Kids Bento Boxes in Australia: How to Choose One
Search for a kids’ bento box and you will find everything from a plastic tray with five small sections to a stainless steel thermos that doubles as a lunch box. They all get called bento boxes, but they solve different problems. This guide sorts them by the questions that decide which one actually gets used: how much your child eats, whether lunch needs to be hot, and how much weight a school bag can take. Every measurement below comes from the Nice Tribe product page for that box.
Bento box or regular lunch box?
A bento box divides lunch into fixed sections. A regular lunch box is usually one open space. Neither is better, but a bento box suits kids who don’t like their food touching, who graze through the day, or who do better with several small things than one big one. If your child eats a sandwich and a piece of fruit and nothing else, an open box with a small container may be all you need.
Five things to check before you buy
1. Capacity matters more than the number of sections
More compartments does not mean more food. The Bentgo Kids box below has five sections but holds about 570 ml. The Montii Bento Three has three sections and holds 1,000 ml. Look for the capacity in millilitres or cups, then picture your child’s usual lunch in it.
| Box | Material | Size | Capacity | Weight | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montii Co Bento Three | BPA-free plastic | 17.5 x 17.5 x 5.6 cm | 1,000 ml / 4 cups | 343 g | 3 large |
| Bentgo Kids Prints | Plastic (listed as BPA-free) | 21.6 x 16.5 x 5.1 cm | About 570 ml / 2.4 cups | 550 g | 5 |
| Yumbox Prêt | 18/8 stainless steel | 22.8 x 17.8 x 5 cm | 800 ml / 3.4 cups | 520 g | Multiple (number not listed) |
2. Hot, cold, or both
Most bento boxes are not insulated. Nice Tribe’s Montii and Bentgo pages don’t describe them as insulated, so for a cold lunch they need an insulated lunch bag and an ice pack. The exception is the OmieBox range, which has a built-in insulated thermos for hot food and a separate cool section.
3. Plastic or stainless steel
Plastic is lighter. Stainless steel is heavier and is often chosen for being plastic-free. On weight, the Montii Bento Three is 343 g empty, the Yumbox Prêt is 520 g, and the OmieBox UP is about 806 g. In a school bag with a drink bottle and a book, that adds up.
4. Leakproof limits and cleaning
Leakproof rarely means every liquid. Montii says its bento boxes are leakproof for wet foods like dips, yoghurt and thick sauces, but not for salad dressing, soup or thin sauces. Bentgo says the same about thin liquids like water and juice. Cleaning varies too, so check whether the box goes in the dishwasher before you buy.
5. Can your child open it, and will it fit the bag
Latches and lids are where small hands struggle. Bentgo recommends its Kids box for ages 3 to 7 and gives it two latches sized for small hands, while Omie recommends the OmieBox UP for ages 9 and over. Measure the inside of your child’s bag or lunch bag before you commit to a larger or stacked box.
Cold-lunch bento boxes in plastic
The Montii Co Bento Three is the roomiest and lightest of the three non-insulated boxes. Its three large sections suit a sandwich, wrap or bread roll plus fruit and crackers, and the product page says the big section fits a sandwich, bagel, bread roll or croissant. There are no removable parts. Montii describes the box as airtight, so lunch can be packed the night before and kept in the fridge.
The Little Lunch Box Co bento range has been rebranded under Montii Co, and the Little Lunch Box Co Bento Three lists identical measurements.
The Bentgo Kids Prints Lunch Box splits the space into five small sections, which suits children who like a bit of everything. It has rubber-coated edges and two latches. The inner tray lifts out, and the product page says the tray is top-rack dishwasher safe and microwave safe for up to 3 minutes, with hand washing recommended for the outer shell.
The trade-off is volume. It holds about 570 ml, a little over half of the Bento Three. The page says it is leakproof for thick foods like yoghurt, purees and dips, but not for thin liquids such as water or juice.
A stainless steel option
The Yumbox Prêt is made from 18/8 stainless steel and holds 800 ml. It has silicone seals to keep compartments separate, and the page describes the layout as sandwich-friendly. At 22.8 x 17.8 x 5 cm and 520 g, it is slim enough for most lunch bags but heavier than the plastic boxes.
Yumbox says hand washing is recommended, although the box has been tested for the dishwasher’s top rack. The brand positions its range for both kids and adults, so it is one to consider for an older child.
Hot and cold in one box
If your child prefers a warm lunch, such as pasta or soup, an insulated bento box saves you from packing a separate thermos. The Omie range does this with a vacuum-insulated stainless steel thermos for hot food alongside a double-walled, air-insulated section for cold food.
The OmieBox v2 is the one made for younger children. It has an oversized handle designed for small hands, and Omie says the thermos keeps food warm for up to 6 hours. The product page doesn’t list dimensions, so check the size against your child’s bag.
The OmieBox Up is the bigger version, recommended by Omie for ages 9 and over. It has two large compartments, a 12 oz thermos (versus 8.5 oz in the original OmieBox) and a removable ice pack. It measures about 22.1 x 15.7 x 9 cm and weighs about 806 g, so it is a heavier box than the plastic options. The product page says it is dishwasher safe, and the rubber seals are removable and can be replaced.
Omie’s warm-food claims differ between the two models: up to 6 hours on the v2 page and up to 4 hours on the UP page. Either way, the thermos is there to keep lunch warm until the lunch bell.
Dividing up the space
Some boxes have one big compartment, and an insert turns it into several. The B.box Silicone Bento Tray is designed to fit inside the large b.box lunchbox’s sandwich section, splitting it into smaller zones with room for a cutlery slot and a whole piece of fruit. The product page says to use it with dry foods only, not liquids, yoghurts or dips. For OmieBox owners, the Omie accessories range includes extra dividers and dip containers.
It is a one-piece silicone insert with high sides, measuring 21.5 x 14.5 x 5 cm and weighing 190 g. The page says it is top-rack dishwasher safe. It only works inside a compatible b.box lunchbox, so browse the b.box lunch boxes first.
Packing tips that help in any box
- Watch wet fruit. Montii suggests a folded paper towel at the bottom when packing foods like watermelon or citrus, so excess liquid doesn’t reach the other sections.
- Let the seal dry. Montii recommends storing its lunch boxes with the lid open so the seal can dry fully, because a closed lid can lead to mould.
- Pre-pack the night before. Where a box is described as airtight, such as the Montii Bento Three, it can be packed ahead and kept in the fridge.
- Try the latches at home. If your child can’t open it on the kitchen bench, they won’t manage in the classroom.
Which one should you choose?
- A sandwich plus a few extras, cold: Montii Co Bento Three.
- A bit of everything in small portions: Bentgo Kids Prints.
- Plastic-free, no insulation: Yumbox Prêt.
- A hot meal for a younger child: OmieBox v2.
- A hot meal for an older child: OmieBox Up.
The full bento lunch box collection shows what is in stock now, and the lunchware range has bags, bottles and accessories. For wider tableware advice, see our kids tableware and lunchware guide.
Frequently asked questions
A bento box is a kind of lunch box. The difference is the fixed sections: a bento box keeps different foods apart, while a standard lunch box is usually one open space. Many of the boxes in this guide are sold under both names.
It depends on the box and the food. Montii’s and Bentgo’s pages describe their boxes as leakproof for thick, wet foods such as yoghurt and dips, but not for thinner liquids such as soup, juice or dressing.
Care differs by box. Montii’s lunch boxes are top-rack only on a cooler setting. The Bentgo Kids tray is top-rack safe, but hand washing is recommended for the outer shell. Yumbox recommends hand washing, and the OmieBox Up is listed as dishwasher safe. Check the product page for the box you choose.
Check the individual box. The Bentgo Kids Prints tray is listed as microwave safe for up to 3 minutes, while Montii says its lunch boxes aren’t designed for the microwave or freezer. For a hot lunch without reheating, an insulated option like the OmieBox keeps food warm.
Most don’t on their own. The Montii and Bentgo pages don’t describe their boxes as insulated, so pair them with an insulated lunch bag and an ice pack. The OmieBox range has built-in insulation for hot and cold food.
Brands set their own guidance. Bentgo recommends its Kids box for ages 3 to 7, and Omie recommends the OmieBox Up for ages 9 and over. For other boxes, the best test is whether your child can open and close the latches themselves.
Use what your child actually eats as the guide. The plain boxes in this guide range from about 570 ml (Bentgo Kids Prints) to 1,000 ml (Montii Bento Three). The number of compartments doesn’t tell you the capacity, so compare millilitres or cups.
