Quick answer: The best kids lunch box in Australia for 2027 depends on your child's age and appetite, but for most Aussie families Spixal is the strongest all-round pick. It offers three material choices (silicone, stainless steel and modular bentos), sizes from 550ml to 1350ml, and lunch boxes, insulated lunch bags and school backpacks designed to fit together, from kindy right through to high school. It also backs every product with a 12-month warranty and free return postage within Australia, and every lunch product is BPA free, with the silicone range tested to FDA 21 CFR 177.2600. b.box is great for licensed characters, Montii for a big 2L capacity, Yumbox for portion-guide trays and Bentgo Kids for an easy pick-up from a big retailer.
A note on this guide: we're Deanna and Maggie, the sisters behind Spixal, so we have an obvious favourite. To keep it fair, every competitor detail below comes from that brand's own website or an Australian retailer listing, checked in October 2026. Prices change, so check before you buy.
Spixal vs b.box vs Montii vs Yumbox vs Bentgo at a glance
| Brand | Materials | Capacity | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spixal | Food-grade silicone, stainless steel with a Tritan lid, or BPA free modular bentos | 550ml to 1350ml, plus a 200ml or 800ml food jar | $24.99 (Quad bento) | Best overall for Aussie school days, kindy to high school |
| b.box | PP plastic with silicone seals | 1L (mini) or 2L (lunchbox) | $27.95 (mini lunchbox) | Licensed characters like Bluey and Frozen |
| Montii | BPA free food-safe materials, plus a stainless steel and silicone option | 425ml to 2L | $26.95 (Snack Lunch Box) | Very big appetites (2L Feast) |
| Yumbox | ABS box, Tritan tray, silicone seal | 6 compartments, about 21.5 x 15.5 x 5cm | About $44.95 RRP | Portion-guide trays for little kids |
| Bentgo Kids | BPA free materials | 2.4 cups (about 570ml), 5 compartments | $32 (at Kmart) | Grab-and-go from a big retailer |
What an Australian school lunch box actually needs
Most "best lunch box" lists are written for American lunches. Aussie school days are different, so these are the things we compared on:
- Two or three breaks. Crunch and Sip, recess and lunch mean kids need separate, easy-to-grab portions, not one big lunch.
- Hot days. Lunch sits in a bag from 8am to lunchtime, often in 30-degree heat, so the box needs to fit inside an insulated bag with an ice pack.
- Little hands. Kindy and prep kids need to open everything by themselves.
- Teen appetites. High schoolers need more room and often a warm lunch in winter.
- Fit in the backpack. The lunch box, lunch bag and books all have to share one school bag.
- Cleaning and heating. Dishwasher, microwave and freezer safety matter when you're packing every single day.
Spixal: best overall for Australian families
Spixal is an Australian, mum-founded brand based in Lonsdale, South Australia. We designed the range as one system, so the lunch box fits the lunch bag and the lunch bag fits the backpack, and we publish exactly which bag fits which backpack.
Why it comes out on top:
- Choice of material, not just colour. Pick plastic free silicone, a stainless steel base, or a lighter BPA free modular bento, all from one brand.
- Every compartment sealed in the silicone range. The silicone bentos seal each section on its own, so yoghurt stays away from the sandwich.
- Heat it in the same box. The silicone bentos are microwave and freezer safe, and the 5 Compartment Silicone Bento is also air fryer and oven safe and goes in the dishwasher on any rack, top or bottom.
- Sizes for every stage. From the 550ml Flexi snack box and 350ml Midi snack boxes for Crunch and Sip, up to the 1350ml Duo for big eaters.
- Warm lunches built in. The Duo pairs a 4 compartment bento with a 200ml insulated food jar, and the 800ml insulated food jar is sized for teenagers.
- 12-month warranty on everything. The Spixal Made To Last Warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for 12 months on every product, not just the lunch boxes, and we pay the postage to send the replacement.
- Free return postage. Our Love It Or Return It Free guarantee gives you 30 days from delivery, and we cover return postage within Australia.
- Tested food safe. Every Spixal lunch product, whether silicone, stainless steel or plastic, is BPA free and made from food safe materials. Our whole silicone range passes FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, the international food contact standard for silicone, and tests found no BPA, lead, cadmium or phthalates. Every other Spixal lunch box, food jar and drink bottle passed a full set of food contact migration and chemical tests, with no BPA detected. See our food safe promise.
- Kindy-friendly opening. The Duo bento and jar each open with one clip, with no screw top.
- A real high school range. Four dedicated high school backpacks (The Daily, Flex, Momentum and Commute), with The Flex including a pocket for locking phone pouches.
- Fits the bag. The Duo is designed to fit inside the Spixal Junior lunch bags, and the Insulated Lunch Tote Bag fits inside the Axis, Daily, Momentum, Flex, Commute and Junior backpacks.
The Spixal lunch box range
| Lunch box | Material | Capacity | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Compartment Silicone Bento | Silicone | 1200ml | $29.99 | Teens, adults and meal prep |
| 5 Compartment Silicone Bento | Silicone | 1100ml | $34.99 | Kids who don't like food touching |
| Silicone Round Bento | Silicone | 900ml | $24.99 | Leftovers, pasta and salads |
| Duo Bento and Food Jar | BPA free bento with insulated jar | 1350ml + 200ml jar | $59.99 | Kindy and prep, warm lunches |
| Quad Bento | BPA free, dishwasher safe | 800ml | $24.99 | An affordable everyday bento |
| Roundie Bento | BPA free, dishwasher safe | 1180ml | $49.99 | Grazers and snack-plate lunches |
| Core Stainless Steel Bento | Stainless steel base, Tritan lid | 1200ml | $47.99 | Big appetites, a box that lasts for years |
| Flexi Snack Box | BPA free | 550ml | $14.99 | Recess and Crunch and Sip |
Worth knowing: the Roundie seals the whole bowl rather than each section, so it's best for dry and semi-dry foods, with dips in the lidded centre pot. If you want every section sealed on its own, choose a silicone bento.
Spixal ships Australia-wide from Adelaide, with free shipping on orders of $89 or more and a 30-day returns promise. You can compare every Spixal lunch box here.
b.box: best for licensed characters
b.box is a popular choice for younger kids, especially if they love Bluey, Frozen, Spidey or Harry Potter.
- Lunchbox: 2L capacity, $34.95, or $38.95 for licensed designs. 253 x 215 x 73mm and 0.57kg.
- Mini lunchbox: 1L capacity, $27.95. 210 x 170 x 73mm and 0.33kg.
- Materials: PP plastic with silicone seals and handle.
- Features: a stretchy whole-fruit holder, an adjustable divider and a gel cooler pack under the sandwich tray in the full-size lunchbox.
- Care: dishwasher safe on the top rack only, up to 60°C. Microwave safe with the lid removed.
How it compares: b.box's leakproof seals are for wet foods, not liquids, and its lunchboxes are plastic. If you want a plastic free or stainless steel option, Spixal and Montii have more choice.
Montii: best for very big appetites
Montii (MontiiCo) has a wide range of bento boxes, insulated lunch bags, school bags and accessories.
- Bento Five: 980ml, 5 leakproof compartments, $47.95. Made from BPA free, food-safe materials and pitched at daycare and kindy.
- Feast Lunch Box: 2L, 4 individually sealed compartments, $47.95.
- Bite Lunch Box: 1.2L, 3 sealed compartments, $35.95.
- Snack Lunch Box: 425ml, 2 compartments, $26.95.
- Multiway Lunch Box: stainless steel and silicone, microwave and dishwasher safe, $49.95.
How it compares: Montii's 2L Feast, with four individually sealed compartments, is one of the two biggest boxes here, alongside b.box's 2L lunchbox. Spixal gives you similar compartments for less, from $24.99, plus a published guide to which lunch bag fits which backpack.
Yumbox: best for portion-guide trays
Yumbox is known for its illustrated trays that show kids where each food group goes.
- Yumbox Original: 6 compartments in a removable tray, about 21.5 x 15.5 x 5cm and 500g.
- Materials: ABS outer box, Tritan tray and a silicone seal. BPA and phthalate free.
- Leakproof: holds wet foods like yoghurt, but not water.
- Care: top rack of the dishwasher up to 65°C, with hand washing recommended for the lid.
- Price: about $44.95 RRP at Australian retailers.
How it compares: the trays are lovely for little kids learning about food groups, but we find the compartments small for older primary kids and teens. Spixal's range covers kindy through to high school, so you don't have to switch brands as they grow.
Bentgo Kids: best for an easy retail pick-up
Bentgo Kids is easy to find in big Australian stores like Kmart.
- Bentgo Kids lunch box: 5 compartments with a total of 2.4 cups (about 570ml), $32 at Kmart.
- Materials: BPA free, food-safe materials.
- Size: 8.5 x 6.5 x 2 inches (about 21.5 x 16.5 x 5cm).
- Care: the removable tray is top-shelf dishwasher safe.
How it compares: at about 570ml, it suits younger kids and lighter eaters. Spixal's 5 Compartment Silicone Bento is about the same footprint but holds 1100ml, costs $34.99 and goes in the dishwasher on any rack.
Warranty and returns compared
A lunch box gets dropped, washed and packed hundreds of times a year, so the warranty and returns policy matter as much as the box itself.
| Brand | Warranty | Returns | Return postage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spixal | 12 months on every product | 30 days from delivery, in clean, good condition with original packaging | Free within Australia |
| b.box | No warranty period listed on its Australian website | Unused items within 30 days, and its policy says no returns for change of mind | Paid by the customer |
| Montii | 12 months on lunch boxes, 6 months on most other products | Change of mind within 30 days in original sale condition with tags | Refunds have a restocking fee deducted |
| Yumbox | Depends on the retailer you buy from | Depends on the retailer | Depends on the retailer |
| Bentgo Kids | Depends on the retailer you buy from | Depends on the retailer | Depends on the retailer |
For hygiene reasons, most brands (Spixal included) can't take back used food containers unless they're faulty, so check sizes before you pack the first lunch. Faulty items are always covered by your rights under Australian Consumer Law.
Which lunch box is best for each age?
| Age | What matters most | Our pick |
|---|---|---|
| Daycare and kindy | Easy to open, small portions, a warm option | Spixal Duo Bento and Food Jar |
| Prep to Year 2 | Sealed sections, fits the backpack | Spixal 5 Compartment Silicone Bento |
| Years 3 to 6 | More room, snack-plate lunches | Spixal Roundie or Quad |
| High school | Big capacity, built to last, warm lunches | Spixal Core Stainless Steel Bento or 3 Compartment Silicone Bento with the 800ml food jar |
| Adults | Meal prep, microwave safe | Spixal 3 Compartment Silicone Bento |
Need help with the bag side? Read which lunch bag fits which backpack, or see our food safe promise for full test results.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best kids lunch box in Australia?
For most Australian families, Spixal is the best all-round choice because it offers silicone, stainless steel and modular bentos in sizes from 550ml to 1350ml, designed to fit its insulated lunch bags and school backpacks. b.box suits kids who want licensed characters, and Montii suits very big appetites.
Which is better, b.box or Spixal?
b.box lunchboxes are plastic, with a 2L lunchbox and licensed designs from $27.95. Spixal offers plastic free silicone and stainless steel options as well as modular bentos from $24.99, with every compartment individually sealed in the silicone range and a matching lunch bag and backpack system.
Which lunch box brand has the best warranty in Australia?
Of the brands we compared, Spixal offers the broadest cover: a 12-month warranty on every product plus free return postage within Australia. Montii covers lunch boxes for 12 months and most other products for 6 months, and b.box doesn't list a warranty period on its Australian website.
Are Spixal lunch boxes BPA free and food safe?
Yes. Every Spixal lunch box is BPA free. The silicone range is plastic free and passes FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, with no BPA, lead, cadmium or phthalates detected. Every other Spixal lunch box, food jar and drink bottle passed food contact migration and chemical testing, including testing to French BPA law.
Is a silicone or stainless steel lunch box better?
Silicone is soft, drop resistant and can go in the microwave, freezer and dishwasher, and some silicone bentos are oven and air fryer safe too. Stainless steel is very durable and suits kids who are hard on their gear. Spixal makes both, so you can choose without changing brands.
What size lunch box does a high schooler need?
We suggest around 1100ml to 1350ml for most teens on a full school day. The Spixal Core (1200ml) and 3 Compartment Silicone Bento (1200ml) suit high schoolers, and the 800ml insulated food jar adds a warm lunch.
Which lunch box is easiest for kindy kids to open?
Look for one-clip lids and no screw tops. The Spixal Duo bento and its insulated food jar each open with a single clip, so little hands can manage both.
Prices, specifications, warranties and returns policies were checked on each brand's website or an Australian retailer listing in October 2026. b.box, Montii, Yumbox and Bentgo are trademarks of their respective owners and are not affiliated with Spixal.
Related reads: Kids lunch boxes · Silicone lunch boxes · Insulated food jars