If you regularly take lunch to work or pack one when you’re on a day trip, a lunch box is infinitely superior to wrapping your sarnie in foil or using a single-use sandwich bag. Insulated lunch boxes will also keep food cooler, safer temperatures for longer; great for picnics or chilled bottles.
Using a lunch box is better for the environment, will save you money in the long run and avoids the annoyance of squashed sandwiches. You don’t have to think about borrowing your kids’ Star Wars lunch box either – there are lots of stylish or just plain effective options for adults.
There is no right or wrong type of lunch box to buy, but try to make sure that you get one made without BPA and one that doesn’t leak is crucial. Read on to discover our best lunch boxes to buy, and visit our product reviews hub to find reviews of reusable coffee cups, water bottles and personalised water bottles.
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Best lunch boxes at a glance
- Best lunch box overall: Black + Blum stainless-steel lunch box, £29.99
- Best multi-compartment lunch box: Tefal MasterSeal To Go food storage 1.2-litre lunch box, £15.48
- Best stainless-steel lunch box: Life’s a Beach Stainless Steel Lunch Box, £15
- Best insulated lunch box: Tatay 5-Piece Urban Lunch Pack with 4 Food Containers, £17.59
- Best lunch box for hot food: Mepal Ellipse Leak-Proof Lunch Pot, £16.99
How we tested lunch boxes
No leaks: We filled each box with salad and olive oil before shaking and turning them upside down. We also put the boxes in bags and swung them about as we walked before checking them for leaks.
Clever features: Does the box have removable compartments, keep your lunch cold, or come with a knife and fork?
Easy to use: No one wants to waste precious lunchtime minutes wrestling to open their lunch box. We checked for easy-to-open clasps and smoothly opening boxes.
Size: We looked for lunch boxes that were big enough to hold a grown-up lunch, and gave bonus points to ones that managed to do that without being too bulky.
Style: We were pleasantly surprised by how attractive some of the lunch boxes were and awarded marks for this.
Value for money: There was a big price range, but the most important question was whether the boxes merited their price tag.
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Best lunch boxes to buy in 2026
Black + Blum stainless steel lunch box
Available from Amazon (£29.99)
Best lunch box overall
Pros:
- Stylish with great features
- Leakproof design
- Freezer-safe
Cons:
This lunch box is really cleverly designed. It’s stainless steel, with a brightly coloured silicone strap (we had an orange one, but it also comes in blue or green). The strap also holds a stainless steel fork on the outside of the box. There’s a removable divider that slides up and down to make two compartments of whatever size you fancy.
Unusually, you can put the base section in the oven. It’s also safe to use in the freezer, so when not pressed into service as a lunch box, it can be used for freezer meals. However, it’s not microwaveable, and is only partially dishwasher-safe (the lid and strap should be hand-washed).
The box is lovely to look at and despite having no clips, is leakproof. It seals with a valve that you open and close. We packed a salad and liberally drizzled olive oil over it before turning the lunch box upside down and swinging it about a bit, but it didn’t leak a drop.
We also checked to see if it was big enough for a sandwich. It needed to be cut in half, but the box was tall enough for the sandwich halves to be stacked on top of each other. There was room for a small salad too.
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Tefal MasterSeal To Go food storage 1.2-litre lunch box
Available from Amazon (£15.48)
Best multi-compartment lunch box
Pros:
Cons:
- No individual lids on compartments
This multi-compartment lunch box is designed for flexibility. There’s one large compartment and two smaller ones. All of these sit inside the main box, so you can remove some or all of the compartments if you want a bigger space.
The whole lunch box sits on a plate, which helps stop crumbs getting all over your keyboard when you’re eating at your desk. The box is sealed with four long clasps, and a very broad strap keeps it together.
The lunch box passed our drip test admirably, with not a drop of olive oil seeping through – living up to the ‘100% leakproof’ claim on the packaging. It also comes with a 30-year guarantee for good measure.
It ticks all the boxes, as it’s BPA-free and is safe to use in the freezer, microwave and dishwasher. We fitted a sizeable homemade roll in the main compartment, with carrot and dried apricots in the other two. It’s easy to open and close, and the lime-coloured compartments, plate and seal are eye-catching too.
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Life’s a Beach stainless-steel lunch box
Available from ProCook (£15)
Best stainless-steel lunch box
Pros:
- Durable
- Generous 1.25 litre capacity
- Silicone band holds the lid shut for lasting freshness and no leakage
- 10% goes to help keep Britain’s beaches and waterways clean
- 1-year guarantee
Cons:
- Only one compartment
- Not dishwasher or microwave safe
This simple and stylish lunch box is designed with a generous 1.25 litre capacity. The lunch box container is made from stainless steel, making it durable. However, it only has one compartment, making it perfect for lunches such as sandwiches, but not great if you want to hold multiple food items. If you wanted a salad for lunch, you would need to store any salad dressings separately to prevent soggy leaves.
The silicone band that holds the lid to the bottom of the container allows for lasting freshness and ensures no leakage when you’re on-the-go. The lid is made of bamboo, which is considered a highly sustainable resource due to its growth rate.
10% of the sales on ‘Life’s a Beach’ brand also go towards keeping Britain’s beaches and waterways clean, so you’re helping out by not adding to the growing waste of single use-plastic implements, and you’re also investing in finding a solution to the problem.
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Tatay 5-piece urban lunch pack with 4 food containers
Available from Lakeland (£17.59)
Best insulated lunch box
Pros:
- Contains four food containers
- Tough outer fabric
- Twin zips and shoulder strap
- Bag has 3-litre capacity
- Lakeland 3-year guarantee included
- Freezer, microwave (with lid off) and dishwasher-safe
Cons:
If you’re looking for a lunch box that could double as your bag, then this urban black lunch bag by Tatay is the one for you. Practicality meets elegance with the woven carry handle and adjustable shoulder strap, making the Urban Lunch Pack effortlessly portable.
The mesh pocket holds your cutlery or napkins, while the exterior pocket (with a secure hook and loop strip) keeps your phone or wallet accessible and safe. However, it could be a lot to carry if you’re already sporting a work bag with a laptop.
Inside, there’s four robust food canisters. Keep your sweet treats separate from savoury with two 500ml oblong tubs featuring press-on/peel-off lids. Additionally, two 200ml round pots with secure screw-top lids ensure leak-free transportation of your favourite sauces or dressings.
Tatay’s attention-to-detail shines through in the triple-layer insulation, ensuring your lunch maintains its desired temperature. Plus, the tough woven polyester exterior adds durability to your daily companion. Enhance its cooling capabilities by adding a freezer block, so your meals will stay fresh for hours.
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Mepal Ellipse Leak-Proof Lunch Pot
Available from John Lewis & Partners (£16.99)
Best lunch box for hot food
Pros:
- Can be stored in the fridge or freezer
- The large compartment is microwave safe
- Made from 100% BPA-free plastic
Cons:
- Can’t fit sandwiches
- Lid is very small
Embrace the convenience of the Mepal lunch pot’s fridge and freezer storage capabilities. Your meals stay fresher for longer, ready to be heated in the microwave’s spacious compartment when hunger strikes. It’s not just a lunch container, it’s a complete meal solution.
Cleaning up is a breeze with its dishwasher-safe design, making it a perfect fit for busy lifestyles. Whether it’s a work lunch, on-the-go meal or picnic, this lunch pot has you covered. An effortless twist reveals a smaller compartment, which is a great way to keep your foods separate and flavours intact.
The lid is perfect for holding accompaniments to soup too, such as croutons or dried chickpeas. However, it’s too small to store a separate course, such as a salad.
Crafted in the Netherlands with the highest standards, the Mepal lunch pot is proudly made from 100% BPA-free plastic, prioritising your health and the environment too.
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How to choose a lunchbox
Use: First of all, think about what you will use it for. If it’s just for a sandwich, you don’t need to worry too much about leaks, but if you like a salad with dressing, it’s important to find one that is airtight.
Capacity: How big is your average lunch? Larger boxes will hold more substantial lunches, but also take up more space in your bag.
Compartments: Fancy a sandwich, salad and some fruit too? If you don’t want it all mixed up together, search for one with compartments. Some of the boxes in our sample had adjustable dividers so you could move them around to make the compartments work for you. We also tested bento boxes, which often have two or three completely separate containers.
Insulation: Some lunch boxes are insulated, so if you tend to have lunches that need to be kept cool, opt for one of these. Do you like taking leftovers to work? If you want to take last night’s curry to the office, find a lunch box that can go in the microwave.
Style: Finally, think about style. If you’re going to use it every day, you might as well find a lunch box that you find attractive. You might prefer a no-nonsense, rugged lunch box, or you might prefer a model that’s so sophisticated, you become the envy of the office. Do you want one with a pretty pattern, or a see-through box so you can gaze hungrily at its contents?
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If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Do you have a trusty lunch box you can’t live without? Leave a comment below…
