The Best Lunch Boxes In 2022
Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock By Acacia Deadrick/Nov. 13, 2022 7:30 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Lunch boxes may seem like an item only children need, but since over half of Americans in the workforce eat lunch at their desk, there’s a huge market for lunch boxes for adults. Granted some of those employees are likely just eating a snack or some take-out, but there are still plenty of people who bring lunch from home — for good reason.
There are a variety of benefits to eating a home-packed lunch. Studies show that eating food you cooked at home is often healthier than food you’d get if you ate out. Additionally, per Money Crashers, you can potentially save up to $2,400 a year by eating a home lunch instead of eating out. So even if you’re just bringing your leftovers to work, you’re still reaping the benefits. And to take those leftovers to work, you need a lunch box. Not all lunch boxes are created equally, so we rounded up a list of the best ones you can find this year. Let’s get into it.
How we selected products
Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock
To choose our lunch boxes for this list, we followed our tried-and-true process that ensures we make the best selections for our readers. We started by considering what customers might want. Are you after a standard lunch box? Are you on a budget? What kind of material do you like best? Then we created a variety categories to meet several user needs.
Once we settled on categories, we started looking at lunch boxes. We examined different lunch boxes and immediately removed some from consideration due to low quality, poor performance, and bad reviews. Once we weeded out the losers, we looked more closely at the ones we knew were great. From the best ones, we categorized them, and from there, we looked at reviews to see which ones are actually meeting customer needs. After that, we made our decisions and finalized our list of 2022’s top lunch boxes.
The Best Lunch Boxes In 2022
Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock
By Acacia Deadrick/Nov. 13, 2022 7:30 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Lunch boxes may seem like an item only children need, but since over half of Americans in the workforce eat lunch at their desk, there’s a huge market for lunch boxes for adults. Granted some of those employees are likely just eating a snack or some take-out, but there are still plenty of people who bring lunch from home — for good reason.
There are a variety of benefits to eating a home-packed lunch. Studies show that eating food you cooked at home is often healthier than food you’d get if you ate out. Additionally, per Money Crashers, you can potentially save up to $2,400 a year by eating a home lunch instead of eating out. So even if you’re just bringing your leftovers to work, you’re still reaping the benefits. And to take those leftovers to work, you need a lunch box. Not all lunch boxes are created equally, so we rounded up a list of the best ones you can find this year. Let’s get into it.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
There are a variety of benefits to eating a home-packed lunch. Studies show that eating food you cooked at home is often healthier than food you’d get if you ate out. Additionally, per Money Crashers, you can potentially save up to $2,400 a year by eating a home lunch instead of eating out. So even if you’re just bringing your leftovers to work, you’re still reaping the benefits.
And to take those leftovers to work, you need a lunch box. Not all lunch boxes are created equally, so we rounded up a list of the best ones you can find this year. Let’s get into it.
How we selected products
To choose our lunch boxes for this list, we followed our tried-and-true process that ensures we make the best selections for our readers. We started by considering what customers might want. Are you after a standard lunch box? Are you on a budget? What kind of material do you like best? Then we created a variety categories to meet several user needs.
Once we settled on categories, we started looking at lunch boxes. We examined different lunch boxes and immediately removed some from consideration due to low quality, poor performance, and bad reviews. Once we weeded out the losers, we looked more closely at the ones we knew were great. From the best ones, we categorized them, and from there, we looked at reviews to see which ones are actually meeting customer needs. After that, we made our decisions and finalized our list of 2022’s top lunch boxes.
Once we settled on categories, we started looking at lunch boxes. We examined different lunch boxes and immediately removed some from consideration due to low quality, poor performance, and bad reviews. Once we weeded out the losers, we looked more closely at the ones we knew were great.
From the best ones, we categorized them, and from there, we looked at reviews to see which ones are actually meeting customer needs. After that, we made our decisions and finalized our list of 2022’s top lunch boxes.
Best overall lunch box
Tiblue
Though it’s made from fabric, this lunch box is sturdy. The fabric, which comes in a variety of patterns and colors, is waterproof, so it won’t lose its shape if you get caught in the rain or if something leaks from the inside. And while we’re discussing it, the inside is made with insulated fabric that’s easy to wipe up should anything spill inside.
Users have already expressed their pleasure with this lunch box. One reviewer said, “Love everything about this lunch box! The compartments, the size, the color, and the price! A must-have for sure!”
Best splurge lunch box
Modern Picnic
Aside from being good-looking, The Luncher is very functional. It’s insulated and structured, making it easy to pack both beverages and foods, all at different temperatures you want to preserve. It’s easy to clean and transport, and inside there are separate pockets and compartments for other necessary items like your keys and wallet, making it the only bag you need to carry if you so choose.
If Modern Picnic is a new brand to you, trust the reviews from those who’ve already purchased The Luncher. As Bustle noted, “While the Luncher might look like a chic handbag on the outside, it acts like a functioning lunch box on the inside. The bag has an insulated interior, protecting the bag from any accidental spills. It also has elastic silverware slots, helping you maximize on organization.”
Best affordable lunch box
Tellumo
Tellumo’s Insulated Lunch Bag has great reviews. As one customer summed up, “It’s a great lunch bag especially for the price! Easy to clean and small.” Another reviewer noted, “It keeps things cold enough, it’s easy to use, and quick to grab. No complaints.”
This lunch box is spacious yet compact, pliable yet durable, and it comes at a price you can’t beat. Overall it holds its own with higher-priced competitors.
Best lunch box with compartments
MISS BIG
The Bento Box has a few neat features. For one, it’s leakproof. Its lid seals seamlessly onto the bottom, and it latches on for even more protection. It’s also made with natural materials, won’t break if you drop it, and is both microwave and dishwasher safe, so you don’t have to clean out each compartment one by one. The MISS BIG Bento Box comes in multiple colors and is available in two different sizes, making it versatile and likely to meet your needs.
Reviewers love this product, and one noted, “I have gone through many different bento boxes in the last couple [of] years. This one by far is the best. Super easy to clean, lightweight, clasps close tight, and interior sections are very generous.”
Best plastic lunch box
Bentgo
The Bentgo Classic is made of eco-friendly material that’s microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe (aside from the center divider), making it ultra-versatile in what it can store and how you care for it. The sets come in different colors, and some of the proceeds go toward feeding hungry families, as Bentgo supports Feed the Children.
Customers who’ve purchased the Bentgo Classic lunch box are very happy with it. One said, “The bottom compartment holds a good amount of food, and the top compartment is just right for sliced fruit or other snacks. The boxes look good and are easy to clean.” Another noted, “I have bought so many lunch boxes and they just are never this good! I love the section sizes, I can fit my lunch in [it] perfectly.”
Best soft lunch box
Adidas
The Santiago’s soft material is really quite something. It’s made from recycled material, and it’s very durable. Since it’s soft, it won’t break if it’s dropped, and if something inside it breaks, it’s easy to clean simply by wiping it down with soap and water. The lunch box is a great size, and it has a mesh liner on the back for even more storage.
Nearly everyone who’s purchased this item loves it. One customer said, “Easy to clean. Durable. Good size for everything & the opening is perfect to get everything into it!” Another customer liked it for different reasons, saying, “Love the handle and insulation. Easy to pack. Buy it. You will not regret the purchase. Not bulky and very stylish.”
This lunch bag comes in several different colors, and it’s affordable and useful.
Best metal lunch box
Stanley
There’s a lot to love about a metal lunch box. They’re durable and are easy to clean. They’re lightweight and can be used for storage beyond food if necessary. The Stanley Classic lunch box is dishwasher safe, and although it can fit your food and a thermos, it’s also small enough to be put inside a backpack. It’s well worth the money.
One buyer said of the Stanley Classic lunch box, “I have found this to be the most convenient way to carry my lunch, snacks, and thermos, to and from my workplace, as well as to and from my excursions. I highly recommend this durable, easy-to-clean, lunch box!” Another said, “I’ve been using my lunch box for years and it still looks new. Thermos keeps soup hot for eight hours.”
Best lunch box with a handle
BALORAY
Now, let’s discuss the handle. We like the BALORAY handle for multiple reasons. First, it’s sturdy, both in its construction and in its attachment to the bag. Even if you’re carrying a heavy meal, the handle won’t detach. Next, it’s a large handle. Many lunch box handles are big enough to fit your hand in, but can’t go much past your wrist. The BALORAY handle has room for your to carry the bag on your arm, making it much more convenient to transport when you’ve got lots of items to hold.
Trust the customers who’ve purchased this lunch bag before. One said, “This lunchbox is super cute and it holds a lot. When I say a lot, I mean not only does it have a lot of room, it also holds the weight of it all really well.” Another added, “This lunch bag is perfect for literally anyone.”
Best large capacity lunch box
Lifewit
Lifewit equipped its lunch bag with two separate carrying options, a top handle and a shoulder strap, both of which have padding to make the lunch box more comfortable to transport. And although it has plenty of space, this item isn’t bulky, so you can easily carry other bags and accessories while you’ve got your lunch bag.
As one customer put it, this bag is a “good alternative to a big cooler when there’s only a few of you for a quick trip to the beach or picnic,” adding, “Doesn’t leak and folds flat when not in use (for easy storage).” A second reviewer said, “I love this thing and the side pockets … Haven’t ripped or given me any problem, and it’s easy to clean. 10 stars!” You’ll give it 10 stars, too.
Best small capacity lunch box
Gloppie
The Gloppie is well made, and it’s insulated and easy to clean. It’s also durable and easy to carry. Because of its small size, it’s easy to store at home, at work, or inside another bag. Gloppie makes transporting items a breeze, and it’s available in multiple colors, including black, blue, yellow, and orange.
Plenty of users have already expressed their happiness with this product. One reviewer commented, “I needed a small, sturdy, insulated lunch container to take to work … Incredibly happy with my purchase.”
Many users purchase the Gloppie for others, particularly school-aged children. One customer said, “I bought this product for my grandson, he liked that it was big enough to hold a sandwich, fruit, drink and a snack and it was able to fit comfortably in his backpack. It’s also sturdy enough so his lunch doesn’t get squished together.” It’s hard to argue with a lunch box that prevents flattened food.
Best insulated lunch box
Hydro Flask
If you need more proof about its insulation, look to users who’ve already purchased this item. One said, “Love this lunchbox. I got it for my son after he complained that his lunch was no longer cold by lunchtime. Problem solved!” Another commented, “It is insulated very well and keeps everything cool for hours.”
Aside from its stellar insulation Hydro Flask’s lunch box is spacious, easy to transport, and easy to store. It also comes in multiple sizes, as well as multiple colors like pink, blue, and red, and its material is easy to clean. It’s a great product from a company that’s proved itself time and again.
Best electric lunch box
FORABEST
To work this electric lunch box, you simply need to plug it in. And to make it even more convenient, it comes with a cord to plug into your car so you can heat food on the go. Do note that it does not cook food — it just warms food up, so don’t leave the house with raw meat expecting it to cook through during your commute. That being said, it’s perfect for anyone who’s busy and hates eating sandwiches and salads day after day.
The FORABEST lunch box comes with a convenient carrying case, silverware, and a small plastic container. It also comes with the cords needed to operate it, so it’s fully functional upon opening.
As one reviewer put it, “This is the best thing I have gotten … I plug it in about an hour before my lunch and my food is heated up perfectly. I have done, pasta, pizza, frozen meals, you name it and I am obsessed.”
