Want to get on the bento box trend? You’re in luck! We’ve rounded up some of the best bento box deals on the market. Whether you’re looking for a bento box for adults that’ll save the planet (read: eco-friendly) or simply save you from cleaning up your kids’ mess, we’ve got ’em.
Let’s face it, school lunch box ideas can get repetitive. Bento boxes allow you to mix things up a bit with different compartments for goodies. They’re particularly helpful if you have a picky eater and like to send a variety of offerings. And if you’re stuck, we have a list of cheap bento box lunch ideas that cost you just $2 a day!
We also got some tips on how to make sure you’re not overpaying this back-to-school season.
For money-saving hacks and fantastic deals, download the KCL app to have it all sent right to your phone. Or, text HACKS to 57299.
Best Bento Boxes to Shop Now
Bento Boxes for Kids
Right now, there’s a huge Bentgo promotion happening on Amazon. You can get them at $8.50 each for a limited time.
Amazon
Five Below
Sam’s Club
Target
RELATED: Cheap Bento Box Lunch Ideas Your Kids Will Love (5 Days of Lunches = $9.05 Total!)
Bento Boxes for Adults
Amazon
QVC
Target
RELATED: New Target Cat & Jack Bento Box Styles With Matching Backpacks (Start at $4.99!)
What is a Bento Box?
Bento boxes are lunch boxes that have long been a tradition in Asian countries. But lately, they have gained popularity around the world thanks to parents (like PackMyLunch mom Jessica Woo) showing how they pack their kids’ school lunches.
The main thing to know about bento boxes are split into separate sections for each food item. This could mean that the bento box comes with multiple stackable trays or have dividers built within the box to keep food separated. For boxes with stackable trays, you could purchase plastic or silicone dividers to contain sliced produce, yogurt, sauces, or small candy.
The style allows you to pack a lunch with a few different selections without any of them touching (a pet peeve for some). Bento boxes work just as well for carrying lunch to school as they do for work or even a weekend picnic. And an organized lunch is a happy lunch, we say.
How much should you pay for a bento box?
Adult bento boxes are simpler in design, and usually a lot cheaper. If all you need is an organized container for your lunch and are not worried about fancy features like leakproof capabilities or being dishwasher or microwave safe, you don’t have to spend more than $5 on one.
In fact, we’ve seen adult lunch bento boxes go for as low as $3 at Target, and that’s even before the sale price. They even come with a double-sided utensil! Plus, you can save an additional 5% if you make your purchase with a Target Redcard.
Meanwhile, kids’ bento lunch boxes tend to cost more. They usually have more compartments, utensils, come in fun designs, and sometimes even come with more accessories (like silicone cups or food picks). We’ve seen simpler designs on Amazon and Walmart for about $10, and name-brand bento boxes retail for just under $30.
You can typically find discounts on bento boxes in the summer, retailing for $15 to $20 — just in time for the back-to-school season.
RELATED: Back-to-School Supplies Stock-Up Price List for 2023 — Avoid Overpaying for These 80+ Items
What’s the difference between a bento box and a Bentgo box?
There actually isn’t a difference, per se. Bentgo is a brand of bento lunch boxes and snack boxes that launched back in 2013. Viral videos of parents packing their kids’ lunches helped boost the brand in recent years. These lunch boxes normally retail for about $28 to $30, so if you see a price any lower than that, you should grab them at that price.
Bentgo makes lunchboxes for both kids and adults, and all are microwave and dishwasher-safe. Just note that they are not leakproof. Each Bentgo lunchbox fits into most standard lunch bags.
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