These Stainless Steel Lunch Boxes Are a Total Game-Changer for School Lunches

You know the importance of quality foods and real ingredients, especially when it comes to what your child eats. But have you considered the container you’re packing your child’s lunch in?

Safety and durability are top priorities when choosing a lunchbox for our kids. Stainless steel lunch boxes have become my go-to choice because they are durable, non-toxic, and much healthier than plastic containers. In this article, I’m sharing the best stainless steel lunch boxes for kids that combine functionality with durability.

Favorite Brands

Many different companies make stainless steel lunch boxes and water bottles. Truthfully, stainless steel is a pretty reliable material that you can trust from almost anywhere, as long as you can trust that it’s actually stainless steel. I’ve narrowed down my favorite brands based on the quality and durability of the lunch boxes, the trustworthiness of the company, as well as the variety of products they make for families and children (including considering how easy the product is to open). I am generally looking for:

• ✅ Durability and brand reliability
• ✅ Limited use of plastic or silicone components (or none)
• ✅ Easy for children to use and open
• ✅ Sized appropriately for children

There are some brands I wouldn’t recommend because they might contain plastic parts or would be too difficult for a child to open. Otherwise, this list doesn’t necessarily indicate that another stainless steel brand that isn’t mentioned here is bad in my eyes. Still, these are the brands I strongly prefer based on my preferences.

My top children’s lunch box brands include:

• Bentgo Stainless Steel: Best for being leak-resistant
• LunchBots: Small, cute, and handy. These are a go-to choice and I have several!
• Good Kiind: Cute lunchboxes that are leak-proof. A small, mom-owned company!
• PlanetBox: One of the most popular brands, PlanetBox is a long-time favorite
• Pottery Barn Kids: With plastic lids, these PBK are very easy for kids to open
• Thermos Funtainer: These are kid-friendly and great for sending in hot or warm foods
• Yumbox: A hybrid container that shouldn’t leak!

My Top Picks for Stainless Steel Lunch Boxes for Kids

These are perfect for spending an afternoon at the park, packing a school lunch, or on the go. There are a few great options here, so consider the types of meals you’ll be packing and the compartment size when choosing a layout. I have a variety of these and they are my go-to lunch boxes. MOM TIP: We also use these for backyard picnics!

LunchBots

LunchBots was founded in 2008, offering a wide variety of stainless steel lunch boxes, food containers, and thermoses. They designed their containers to help parents simplify lunches. And I can attest to this: this is the brand we have used for years, and I love these, especially for packing kids’ lunches.

Their containers are dishwasher safe, made with high-quality 18/8 stainless steel, and are deemed ‘virtually unbreakable’. Stainless steel is all that touches the stored food (even on varieties with colorful lids). The only drawback to the LunchBot bento boxes is that they are not watertight. You should only pack dry foods in these containers and use a separate container for any dips, condiments, or other liquid foods.

They offer a few different-sized bento boxes, which gives you some good choices. The size and shape of these also make it super easy to throw an ice pack into your child’s lunch bag and keep their food cool until lunchtime.

1. Small 2-Compartment Snack Packer (5.5″ x 4″): This small, 2-compartment lunch box is great for on-the-go snacking and for toddler lunches. Separate fruits and veggies or other items with the two compartments. I would not rely on this size for school-aged children; size up to the Medium lunch boxes instead.
2. Small 4-Compartment Protein Packer (5.5″ x 4″): This is a tiny-sized bento box with four compartments. Two compartments hold 2 oz. of food, and the other two hold just 1 oz. each. This is the ideal choice for a snack box or a very young child. It’s great for packing a variety of snacks or a small bento-style lunch for toddlers.
3. Medium Uno Sandwich Container (5.9″ x 4.7″): In my opinion, this is a must-have! I use this daily for sending in our kids’ sandwiches. I love this because it helps me avoid plastic.
4. Medium Duo Snack Container (5.9″ x 4.7″): This is a 2-compartment lunch box that is perfect for sending in half a sandwich and a snack or for full snacking on the go. I use this one to pack carrot slices and half a sandwich, for example.
5. Medium Trio Snack Container (5.9″ x 4.7″): This is a 3-compartment lunch box that has one large section and two smaller ones that would be perfect for sides such as veggies, fruit, or chips.
6. Medium Quad Snack Container (5.9″ x 4.7″): If you’re looking for a perfectly sized bento lunch box in the true Bento style, this 4-compartment lunch box is one of the best to consider.

As far as the sizes go, I have used the Medium lunch boxes since my kids were toddlers, but the Small size also seems to work for younger kids or for snacktime. They also come in Large (7.8″ x 5.9″), which is about 60% larger than the medium box, but these are better suited to adults.

PlanetBox

PlanetBox was founded with the goal of creating a safe and non-toxic food storage system that would make lunch packing easier. They even created the latching system with the smallest of hands in mind. PlanetBox lunch boxes are all dishwasher safe and made from the highest-quality stainless steel. They are extremely durable and designed to last for years to come. PlanetBox offers three different lunch boxes that range in price from $40 to $60.

PlanetBox lunch boxes are also customizable with their cute magnet designs. If you feel like your little one would find a metal lunch box boring, this is a great way around that! Just choose your preferred design on the lunchbox product page.

1. Shuttle: This box has two compartments and can hold 3.5-cups of food. It is designed for small meals and snacks on-the-go.
2. Rover: This box has five compartments and offers a 5-cup capacity that is perfect for a child or a small adult-sized lunch. I would consider this the best option from PlanetBox!
3. Explorer: This lunch box set is designed to be leakproof, but it is a bit larger than most children might need for a school day.
4. Trailblazer: With a silicone lid, this sandwich box is easy for little hands to open. It also comes with two silicone pods so you could also use this for on-the-go snacking.
5. Launch (not pictured): This box is designed to hold a traditional three-course meal and has a 7-cup capacity. This choice is great for adults looking for a stainless lunch or dinner box. I wouldn’t recommend this for younger children simply because of its size.

Bentgo Stainless Steel Lunch Box

While Bentgo is known for their cute plastic bento box lunch boxes, they recently introduced a stainless steel version. So you get the best of both worlds — a cute Bentgo lunchbox made from stainless steel! Please note that I only recommend their stainless steel boxes, and none of the plastic lunch boxes.

1. Bentgo Stainless Steel Lunch Box: Designed to be leak-resistant, the Bentgo lunch box works well as a stand-alone lunch box so you wouldn’t necessarily have to pack this inside of a pail or fabric bag. It’s on the larger side — 7.6″ x 9.8″— and can truly hold an entire meal for your kiddos. This style comes in five colors.
2. Bentgo Stainless Steel Prints Lunch Box: This is the same lunch box, but with adorable prints, including dinosaurs, sharks, rainbows and butterflies, and unicorns. These are precious!

The Good Kiind

The Good Kiind is a lunchbox brand to pay attention to! Designed by a mom and made thoughtfully with all the things you wish you had in a lunch box, The Good Kiind promises to be the last lunchbox you’ll ever need to buy. Their boxes are made from stainless steel and silicone, and have a removable silicone seal that helps prevent foods from moving around between compartments.

This brand has tons of raving reviews and lots of happy kids. It is on the expensive side, but every lunch box purchase provides one month of meals to a child living in extreme hunger. You’ll also want to know that they sell GOTS-certified lunch bags and a stainless steel ice pack. YEP!

1. The Explorer: Much like PlanetBox and Bentgo, the Good Kiind’s Explorer lunch box is on the larger size, coming in at 10″ x 7″ and has separated compartments. This allows you to send in an entire meal, from sandwich to sides, and an interior silicone seal ensures the food stays fresh and doesn’t leak or get soggy. This is a durable lunch box and will also hold up in the dishwasher.
2. The Snacker: This is a smaller version of the Explorer, coming in at 9″ x 5.9″, making it a great option for younger kiddos. This set comes with side containers, giving you a bit more flexibility in how you pack lunches… do you want two, three, or four compartments? All are possible with The Snacker. Both lunch boxes come with an attached lid and an easy-to-open handle.
3. Stainless Steel Ice Pack: If you’ve ever worried about the plastic and internal liquid in an ice pack, this one’s for you. The Good Kiind makes a stainless steel version that is filled with water only. So, there’s literally nothing to worry about when packing your child’s lunch. Love this!

Other Brands

In my search for the best kids lunch boxes, I found a few other products to consider! While these brands may not have as many options as the others on this list, they should still be considered.

1. Ahimsa Sandwich and Snack Boxes: If you’re like me and you like to pack a sandwich in a small stainless steel container, this might be the choice for you! These are easy to use and open and they also come in a special discounted bundle set. Ahimsa also makes snack containers.
2. Pottery Barn Kids Spencer Bento Box: With a plastic top, the PBK Spencer Bento boxes are easy for kids of all ages to open. We have had a couple of these over the years and while they don’t necessarily look as durable as the other options on this list online, they hold up really well. Go for this brand if you worry about your child being able to open their sandwich or lunch container, but just know the top is made from plastic. They used to sell them in various compartment sizes, but I’m not sure those options are available anymore. They also come in a cute glitter set or a set with a utensil kit.
3. Yumbox Stainless Steel: This is a cool, hybrid lunchbox that would be a great choice for a younger child. It is a bit on the heavy side, but it is large enough (8″ x 10″) to pack a full lunch. It comes with a silicone seal to prevent food from sliding around into the different containers. It’s also on the pricier side, but the parents I know who use this brand love it.
4. Everusely Bento Lunch Box: This lunch box is well-made and sized right for younger kids! It also comes with a silicone strap to keep the lid on, making it a little more user-friendly for smaller hands.
5. Everusely Lunch Containers: Another option that I love is to use round containers for certain lunch items. You don’t have to limit yourself to bento-style lunch boxes! The larger containers in this set would make a great lunchbox for various cold meals.

Best Food Jars for Kids

1 Thermos | 2 Thermos | 3 LunchBots | 4 LunchBots | 5 PlanetBox | 6 Bentgo | 7 Yumbox | 8 Simple Modern | 9 The Good Kiind

Other Must-Haves for Packing Lunches

Packing a school lunch is a bit of an art, and there are a few other items you’ll want to have on hand to simplify this job. Here are some of my lunch-packing favorites…

1 LunchBots Food Storage | 2 The Good Kiind Ice Pack | 3 If You Care Sandwich Bags | 4 HiYZ Sandwich Cutter | 5 Organic Lunch Box | 6 Magigift Vegetable Cutters | 7 Stasher Bags | 8 Joie Crinkle Cutter | 9 Blue Ele Ice Pack| 10 Everusely Snack Containers | 11 Stainless Steel Ice Pack

Why Choose Stainless Steel?

What you feed your children is essential for their overall health, well-being, and even their behavior. You know it’s important to make healthy choices and model good eating habits as much as possible, but have you considered what you’re serving their food in? Believe it or not, the lunchbox matters! This goes double if your child is in daycare, preschool, or is attending school full-time.

If you have started shopping for your child’s lunch box, you will notice tons of cute and colorful options. However, most of these lunch containers and bento boxes are plastic. They’re everywhere — at school, at all the big box stores, and even with our friends at playgroup. Even though plastic lunch boxes can be cute and convenient, they can leach chemicals and expose your child to microplastics. For this reason, it’s wise to avoid plastic, especially when it comes to food-related products.

So what’s a safer option than plastic? When you’re on the go with your little one or packing a lunch or snack for school, consider a much safer option: stainless steel. Stainless steel lunch boxes are the best lunch and snack containers for your little ones! I know—it’s easy to write off stainless steel products as camping gear. But there are so many great reasons to choose stainless!

✅ Stainless steel is eco-friendly. Stainless steel is 100% recyclable and won’t leach chemicals into the environment. It’s one of the most recycled materials on the planet.

✅ It’s also very durable. Stainless containers are the most long-lasting and durable. They don’t break easily and can withstand a lot of wear and tear from your kiddos. They definitely will withstand the test of time (unlike plastic or glass).

✅ Steel is easy to clean. Most stainless steel products are dishwasher safe and won’t rust or stain. I throw our stainless steel bento boxes into the dishwasher. LOVE. THAT.

✅ Stainless steel lunch boxes are lightweight. Contrary to what you might think, many stainless steel lunch containers are very lightweight. So, switching from plastic to stainless steel won’t weigh your kiddo’s backpack down.

✅ Ditch the plastic. When choosing a container for your child’s lunch, it’s best to look beyond plastic, which is full of chemicals. And, inevitably, plastic degrades. When it breaks down, those chemicals can leach and migrate into your food.

In fact, almost every type of plastic will transfer trace amounts into your food and then enter your body. This is especially true if we are heating food in plastic or if the food being stored is salty, acidic, or fatty. Over time, those trace amounts of toxic compounds can lead to serious health issues.

Trust me, I know the lure of cute plastic BPA-free lunchboxes. Even though you’ll find BPA-free lunch boxes, BPA is one of the most toxic chemical compounds in plastics (especially due to its ability to disrupt hormone function). However, disturbingly, many products that claim to be BPA-free either still test positive for trace amounts of the compound, or they use a slightly altered version of the compound (BPS) which may be just as toxic.

It’s also important to note that while the FDA banned the use of BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups, and packaging for infant formula in 2012, the chemical is not banned from being used in other types of food containers and packaging. It’s up to us to choose options that lower our exposure to BPAs or other toxic chemical compounds found in plastics, preferably by avoiding them!

3 Types of Stainless Steel Lunch Boxes

Now that you know why stainless is the best option for your child’s lunch box, let’s look at the options. There are a few different styles!

1. Bento Box: I love to use bento-style containers for my kids because they have compartments to separate foods. This works so well for little ones and they are very easy to pack. There’s only one lid and all of their meal options are laid out in front of them at once. This is particularly good for kids going to school or daycare. It promotes independence during mealtime by giving your child a choice—and a greater likelihood of food variety.
2. Insulated: These thermos-style insulated containers are great if you regularly send your child (or yourself!) to school with leftovers or a lunch that is best served warm. These do a great job of keeping food warm until it’s ready to be eaten.
3. Snack Size: Smaller snack containers that are perfect for throwing in your own bag when you’re on the go with the kids, or want to pack supplementary snacks along with their lunch.

Consider a mix of all three types of lunchboxes for your child’s mealtime stash!

Ready To Pack Those Lunches?

To me, sending my boys to school with a packed lunch and a note from mom always makes my heart happy. Even before they started going to school, I would always pack lunches and snacks in our stainless steel bento boxes. You just can’t beat the convenience of these lunch boxes! And I just love that they are completely plastic-free.

Well, now you know that those carefully prepared, healthy school lunches you’re making are being packed in a container that won’t expose your child to harmful chemicals. Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite stainless lunchbox or food container that wasn’t on the list? Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments below!

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