’ve only really used Rubbermaid lunch blocks or regular Tupperware in a (cute) lunch bag. Ideas?
Great question, Lola! 💕 The Bentgo and Rubbermaid options above are each listed as microwave safe. Here aer some lunchbag options that may also be helpful! 🤗 https://hip2save.com/tips/best-lunch-boxes-for-kids/