Best bento boxes to take out for delicious lunches

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Best bento boxes to buy at a glance

• Best blow-out bento box: Black + Blum stainless steel bento box, £38.95
• Best versatile bento box: Mepal bento lunch box, £19.99
• Best colourful bento box: Munchkin kids' bento box, £22.99
• Best budget bento box: Sistema to go bento box, £9
• Best bento box for personalisation: Jungley personalised bento box, £17.40
• Best eco-friendly bento box: Mochi Mart eco-friendly bento box, £19.95
• Best for big lunches: Monbento original bento box, £37.90
• Best accessorised bento box: Umami premium bento box, £20.99
• Best kid's bento box: Bibury bento box, £7.99

Best bento boxes to buy 2024

Black + Blum bento box

• Available from The Green Welly Shop (£38)

Best blow-out bento box

Pros:

• Leakproof
• Dishwasher safe (excluding lids)
• Sliding divider
• Concealed fork

Cons:

• Expensive

Stainless steel is a lightweight and durable choice for lunch on the go that's dishwasher-safe and plastic-free. This box's first airtight (and leakproof) lid doubles as a chopping board there's a hidden cutlery compartment beneath it. We love the adaptability of the movable stainless steel divider inside the second box, perfect for different dishes. If you don't need both compartments, just leave one at home as its elasticated strap will do the same job at keeping everything together.

Mepal bento lunch box

• Available from John Lewis (£19.99)

Best versatile bento box

Pros:

• Microwave safe
• Dishwasher safe

Cons:

• Not the best option if you're looking for a compact bento box

In pretty sage green, this versatile bento box has plenty of compartments to keep food separate and use for a variety of lunches. There's a small box with separate lid, plus two removable compartments to keep elements apart so they don't go soggy or get squashed together. The whole box is microwave safe for hot lunches and dishwasher safe for easy clean up.

Sistema to go bento lunch box

• Available from Argos (£9)

Best budget bento box

Pros:

• Great value for money
• Leakproof
• Extra screw-top container
• Customisable with removable compartments
• BPA-free

Cons:

• None!

For a simple option, this Sistema bento box is a wallet-friendly, practical choice. It has an easy locking clip to secure the box closed and inside are several removable compartments that would be easily customisable to suit your lunch needs. This box is also notable for it's lidded yogurt pot included, great for breakfasts too. Four colours are available, although Argos does not give the option to choose which you'll receive when ordering.

Munchkin kids bento box

• Available from John Lewis (£22.99)

Best colourful bento box

Pros:

• Toddler-friendly utensils included
• Handle for easy carrying
• Five internal compartments
• BPA-free

Cons:

• Several colourways are available but it's not possible to pick which you'd like

Brighten up lunchtimes with this rainbow bento box, ideal for packing kids lunches. Inside are five compartments that are perfect for smaller amounts of food, plus stainless steel toddler-friendly utensils that fix into the inside lid. The box has a handle for easy carrying on the way to school, plus is all dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning at the end of the day.

Jungley personalised bento box

• Available from Not on the High Street (£17.40)

Best bento box for personalisation

Pros:

• Personalise the elastic strap
• Adjustable compartment slider
• Five colourways
• Two in one fork provided

Cons:

• The fork slides beneath the elastic but isn't secured to the box

Make sure your lunch is always safe in the office fridge with this simple, minimalist bento box. You can add a name or initials (up to 12 characters) along the fabric strap that holds the box and included cutlery (a three-in-one knife, fork and spoon) together. The box has an airtight seal to keep food fresh and removable divider inside to create two separate sections. Five neutral colourways are available, including black, blue and grey.

Mochi Mart eco-friendly bento box

• Available from Not on the High Street (£19.95)

Best eco-friendly bento box

Pros:

• Compostable wheat-straw alternative to plastic
• Microwave and dishwasher safe
• Flexible catch-lock for leakproof closing
• Fork and spoon included

Cons:

• Don't expose to high-temperatures during dishwashing

If you're concerned about bento boxes being full of plastic, opt for this sustainable option made from wheat straw, a low-impact and compostable alternative to plastic. The box has three layers and a movable divider to keep all your elements separate (or remove the dividers and layers to use the 900ml capacity in its entirety), plus a wooden fork and spoon. The set is available in three pastel colours and is dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

Available from:
Not on the High Street (£19.95)

Monbento original bento box

• Available from Monbento (£37.90)

Best for big lunches

Pros:

• BPA-free
• Airtight and leakproof
• Microwave and dishwasher safe

Cons:

• Investment price

Monbento specialises in sturdy, well-made bento boxes, so this investment is sure to last a lifetime. We love the original line, available in a wide range of colours and styles. It's BPA free, made with high-quality PBT and completely airtight due to an internal lid fitted with a hinge. The two tiers are open compartments, better suited for large adult-sized portions. It's microwave safe, dishwasher safe and fully recyclable, too.

Umami premium bento box

• Available from Amazon (£20.99)

Best accessorised bento box

Pros:

• Cutlery included
• Dishwasher safe
• Leakproof
• Two screw-jars included
• BPA-free

Cons:

• Standard sandwich won't fit in medium, only large or XL

Looking to go all out on a deluxe bento box? This gorgeous option from Umami comes with all the bells and whistles. The two-tiered box comes with clever adjustable dividers to fit whatever you happen to pack that day, plus it comes with a screw-cap jar for sauces and sides. A full cutlery set is included, all of which lock into place. The sleek, black box is topped off with a natural bamboo lid for a stylish finish.

Bibury bento box

• Available from Amazon (£9.99)

Best kid's bento box

Pros:

• Microwave and dishwasher safe
• Cutlery included
• Removable inner tray with compartments

Cons:

• Not suitable for soups

Kids are sure to love this colourful bento box from Bibury. This one is unique in that the inner tray can be removed and cleaned separately, or used to mix the components of your lunch together. Cutlery is included in the lid, plus it's microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe. This durable lunchbox is made from food-grade PP material, BPA-free and it's non-toxic.

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