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Take your food to go with a trusty lunch box to reduce waste and save you money. Perfect for office workers, picnics, meal prep and school trips, they include compartments to divide multiple meals and snacks as well as sealed lids to limit spillages during transit. There are many materials, capacities and designs available to suit your needs, which is why we’ve put together a diverse list of seven to help you choose.
How We Compared Lunch Boxes
To find the right lunch boxes, we considered multiple factors, including:
- Number of Compartments
- Capacity & Weight
- Material
- Self-Heating or Cooling
- Utensils storage
- Lid & Handle Design
Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.
Lunch Box Reviews
Binoster Original Bento Box (Editor’s Choice)
Upgrade your takeaway meals with this fashionable, stackable meal prep container. It’s an improved version of the traditional Japanese box, designed to assist with portion control.
The Binoster Original Bento Box is made with food-grade material and features separate microwave-, dishwasher-, and freezer-safe internal containers. It’s also temperature-resistant from -20°C up to 120°C.
This container includes two food compartments to organise and store your snacks separately, so you can take two different meals with you on the go. Thanks to the stainless steel spoon and fork, you can eat while out and about. And the cutlery partition provides convenient storage during transportation and after use.
Pros:
- Microwave-, dishwasher-, and freezer- safe
- Portion control
- Food compartments
- Food-grade material
- Stainless steel utensils
Cons:
- The top inner lid and cutlery set might not be compatible with microwaves
- At 1,200-ml capacity, it might be smaller than others on this list
VOVOIR Car Electric Heating Lunch Box (Luxury Choice)
Keep your dinners hot at school, in the office or during travel with this electric meal box. It has two charging cables: 220 volts for home use and 12 volts for the car. The plug port is waterproof to prevent water damage.
The VOVOIR Car Electric Heating Lunch Box is high-temperature-resistant and includes removable inner containers to keep different dishes separate. Each easy-to-clean 304 stainless steel compartment has a capacity of 0.45 litres and 1.5 litres to accommodate a main meal and dessert.
This lunch box keeps food to around 40–50℃ after 20–50 minutes of heating, which is great for curries and pasta. It also adopts PTC energy-saving heating components to provide security against overheating. It even has handles for convenient transportation and storage, plus a spoon.
Pros:
- Built-in handles
- Spoon storage
- Stainless steel compartment
- Car and home use
- Waterproof plug port
Cons:
- It might not be watertight, so it may not be ideal for storing soups
- Some people might prefer to have two equally sized components
Sistema Lunch Box Tub TO GO (Best Value)
Keep food fresh with easy-locking clips on the lid and a flexible seal. This BPA-free, 2.3-litre food container has movable compartments to store food separately.
The Sistema Lunch Box Tub TO GO includes three compartments: one large and two smaller. The miniature section is ideal for carrots or nuts or securely sealing yoghurt or dip. The bottom layer is tall enough to hold a large apple.
This meal prep box is available in assorted colours and has a transparent, plastic finish, so you can see your prepared food inside. This is great if you have multiple lunch boxes in the fridge to ensure you choose the right one.
Pros:
- Three compartments
- Easy-locking clips
- BPA-free
- 2.3-litre capacity
- Tall bottom section
Cons:
- It might not include handles for convenient transportation
- Only the top rack might be dishwasher-safe
BIBURY Bento (Best for Sturdiness)
This food container has an airtight seal gasket to prevent food spillages. It also has secure buckles to contain food without needing an elastic band or separate fastener.
Enjoy tasty meals with confidence with the BIBURY Bento. It includes three compartments to split up liquids with solids. This container also comes with a fork and spoon, plus built-in grooves inside the lid for storage.
It’s designed with food-grade plastic that’s non-toxic and odourless. Meanwhile, it has a double-tray layout when you place the inner and outer sections together. Both compartments are heat-resistant and microwave-safe.
Pros:
- Airtight seal gasket
- Fork and spoon storage
- Non-toxic, food-grade material
- Secure buckles
- Three compartments
Cons:
- The plastic material might not keep food warm for long
- It might not be tall enough to store an apple, for example
COMLIFE Lunch Box (Best Design)
It has a 1,000-ml capacity and two compartments: one at the top and one on the bottom. It’s also constructed of BPA-free, PP materials that are dishwasher-, microwave-, and freezer-safe.
Consider the COMLIFE Lunch Box, which has a top and bottom divider to keep snacks in separate compartments. Above all, this lunch box’s flexible design allows you to adjust the portion sizes to suit your food.
It has a vent on the lid, so you can place it directly in the microwave without a build-up of heat and food splatters. Meanwhile, the silicone TPE seal prevents liquid foods from leaking, and the top smooth surface is easy to clean. It also includes a flexible, anti-slip rubber band to keep the lid tight during transportation.
Pros:
- BPA-free materials
- Vent on a lid to make it microwave-safe
- Flexible design for compartments
- Silicone TPE seal to prevent leakage
- Rubber band for extra security
Cons:
- Some people might prefer a taller lunch box for pieces of fruit
- It might not include built-in storage for utensils
Munchkin Bento Toddler Lunch Box (Best for Kids)
Suitable for 18+ months, this lunch box features a durable, kid-friendly design. It also consists of five compartments to pack a healthy meal plus snacks.
Get peace of mind that your kid is eating a balanced meal with the Munchkin Bento Toddler Lunch Box. It features one layer of compartments to keep it quick and easy for parents to measure portions.
Additionally, it includes stainless steel, child-suitable utensils that snap directly into the lid for effortless storage. Plus, it’s available in bright colours that kids will love.
Pros:
- Built-in handle
- Five compartments
- Stainless steel utensils
- BPA-free plastic
- Colourful design
Cons:
- It might not be tall enough to accommodate some foods
- The plastic closures may easily snap if you’re not careful
PuTwo Leakproof Bento Box 2 (Best Compact)
This minimalist Japanese-style food container has a two-tier design to halve meals. It’s constructed with an airtight, leakproof silicone lid to keep meals mess-free and prevent spills. Plus, the elastic band firmly attaches to the top for extra confidence.
Make food prep more manageable with the PuTwo Leakproof Bento Box 2. It has a generous capacity of 1,200 ml and comes with a fork, spoon and knife. There’s even a utensil organiser to keep them hygienic before you eat.
Moreover, this box is microwave- and dishwasher-safe and made of a food-grade, BPA-free material that’s non-toxic and durable.
Pros:
- Includes cutlery
- 1,200-ml capacity
- BPA-free, food-grade material
- Dishwasher- and microwave-safe
- Rubber elastic band
Cons:
- It might not include smaller dividers for mini snacks
- It may become discoloured after several washes
How to Choose a Lunch Box
Lunch boxes are available in countless sizes with various numbers of dividers. Discover how to distinguish the best one for you with these must-know considerations.
Number of Compartments
Would you prefer a meal box with multiple sections instead of one large compartment? This solution is ideal for holding more than one dish and keeping sauces separate from meals. Plus, various dividers can help with portion control if that’s important to you.
Consider the sizes of each section, too, as you might require areas of a different capacity. For example, a taller bottom section will hold a large piece of fruit, and a small top divider is ideal for a handful of nuts.
Capacity & Weight
Contemplate how much space and volume you need in your product. If you usually take an entire day’s worth of food out, you might need more room than if you want to bring just a few snacks with you.
A 2.3-litre capacity is ideal for holding a larger dish and extra nibbles. This also provides plenty of room for more than one person. Alternatively, you might only require a small capacity if you’re out for a few hours or to limit your portion size.
Also, is the weight of the box an essential factor for you? If so, opt for a smaller capacity and switch to lightweight materials like plastic. You can further reduce its weight by eliminating any luxury characteristics, like handles.
Material
The material of your food container can make a difference to food freshness, heat retention and overall weight. BPA-free plastic is a lightweight and transparent option, which is perfect for viewing your food. Alternatively, stainless steel keeps edibles hot or cold, depending on their initial temperature. Additionally, check that the material is food-grade and toxic-free, so it shields your meals. It might also be significant that it’s safe for the microwave, dishwasher and freezer.
Self-Heating or Cooling
Consider a self-heating lunch box if you enjoy hot food, like soup or curry, but don’t always have access to a microwave or hob when you’re not home. These portable units use electricity—either from a car battery or a wall outlet—to heat the material. As a result, your food stays fresher and warmer for longer.
Alternatively, go for a cooling material with a built-in ice pack to keep dairy products, fruit and more fresh and cold without a fridge.
Utensils Storage
Many of the best lunch boxes include cutlery (typically a knife and spoon or a knife and fork), so you don’t have to purchase them separately. You might also prefer a container with built-in storage in the lid for your utensils. This feature makes it easier to store them once you’ve used them without having to place unclean ones into your bag.
Lid & Handle Design
The overall design of your lunch box is important for portability and safely holding your food. Will the shape fit into your bag and fridge? Is it a decorative colour you love? It has to be built with durability in mind, too.
For storing soup, dips or sauces, a secure lid is essential. Opt for leakproof lids with a silicone seal to eliminate any spillages. Four clips—one on each side—can also provide extra security for a leakproof design. Some lunch boxes also feature an elastic band for additional peace of mind that your food won’t spill.
A meal prep tub with handles makes it easier to carry it around with you from the fridge to your desk. They can also make it simple to reach it out of your bag without the possibility of tilting the box on its side, risking spillages.
Summary
The Binoster Original Bento Box is our top recommended product. It has a beautiful design in several colours, and the stackable compartments allow you to organise food and keep snacks separately. We also appreciate the two dividers in the top layer, which will enable you to keep dips and sauces away from solid foods. Another likeable characteristic of this lunch box is the built-in utensils section and the included fork and spoon for eating on the go. The elastic band is also a desirable touch to prevent the lid from coming loose and food spilling out.
Amy is a U.K.-based writer and editor with a penchant for helping consumers find the best home products for their needs, as well as providing easily digestible guides for living better at home. Her dedication to her work means she can usually be found elbow-deep in research or hunting down samples of the latest and greatest on behalf of her readers.
An avid DIYer herself, Amy’s passion lies in teaching others how they too can achieve their dream homes by tackling some of those pesky projects themselves! Whether it’s building furniture from scratch or turning an old dresser into a coffee table, Amy is always happy to share what she knows about making your house feel like home without spending a fortune.