Product Roundup

The Best Kid-Friendly Lunch Boxes for $30 or Less

Meghan Splawn
Meghan Splawn
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the first 10 years of her career as part of Alton Brown's culinary team. She co-hosts a weekly podcast about food and family called Didn't I Just Feed You.
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updated Aug 22, 2023
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Credit: Christine Gallary

One of my mom friends recently messaged me: “Oscar is starting full-time school and he needs a lunch box. I want something easy to clean and it needs to be under $30.” Of course, I quickly messaged back with a handful of my favorites. And it got me thinking that you might also need some affordable lunch box options for back-to-school time.

I’ve tested dozens of lunch boxes — both for myself and with my two kids — and these are by far my five favorites for less than $30. You can find nearly all of them all at Amazon, which boasts some of our favorite food storage solutions for both parents and kids, so you know you’re getting the best price possible. Each of these kid-friendly lunch boxes keeps food fresh and organized, and most of them are guaranteed to prevent leaks. Bonus: They are all dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is a breeze.

1 / 5
Bentgo Kids Bento Style Lunch Box
Amazon
$27.99
was $39.99

This is the lunch box I suggested for my friend. It will be easy for her kindergartener to open, and the interior compartment comes out for cleaning. Plus, it's available in eight different color combos and has enough room to keep wet and dry foods separate.

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2 / 5
Yumbox Panino Bento Lunch Box
L.L. Bean
$30.00

The Yumbox is incredibly light for its size and has a great leak-proof seal all the way around. My kids also love the small spot in the middle for treats. Pro tip: You can use a dry-erase marker to leave notes under the clear interior compartments.

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3 / 5
LunchBots Medium Duo Snack Container
Amazon
$22.99

It’s no secret that we love LunchBots for kids and adults because they come in several sizes, are super lightweight, and are made of something besides plastic. The Duo is a perfect size for a sandwich and a side, and ideal for tweens and teens to use.

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4 / 5
kinsho Bento Lunch Box
Amazon
$13.99
was $29.99

This new-to-me lunch box is another bento-style container that is easy to open and clean. I like that it has a spot for utensils inside because my daughter never seems to be able to find the fork I pack in her lunch bag. I also appreciate how firmly its lid snaps in place to seal tightly.

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5 / 5
EasyLunchboxes Bento Lunch Boxes (Set of 4)
Amazon
$13.95

EasyLunchboxes are my favorite pre-school and elementary lunch boxes — you get 4 boxes for $14, so you won’t be totally miffed if your 5-year-old loses or breaks one right off the bat. Plus, you can pack and stack these lunch boxes in advance to save space in your fridge or on your counter.

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