Ultimate Guide To The Best Bento Lunch Box, Australia 2023

As a mother, I know how fussy kids can be when it comes to eating. But preparing their lunch boxes for school is an even bigger struggle.

I couldn’t manage it all without a great lunchbox to keep everything fresh and I love bento style boxes! So, I thought I’d share with you all my research into finding the best bento lunch box Australia has on offer.

There are heaps of great options on the market for the best bento box Australia has for kids, it’s just a matter of knowing what to look for. If you’re not completely sure what makes the best bento lunch boxes Australia has for kids, then you’re in the right place, because this is a complete guide to the best kids bento lunch boxes to save you time and drama.

I’ll review the best bento boxes, explain what I like, the shortcomings they might have, and list what you should be looking for.

“This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.”

My Pick for the Best Bento Lunch Box, Australia 2023: Bright Star Kids Bento Lunch Box

I absolutely love this bento lunch box from Bright Star Kids. They allow you to print your little one’s name on the box, use your favourite font, and pick a design from their huge library. This box has 3 wide compartments and comes with a spork as an extra.

Comparison Chart – Best Bento Lunch Boxes, Australia

Below is a handy table where you can quickly compare the best bento lunch box for kids. Keep reading further for more in-depth information on each product.

Product	Image	Material	Measurements	Compartments	Rating	Price
Bright Star Kids		Plastic	L: 21.8cm x H: 15.7cm x D: 6cm	3	4.9/5	Check Price!
Skip Hop Zoo		Plastic	L: 8.9 x W: 8.9 x H: 11.9	2	4.6/5	Check Price!
Fenrici		Plastic	L: 21 x W: 16 x H: 6 cm	4	4.3/5	Check Price!
Bento Three		Plastic	L: 17.5 x W: 17.5 x H: 6 cm	3	4.5/5	Check Price!
YumBox		Plastic	L: 21.5 x W: 16 x H: 4.5 cm	6	4.8/5	Check Price!
Bentgo		Plastic	L: 21.5 x W:16.6 x H: 4.6 cm	5	4.7/5	Check Price!
B.box		Polypropylene and silicone	L: 23 x W: 21 x H: 6.5 cm	5	4.6/5	Check Price!
Hipp-O-Bento		Plastic	L: 22.6 x W: 17.5 x H: 5 cm	4-6	4.6/5	Check Price!
Kids Konserve		Stainless steel	L: 14.6 x W: 14.6 x H: 6.3 cm	4	4.4/5	Check Price!
Ever Eco		Stainless steel	L: 21 x W: 16 x H: 6 cm	2	4.3/5	Check Price!
3Sprouts		Lead free, BPA free, & PVC free plastic	L: 22 x W: 15 x H: 6.5 cm	3	4.1/5	Check Price!
PACKIT		BPA free plastic	L: 18.4 x W: 7 x H: 12.7 cm	3	4.2/5	Check Price!
Jeopace		BPA free material	L: 20.5 x W: 13.5 x H: 6.5 cm	4	4.4/5	Check Price!
Lunchster		Eco-friendly wheat fibre material	L: 21.8 x W: 15.2 x H: 8.6 cm	3	4.3/5	Check Price!

Bento Box Reviews, Australia 2023

These in-depth reviews will give you the rundown on all of our top picks and their features.

Bright Star Kids Bento Lunch Box – My Favourite

This lunchbox is the perfect size for my 4 year old – easily fits a roll or sandwich and snacks in other compartments. The designs are cute too which is a bonus. – Christina

Specifications

• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions (L x H x D): 21.8cm x 15.7cm x 6cm
• Compartments: 3

Kids love to feel special. This boosts their confidence early on and makes sure they enjoy every bit of their childhood. That’s why I love this bento lunch box.

Bright Star Kids allows you to personalize this box for your kid. When you press the “make this product” button, you’ll be redirected to the designing page. 

It couldn’t be simpler. All you have to do is enter your kid’s name, choose the font, and pick a design. You can choose a category, like boys, girls, and babies, to quickly find a suitable design.  There’s something for every kid and you’ll find unicorns, motorcycles, sports, superheroes, and all sorts of cute animals.

Bright Star Kids also make personalized backpacks and lunch bags. I think any little kid would be happy to get the whole matching set.

This bento box measures 22cm by 16cm and has 3 compartments each measuring 6 cm in depth. It features 4 latches all-around, which is perfectly convenient to make sure it doesn’t accidentally open.

What we love

• Personalized design with a wide variety of options
• Wide capacity
• Comes with a spork
• You can match it with a personalized lunch bag and backpack
• Free from BPA, PVC, and phthalates

What we don’t love

• There’s no dedicated place for the spork

>>>Click here to check price on Bright Star Kids<<<

Skip Hop Baby Zoo Little Kid Bento Lunch Box – Cutest Design

Specifications

• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 8.9 x 8.9 x 11.9 cm
• Compartments: 2

If you want a creatively designed bento box, consider this one from Skip Hop. I absolutely love the small details they put in the two latches present on the front and back. 

For instance, the monkey box has a banana-shaped latch, the dog has a bone, and the butterfly has a cute flower. This will keep your kid interested and willing to finish his food. 

On the downside, it doesn’t have any compartments. It’s just an empty box that measures 17 by 14 cm. However, it comes with a standalone snack container with a lid. 

Skip Hop also makes matching backpack, lunch bag, toddler stainless steel utensils, water bottle, and a food jar. Consider completing the set to fully entertain your little one!

What we love

• Comes with a snack box with a separate lid
• Cutely designed double latches
• Can be matched with other kid supplies
• Free from BPA, PVC, and phthalate

What we don’t love

• Doesn’t have any compartments
• Quite small

>>>Click here to check price on Amazon<<<

Fenrici Bento Lunch Box for Kids – Best for Older Kids

Great value for the price. Has survived the first few weeks of school without a hitch and makes lunch making exciting. – Kirkston

Specifications

• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 20.6 x 16 x 6.1 cm
• Compartments: 4

As your little one gets older, you’d want to vary their diet to keep them well-nourished and properly-entertained. To do this, you need a box that won’t mess up the compartments together and ruin all your efforts. If this applies to you, the Fenrici bento box can be your best bet.

This box has one main rectangular compartment, two small squares, and a circular one in the middle. I like how they extended the square compartments around the circle, to waste no space. As a result, the overall capacity of this box reaches 30 oz. 

If your little one likes shiny visuals, and who doesn’t, this box might not be the right option. It has no design at all. Just a plain, solid colour with the Fenrici logo printed on one of the corners. 

As a side note, Fenrici dedicates 5% of the proceeds from every sale to Global Genes. This is a non-profit organization that supports children with rare diseases. 

What we love

• Large capacity
• Your purchase supports children with rare diseases
• Free from BPA, PVC, and phthalate

What we don’t love

• Comes with a plain colour rather than an attractive design 

>>>Click here to check price on Amazon<<<

Bento Three Lunch Box By Little Lunch Box – Best for Voracious Appetites

I love these lunch boxes. The kids love the different, bright, cool designs available. They come in various internal layouts to suit different lunch needs. – Rebecca

Specifications

• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 20.6 x 16 x 6.1 cm
• Compartments: 4

This box is another great option to pack wet and dry food together for your little one. However, as it measures 17.5 by 17.5 cm with a 33 oz for capacity, it shouldn’t be used unless your kid has a voracious appetite. Otherwise, it’d be unnecessarily-heavy on his delicate body. 

Inside, this bento box is divided into one large compartment and two smaller ones. Every compartment is self-sealed by extensions found on the lid. 

As a plus, you can make the large compartment smaller by purchasing their specifically designed bento cups. They perfectly conform to the box size, which makes them better than the round cupcake moulds. 

The box itself seals with a large latch on the front. I don’t like how big it is, though. It can be hard for some kids to grasp. 

What we love

• Large capacity
• Self-sealed compartments
• Cute Designs
• BPA-free

What we don’t love

• The latch may be bigger than young kids’ hands.

>>>Click here to check price on Lime Tree Kids<<<

YumBox Bento Lunch Box – Most Versatile

Specifications

• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 21.5 x 16 x 4.5 cm
• Compartments: 6

It’s important to diversify the food and the presentation for your kids to avoid boredom. This box from Yummo Bento perfectly serves this function. 

The body of this box is made from a BPA-free plastic that measures 22.5 by 17 cm. But it’s the inside that makes it unique. Instead of the built-in compartments found in most of the other boxes, this one features a removable 6-compartment tray. 

You’ll be able to place whatever food you want in 5 rectangular compartments. Your kid can enjoy delicious dips or yogurt inside the small circular section.

Furthermore, the tray is made from a microwave-compatible material. Your kid will have your warm, lovely food by their side anywhere. 

What we love

• Wide capacity 
• Microwave-compatible tray
• BPA-free

What we don’t love

• Might be heavy for some kids 

>>>Click here to check price on Amazon<<<

Bentgo Kids Lunch Box – Another Versatile Option

Specifications

• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 21.5 x 16 x 4.5 cm
• Compartments: 5

Just like the Yummo box, the Bentgo has a removable tray instead of built-in compartments. The main difference lies in the number. Bentgo features one large compartment for sandwiches, three small rectangles, and one dip container. 

Bentgo wastes a considerable amount of space in the compartment borders, especially around the dip container. This will make you feel that the box is somewhat smaller than the other options, even though it measures 21 by 17 cm. 

The outside is covered with solid colours instead of an attractive design. This might suit older kids, but will certainly bore younger kids. 

Bentgo recommends buying three differently-coloured boxes to play with the container and tray colours. But that, certainly, won’t financially suit all parents

What we love

• Large compartment for sandwiches
• Removable tray 
• Self-sealing compartments
• Free from BPA, PVC, vinyl, and lead

What we don’t love

• The borders take a large space

>>>Click here to check price on Lime Tree Kids<<<

B.box Bento Lunch Box – Best for Whole Fruits

This lunchbox is huge! The large compartment sizes are great for adding whole sandwiches, large biscuits, muesli bars and whole pieces of fruit, something out previous lunchbox wasn’t capable of. – Nikki R.

Specifications

• Material: Polypropylene and silicone
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 23 x 21 x 6.5 cm
• Compartments: 5

Apples, to cut or not to cut, that’s the daily struggle! Well, not anymore. The lid of this box features a small hole covered by an elastic sheet. When you put a whole apple in the compartment beneath this hole, the sheet will stretch allowing the box to tightly close.

Apples are just the first on the list. This box features 5 compartments by default. However, there’s a removable border dividing the longest compartment into two parts. You can remove this divider to pack long fruits like bananas. 

Similarly, there’s a horizontal tray that fits inside the largest square compartment. It’s possible to fit a gel cooler pack underneath it to preserve cool food. Best of all, B.box ships this cooler with the box, giving you the best value for the money. 

What we love

• Accepts whole fruits
• Large capacity 
• Removable borders
• Comes with a gel cooler pack
• Free from BPA, BPS, PVC, and phthalate

What we don’t love

• The outer design is pretty boring

>>>Click here to check price on Hello Charlie<<<

Hipp-O-Bento Box – Most Durable

Specifications

• Material: Plastic
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 22.6 x 17.5 x 5 cm
• Compartments: 4 to 6

Simply put, this box is guaranteed to last until your kid is old enough to need a new one. For starters, it features durable stainless steel hinges to withstand years of opening and closing. 

Moreover, if your little one doesn’t like the illustration that comes with the box, you wouldn’t have to purchase a new one. You can simply pop the switch-up-disc out of place and replace it with a separately-sold design. 

On the inner part of the lid, you’ll find a removable silicone pad. When you close the lid, the silicone will stretch to perfectly close over the compartments. It’s also much easier to clean when compared with the regular design. 

The box has a divider tray that can increase the compartments from four to six. Overall, the box measures 22.5 by 17.5 cm. 

What we love

• Highly-durable
• Large capacity
• Free from BPA and PVC

What we don’t love

• Somewhat expensive

Kids Konserve Divided To-Go Medium Bento – Best Stainless Steel

A great sized container which can be used either with or without the divider. This makes it so much more versatile, as it can be used for keeping food items separate, or for holding sandwiches or salads without the need for separation. – Jacinta

Specifications

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 14.6 x 14.3 x 6.3 cm
• Compartments: 4

Want to save the environment? Then this box fits you. The body of this box is made from food-grade stainless steel. Such material is 100% guaranteed to be free from any toxic substances. 

On the other hand, the lid is made from non-toxic LDPE plastic. I’m glad they chose plastic because I personally think that a metal lid would be difficult for a kid to open. 

Inside, the box is divided by a removable plastic border. This leaves 4 equally-sized square compartments.

The small size is my least favourite thing about this box. It only measures 15 by 15 cm. Then again, it might be suitable for kids with a small appetite. 

What we love

• Made from stainless steel
• Highly-durable
• Free from lead, BPA, and phthalate

What we don’t love

• Small capacity
• Boring outer design

Ever Eco Stainless Steel Bento Box – Stainless Steel Runner-Up

Specifications

• Material: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions (L x W x H):  21 x 16 x 6 cm 
• Compartments: 2

Unlike the previous box, this one from Ever Eco is 100% metallic. Such a box is, of course, super-durable. However, it should only be used with older kids. I don’t think a young kid would like how solid and industrial this looks.

Inside, this box features two compartments. You can remove the stainless steel border to get a single large space to pack bigger food. 

This 21-by-16-cm box closes by two metal latches on the sides. Like I said before, I’m not sure that young kids are capable of opening such latches. 

What we love

• Sturdy construction 
• Large capacity
• Free from BPA, PVC, plastic, silicone, lead, and phthalates

What we don’t love

• A little boring and industrial looking

>>>Click here to check price on Lime Tree Kids<<<

3Sprouts Bento Box

Specifications

• Material: Lead-free, phthalate-free, PVC-free, BPA-free material
• Dimensions (L x W x H):  22 x 15 x 6.5 cm
• Compartments: 3

The 3Sprouts Bento Box is a 3 compartment lunch box that comes in a variety of cute animal prints including an owl. Llama, deer, bear, sloth, and a lion. Your child will be excited to sit down and see what you have packed for them for lunch. The latch can easily be opened and closed by little fingers, and it fits tight enough to safely carry yogurts and dips. 

The box is made from lead free, BPA free, and PVC free plastic. The box is top shelf of the dishwasher and microwave safe. Make lunch a fun occasion with the 3Sprouts Bento box. You can also get a matching thermos to help keep your child hydrated throughout the day. This box is 21 cm long and 14 cm long with one large compartment and two smaller compartments.  

What we love

• Can be matched with other kid supplies

Packit Mod Lunch Bento Container

Specifications

• Material: BPA-free plastic
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 8.4 x 7 x 12.7  cm
• Compartments: 3

The Packit Mod Lunch Bento Container comes with three removable dividers to help you keep foods separated. These leak resistant dividers keep thick liquids and solids from mixing together inside of the box, which is nice if your lunches typically include yogurt or a veggie dip. This bento container has a tight fitting leak resistant lid that latches on both sides of the box. 

This box comes in several solid colours  and the size is 18.4 centimeters by 12.7 centimeters. The material the box is made of is durable and made from BPA free plastic, and the box is microwave safe as long as you remove the lid, and freezer safe. 

What we love

• Freezer and microwave safe

What we don’t love

• Only available in solid colours

>>>Click here to check price on Amazon<<<

Jeopace Lunch Container

Specifications

• Material: BPA-free material
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 20.5 x 13.5 x 6.5 cm
• Compartments: 4

This Jeopace Bento lunch container has one large and 3 small sections to keep your lunch in place and your food separated. This box is appropriate for use by both children and adults if you are looking for a way to carry your lunch to work. The box is leak proof, dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe as long as you remove the lid. 

This Bento box comes with it’s own cutlery and a compartment on the lid to hold it so that kids don’t lose it. These boxes come in several colours and they are made of BPA free material. The box is 20.5 centimeters by 13.5 cm, and can hold quite a lot of food. 

What we love

• Freezer and microwave safe
• Comes with cutlery

What we don’t love

• Only available in solid colours so it may not be not very appealing to children

>>>Click here to check price on Amazon<<<

Lunchster Kids Bento Box

Specifications

• Material: Eco-friendly wheat fibre
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 21.8 x 15.2 x 8.6 cm
• Compartments: 3

The Lunchster Kids Bento Box is a 3 compartment bento box that you can pack your healthy lunch in to carry to work or school. The box is made from an eco-friendly wheat fibre material that is BPA free. The box is durable and safe to use in the microwave with the lid removed, freezer, and dishwasher. Your food is held secure by the three separate latches, and this box comes with it’s own cutlery too. 

The bento box comes in solid colours with Lunchster emblazoned across the top, and the cutlery that comes with it will fit back into the box. The dimensions of this bento box is 21.8 cm by 15.2 cm so that you have plenty of room for your favourite foods. 

What we love

• Has 3 compartments
• Freezer and microwave safe
• Comes with cutlery

What we don’t love

• The 3 latches may be difficult for young children to manage

>>>Click here to check price on Amazon<<<

What is a Bento Lunch Box?

If you’re thinking “But wait – what is a bento lunch box?!” Bento is the Japanese word for lunch box. But in Japanese culture, bento is a lot more than a plastic box. It’s a whole food category that’s uniquely marked by being highly nutritious and variable. That’s why bento boxes usually have two or more compartments. 

What are the Benefits of Bento Boxes?

There are heaps of great benefits of using a bento box rather than a standard lunch box for both adults and kids.

• They allow better food variety.
• One bento box can replace multiple plastic lunch boxes.
• You’re less likely to forget a food element by following the compartments order.
• They can carry liquid and dry food simultaneously.
• They keep meals intact without mixing together.
• They maintain food temperature, hot or cold, thanks to their insulation.
• They encourage creativity in food arrangement and design. 
• You’ll be helping the environment by reusing them.

Features of the Best Bento Box for Kids

As I said, lunch boxes have been copying bentos for a long time now. It can be difficult to find a suitable bento box between the dozens of brands out there, all claiming to be the best. 

No worries, I’ve got you covered. Here are the main features that make the difference between the top rated bento lunch boxes and not so good ones. 

Capacity & Compartments

There’s no right and wrong when considering the capacity. You should choose a bento box that conforms with your child’s appetite. Bigger isn’t always better because it will be heavier for your little one, may not fit in a backpack, and you might waste a lot of food if your child’s appetite isn’t up to the task.

When it comes to compartments, I personally prefer to have one large compartment and 2 small ones. This way, you can place larger food, like sandwiches, and you can still divide the large space into smaller parts by using cupcake moulds. 

Material

Most commonly, a bento box is made from plastic. It’s important to verify that the box is free from any harmful plastic components, like BPA, PVC, and phthalate. Otherwise, such materials would slowly leak into your kid’s food, causing serious health issues in the long run.

Alternatively, you can opt for a stainless steel bento lunch box. Although the environment will totally appreciate it, your little one might not. Metal bento boxes are incredibly hard to customise with colourful designs. More times than not, it comes with a solid, industrial look that doesn’t fit a young kid by any means.

Then again, stainless steel is a lot more durable when compared to plastic. It’s also inherently safer because it doesn’t have any of the harmful materials we mentioned.

The choice is up to you. You’ll have to decide after weighing the benefits and risks. 

Leak-Proof & Liquids

As a rule of thumb, bento box lunch boxes aren’t suitable for storing pure liquids, like water or juice. Even if they didn’t leak between compartments, they’ll definitely leak out of the whole box. So, it’s better to keep such liquids within dedicated bottles.

However, you can safely store semi-liquids, such as dipping sauces and yogurt, inside leak-proof boxes. These products have small extensions embedded within the lid to keep the contents of each compartment in place when the box is closed. 

Child Friendly & Easy to Use

Not all of the bento boxes on the market are made for kids. Such products are equipped with stronger latches that decrease the likelihood of accidental opening. 

While this is appreciated for an adult’s busy day, your kid’s little hands won’t be able to open them. Therefore, make sure the bento box you buy fits your kid’s age group. 

Recap of Our Favourites

Product	Image	Material	Measurements	Compartments	Rating	Price
Bright Star Kids		Plastic	L: 21.8cm x H: 15.7cm x D: 6cm	3	4.9/5	Check Price!
Skip Hop Zoo		Plastic	L: 8.9 x W: 8.9 x H: 11.9	2	4.6/5	Check Price!
Fenrici		Plastic	L: 21 x W: 16 x H: 6 cm	4	4.3/5	Check Price!
Bento Three		Plastic	L: 17.5 x W: 17.5 x H: 6 cm	3	4.5/5	Check Price!
YumBox		Plastic	L: 21.5 x W: 16 x H: 4.5 cm	6	4.8/5	Check Price!
Bentgo		Plastic	L: 21.5 x W:16.6 x H: 4.6 cm	5	4.7/5	Check Price!
B.box		Polypropylene and silicone	L: 23 x W: 21 x H: 6.5 cm	5	4.6/5	Check Price!
Hipp-O-Bento		Plastic	L: 22.6 x W: 17.5 x H: 5 cm	4-6	4.6/5	Check Price!
Kids Konserve		Stainless steel	L: 14.6 x W: 14.6 x H: 6.3 cm	4	4.4/5	Check Price!
Ever Eco		Stainless steel	L: 21 x W: 16 x H: 6 cm	2	4.3/5	Check Price!
3Sprouts		Lead free, BPA free, & PVC free plastic	L: 22 x W: 15 x H: 6.5 cm	3	4.1/5	Check Price!
PACKIT		BPA free plastic	L: 18.4 x W: 7 x H: 12.7 cm	3	4.2/5	Check Price!
Jeopace		BPA free material	L: 20.5 x W: 13.5 x H: 6.5 cm	4	4.4/5	Check Price!
Lunchster		Eco-friendly wheat fibre material	L: 21.8 x W: 15.2 x H: 8.6 cm	3	4.3/5	Check Price!

Why not check out our article on the best toddler drinks bottles or find more toddler gear here. If you need an easy way to carry everything with you, take a look at our nappy bag recommendations.