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Home » School Lunchbox Containers & Supplies

Best Lunch Boxes for Teens

By Laura Fuentes Updated Aug 28, 2024

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The best lunch box for packing lunches for teens and high schoolers is one that fits enough food, is practical, and has no embarrassing characters.

Below you’ll find the ones we’ve tested with our teens that have performed best and have held up!

Best Lunch Box for High Schoolers

While some teens don’t care much about the color of a lunch box, others are very particular about the shape, size, and look of their lunch box. Without a doubt, characters are out (for the most part) and solid, neutral colors is where it’s at.

When it comes to packing teen lunches, a lunch box should hold more food since teens require more volume of food to get them through the day. 

If you’re packing lunch for an active teen or an athlete you might need a lunch box, a snack box, and definitely a larger lunch bag to hold it all. 

Teen Lunch Boxes

Remember that a lunch box will hold your teen’s food and the lunch bag is what holds the lunch box and any other popular snacks and possibly drink container you pack along. Here are our top teen-approved lunch boxes:

Best Overall: Rubbermaid Brilliance (5 pack)
Neutral, affordable, and have 2 compartments. They're perfect for sandwiches or wraps plus a side!
On Amazon
Most Versatile: Easy Lunchboxes (4pck)
Choose from classic, brightly colored, and neutral sets. These simple lunch containers are a long-standing favorite for families with kids of all ages. The 3 compartments allow you to pack a variety of foods under one lid.
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Best Stainless: Food Storage Set (3 pcs)
5 color options. This set is super sturdy and can pack everything from salads to sandwiches and last night's leftovers. The large container has a 20-ounce capacity, while the smaller containers hold up to 6 ounces, making them perfect for sauces, dips, and snacks.
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Best for Salads & Cold Bowls: Rubbermaid Single
For the teen who loves salads, power bowls, and leftovers at room temperature, this container is perfect (it's also microwave-safe). It's great for packing leftovers the night before and having lunch ready to-go the next morning.
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Best for Multiple Meals: Bentgo Stackable
With 8 different colors to choose from, these stackable containers fit in taller and narrow lunch bags well; plus the built-in utensil storage compartment ensures they have what they need to eat! -Let's hope.
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Thermos Lunch Containers for Teens

When it comes to packing hot foods for teens who do not have access to a microwave, an insulated thermos container is the best way to go.

You’ll want to heat up the food properly in the morning and then place it inside the thermos container to be enjoyed at lunch. Our top thermos picks for teens:

Teen Favorite: Bentgo Food Container
With 5 sleek brushed steel colors (like their iPhone) to choose from, this triple-layer food container holds 2.4 cups (20oz) of food. The lid design makes it really easy to open and it's a teen favorite and keeps foods hot for up to 6 hours, and cold 8 hours.
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silver stanley thermos
Best for Long Days: Stanley Classic Food Jar
This legendary option holds up to 18 ounces and keeps food hot or cold for up to 12 hours. It's perfect for bigger appetites and teens who prefer packing leftovers and hot items. Not to mention, the lifetime warranty assures you are getting the most bang for your buck.
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School Water Bottles for Teens

When it comes to water bottles, teenagers are particularly selective when it comes to size, shape, and what’s trending. 

If your teen stores their water bottle inside their backpack or side/mesh pocket, you’ll need a taller and narrower option. While bigger ones with a handle, either on the lid or on the side, are preferred for carrying by hand.

One thing I’ve learned (I have two teens) is that they tend to lose lids and need replacement straws from time to time and “dupes” don’t tend to sell the replacement parts. This is where it pays to buy the name brand but the “dupe” pick below fits the name-brand parts. Teen’s top water bottle picks:

Best for inside a backpack: Standard Hydro Flask Bottle
Durable, sleek, and its standard round size fits all mesh pockets on a backpack and upright inside as well as in the car's cup holder. Lots of solid color options and 3 sizes (18, 21, 24 oz) this will keep liquids cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours.
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Best Wide Mouth: Hydro Fask w/ Straw Lid
The 32 oz is the most popular size for teens and one of the many colors available ensures your teen will find one that will last for years to come.
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Best Hydro Flask Dupe: Simply Modern
When it comes to "dupes," teens want the look, durability, and minimal branding. This 32-ounce water bottle performs, keeps drinks cold, and comes in a ton of colors to choose from.
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Best Sipping Spout: Owala FreeSip
Opens easily and has no lid to lose, this bottle is perfect to drink out of the built-in spout. It comes in a variety of colors and 3 sizes (24, 32, 40 oz) to choose from and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours.
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Trendiest Teen Pick: Stanley Quencher
This dream handheld tumbler is all the rave with all teens. The popular 40oz tumbler size is enough for all-day sipping and keeps liquids cold foreverrrr. The narrow base fits in a car's cupholder and there's definitely one of the 18 popular colors to choose from your teen will like.
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Best Ice Pack for School Lunch

If you’re packing food to-go, even in an insulated lunch bag, an ice pack is a good idea to keep foods cold or preserve their texture and taste longer.

Top Pick: Ice Pack Original
The slim, lightweight packs keep your food chilled and conveniently fit into any lunch bag. They're also made with BPA-free material and filled with a non-toxic making is a safe option. Choose from 4, 5, 8, and 10-packs.
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Teens like having choices and what they love most for their lunches is a lunch box that holds their food and doesn’t stand out. Inside your teen’s lunch bag, pack a lunch container, an ice pack if you need to keep foods cold, a thermos if your teen is into hot lunches, and a water bottle to keep them hydrated. 

by Laura Fuentes
onJune 27, 2023

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  1. Sh C says

    February 09, 2024 at 7:40 pm

    Do you have any suggestions for insulated cold/hot drink bottles that are not stainless or metal?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes says

      February 12, 2024 at 2:05 pm

      unfortunately, stainless/metal are the only types of materials that retain temperatures. Plastic material or glass does not work for that purpose.

      Reply
laura fuentes momables holding a lunch bag and lunch boxes

My name is Laura Fuentes
I’m here to help you simplify school lunches with fresh ideas your kids will actually eat.

Mom of 3. Certified in Integrative Nutrition. 5x Cookbook Author.

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