6 Best Lunch Boxes for Kids (Perfect for Summer Camp, Back to School, and Your Budget!)

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These best lunch boxes for kids are functional and affordable.

hand putting oatmeal ball into hot pink best lunch boxes for kids

These are the best kids’ lunch boxes on the market!

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.

Gearing up for back to school? We share the hottest deals on school supplies year round!


1. My son used this Wildkin lunch box every day and it still looked brand new 2 years later.

hand holding up navy blue lunchbox in kitchen

Wildkin Lunch Box – $24.62 (regularly $24.99)

Losing a personal item at school is basically inevitable for every kiddo. Unfortunately for my wallet, it’s happened quite a few times during my kiddo’s grade school years 🤣, so when my son lost his lunch box for the 3rd time (yes, the third lol), I was looking for something incredibly cheap to get us through the school year!

While this lunch box isn’t necessarily super cheap right now, I shared my old invoice below when I scored it for under $10!!! 😱

hand holding phone with amazon lunch box order on screen

Turns out this little lunch box is not just cheap, but great quality too! Two school years later, it still looks brand new, the zipper is of great quality, it wipes clean easily, and it holds all the food my son needs for the day. Perfect!

girl holding pink glitter wildkin lunch bags for kids

Shop all of Wildkin’s fun prints and designs now! They even have coordinating backpacks, sleeping bags, and so much more!


2. 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 kid’s lunch box for the past FOUR years and it’s tough as nails – making it more than worth its value! She has toted it everywhere from the beach to preschool and kindergarten!

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 Bento-Style Lunch Box – $29.99 (regularly $39.99)

Since the compartments in our original Bentgo lunch box are ideal for a small snacker, 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! 

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


3. Flatbox lunch boxes are machine washable and lay flat so they’re the best lunch box to literally take anywhere.

child peeking into open lunchbox

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 FlatBox will be sure to check off everything on your list!

two girls sitting in grass with food on mats

They’re machine washable and quick-drying, which already makes them stand out among all the other kids’ lunch boxes on the market. Even cooler, they unzip to lay completely flat making them extremely universal for anywhere, anytime, or anyone. 🙌

Plus, they’re made with triple-insulated neoprene so they’ll keep your kiddo’s lunch hot or cold for hours. Store them away flat when you’re not using them!


4. 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

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 its 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!


5. 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.


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

glow in the dark solar system kids lunch bag on counter

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.

boy sitting on white kids table with brown and gray star wars lunch box and backpack

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!


Bonus: Rubbermaid’s LunchBlox comes with its own ice pack and clips together to fit in any lunch box.

stacks of rubbermaid plastic containers with blue ice packs on counter

Already have a kid’s lunch box and just looking for a better way to organize their food? Rubbermaid makes highly-rated containers that snap together with their included ice pack so you can ensure everything is not just staying cool all day, but staying in the perfect place too.

Best of all, this affordable and fun option will fit in just about any lunch box so you’re ready to start packing it away once they arrive!


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.


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Comments 2

  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! 🤗

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