The Best Lunch Boxes for Kids of 2026

• Best for ages: 2 to 5
• Fits a whole sandwich: Yes
• Leak-resistant: Yes
• Chilled component: No
• Top-rack dishwasher-safe components: All

The Munchkin Lunch Bento is an ideal all-around lunch box for packing a variety of satisfying foods. You can pack a lot into this box, including a full sandwich, and confidently keep it all separated. In our water test, the liquid didn’t leak out of the box at all, and there was very minimal transfer between compartments. We feel confident sending things like yogurt and berries in this box.

The silverware is a very helpful addition, but it doesn’t always stay put on its holders in the lid. If you want to send yogurt or pasta, there’s a chance the utensil may fall into the food on its way to lunch. Accessories are always a loss risk for little ones, so be sure your child knows to put them back in the box when lunch is over.

The Munchkin Lunch Bento only comes in two colors right now, so there aren’t a lot of options for kids who like to let their personality shine in their lunch box choice, but it’s a great value and an even better daily lunch companion.

• Best for ages: 3 to 7
• Fits a whole sandwich: No
• Leak-resistant: Yes
• Chilled component: Yes
• Top-rack dishwasher-safe components: Some

The built-in ice pack that sandwiches between the bento tray and the exterior box makes this lunch box a winner for sending chilled lunches to school. While it couldn’t keep its contents under 40°F for a full four hours, it kept food out of the temperature danger zone long enough to get to the lunch table.

Maintenance and cleaning are also particularly easy with this lunch box. The freezable layer nests between the interior and exterior layers, protecting it from food. So when the box comes home from school it’s quick to pop out that layer and put it back in the freezer for the next day while the bento tray can go on the top rack of the dishwasher.

Bentgo recommends hand-washing the exterior box to maintain the seal created by the rubber runners. The ice-pack layer is also hand-wash only, but the materials all wash very easily.

• Best for ages: 3 to 10
• Fits a whole sandwich: Yes
• Leak-resistant: Yes
• Chilled component: Yes
• Top-rack dishwasher-safe components: None

The OmieBox is spacious, durable, and versatile. It has three compartments, and a removable divider to create four if needed—although that divider went missing pretty quickly during real-life testing. (OmieBox does offer replacements.)

Still, the three compartments are generous and you can fit a whole sandwich in the largest one. That compartment is also built to house a removable 8.5-ounce Thermos for hot food, and the Thermos lid is designed to be easier for little hands to open. My youngest struggled to do it solo at 3-and-a-half, but my 5-year-old had no trouble at all.

A removable gasket rims the compartments and adds some protection from contents moving between them, but doesn’t stop it entirely. I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending juicy berries next to a savory sandwich, for example, without further protection.

The gasket is easy to remove, clean, and replace, but it does create a few more nooks and crannies to clean. The OmieBox isn’t dishwasher-safe, but it is made of a slick material that washes incredibly easily. And should the gasket ever break or wear out, OmieBox sells replacements.

This box is at the higher end of the price range we can stomach for lunch boxes, but its durability and replaceable parts mean you’re likely to get multiple years of use out of it.

• Best for ages: 6 and up
• Fits a whole sandwich: Yes
• Leak-resistant: Yes
• Chilled component: Yes
• Top-rack dishwasher-safe components: Some

The latest innovation from OmieBox is great for older kids and those who want lots of flexibility in what they bring for lunch. With a cold pack hiding under the smaller compartment, and a removable thermos for hot food, this box caters to the ever-changing needs of older kids exploring their own lunchtime routines.

We've found that OmieBox products are made with durability and ease of use in mind, plus they come in a variety of fun colors. Like the original OmieBox above, the UP has a removable gasket that keeps the box leak-resistant, but also requires patience in cleaning and reassembly. This box also isn’t dishwasher safe, but it is made of the same slick material that washes easily.

• Best for ages: All
• Fits a whole sandwich: Yes
• Leak-resistant: Yes
• Chilled component: Yes
• Top-rack dishwasher-safe components: None

Pair any of our recommended lunch boxes with this freezable carrier and the lunch you pack will stay cool until it’s time to eat. We love the size, capacity, and durability of this chilled lunch carrier.

The PackIt Freezable lunch box features built-in gel packs that eliminate the need for separate ice packs. Just store the box in the freezer the night before and it’s ready to keep its contents cold for hours.

We love that It collapses down for easy storage in the freezer, and it fits almost all the boxes we tested (except the YumBox). The interior easily wipes clean, and there’s an exterior pocket for little extras.

This carrier also comes in a variety of solid colors or patterns, which means there’s an option for kids and adults alike.

• Best for ages: 5 and up
• Fits a whole sandwich: No
• Leak-resistant: No
• Chilled component: No
• Top-rack dishwasher-safe components: All

The bento-style presentation makes those little foodies swoon and even catches the interest of the most discriminating eater. Essentially, it makes lunch fun.

For a stainless-steel option, we like the LunchBots Bento box. It's lighter and easier to transport than other stainless-steel options we tested, and the durable stainless steel stands up to heavy use without seriously marring the mirror-like shine.

We like the simplicity of the LunchBots Bento box, but there are some things to consider. Even though it's are designed for easy dishwasher cleaning, there are some areas of the LunchBots Bento that need deep cleaning—the dividers are soldered to the interior and therefore edges are exposed and collect particles over time. We found we occasionally needed to use a wooden skewer on those hard-to-reach spots.

With no place to hold on to for opening, it’s natural to brace the container against yourself. This is always a risky situation with kids and food! The lid is also not attached so it could easily be left behind by a distracted child, and it's not leakproof. Lunches with foods like meatballs and sauce will need to be put into a separate insulated container.