Stainless steel lunch boxes on Amazon Australia range from kid sized three compartment bentos to a plug in heated box. We compared seven by what each listing describes, its star rating and its rating count, and picked by what you pack and where you eat it.
Every product fact below comes from the listing text. Where a listing gives microwave or dishwasher wording, we quote it as the listing says and leave the advice to the maker.
Best overall: Blockhuette Premium Stainless Steel Lunch Box
Best overall: the Blockhuette Premium Stainless Steel Lunch Box, because it has three compartments with two movable dividers, a spare seal and a leak proof design, and the most ratings of any pick here.
The listing describes an 800ml stainless steel lunch box for children with 3 flexible compartments made by 2 stainless steel dividers, a spare seal and a leakproof design meant to keep your bag dry. It says the box is reusable, has air tight lids, can be personalised and is dishwasher safe. It holds 4.5 stars from 4,682 ratings, the most of any pick on this page.
It suits school lunches and anyone who packs a few separate foods and wants to move the dividers around. The honest catch: the listing is written for children and holds 800ml, so adults who want a bigger meal may prefer the Reabulun or Smash, and the rating may be shared across colours.
Best 5 compartment bento: DaCool 5 Compartment Stainless Steel Bento
Best 5 compartment bento: the DaCool 5 Compartment Stainless Steel Bento, because it splits food into five sections and comes with a lunch bag and a fork.
The listing says this bento is for kids and adults and describes 304 stainless steel, with two bigger compartments for mains and three smaller ones for snacks. The four inner lids have seal rings, the outer lid has 4 clips on each side, and a cat ear handle on the inner lids helps small hands open them. A lunch bag and a spork spoon are included. The listing says BPA free and dishwasher safe for the box only, not the small lids. It holds 4.4 stars from 1,423 ratings.
It suits anyone who likes to pack lots of small foods in separate sections. The honest catch: the listing title is a long keyword string with no model name, and the rating may be shared across colours.
Best for adults: Reabulun 2 Layer Stainless Steel Bento Box
Best for adults: the Reabulun 2 Layer Stainless Steel Bento Box, because the listing sells it for adults and kids with 2L of stackable space plus a soup bowl, spoon and fork.
The listing describes a stackable design you can use as 1 or 2 layers, with the top layer holding fruit and cutlery. The liner, soup bowl, spoon and fork are 304 stainless steel, and the listing says the rest is PP plastic. Four snaps and a built in rubber seal are described as leak proof, and there is a portable handle. The listing says it can reheat food in a microwave within a stated limit of 3 minutes. It holds 4.3 stars from 415 ratings.
It suits kids over 8 and adults with smaller appetites, which is how the listing describes it. The honest catch: the listing itself says men and large eaters should buy the 3 layer version, and the 3 layer version shows the same count, so the ratings look shared across sizes.
Best for reheating: BLACK + BLUM Microwavable Stainless Steel Lunch Box
Best for reheating: the BLACK + BLUM Microwavable Stainless Steel Lunch Box, because the listing calls it microwavable and gives it a single 900 millilitre container.
The listing describes 18/8 stainless steel with a smooth, rounded surface and a vacuum sealed lid with a silicone ring. It says microwave and dishwasher safe, oven safe excluding the lid, and freezer safe. The listing also describes a single walled, lightweight, stackable design for work, school, picnics or meal prep, in three sizes. It holds 4.5 stars from 416 ratings.
It suits an office worker who reheats lunch in a shared microwave. The honest catch: it is one container with far fewer ratings than the Blockhuette or DaCool.
Best insulated: THERMOcafe by Thermos Food Jar
Best insulated: the THERMOcafe by Thermos 500ml Food Jar, because the listing describes double wall vacuum insulation that retains hot or cold temperatures.
The listing describes a stainless steel exterior and interior, a stopper with an air pressure release button, a wide mouth opening and a lid that doubles as a bowl. This one is the matte black 500ml jar. It holds 4.6 stars from 1,831 ratings, the highest rating on this page. If you mostly want a flask, our Thermos guide compares more.
It suits anyone carrying a hot or cold meal that fits in a jar. The honest catch: it is a food jar for soups and mains, not a bento box with compartments.
Best heated: TOJUNE Electric Heating Lunch Box
Best heated: the TOJUNE Electric Heating Lunch Box, because the listing describes a 75W food warmer with a 304 stainless steel 1.8L container and says AU Socket.
The listing describes two power cords: a 220V cord with an AU plug for home or office, and a 12V or 24V cord for a car or truck. It says to plug in for 20 to 30 minutes, with a 1.8L stainless steel inner tank, a 0.45L plastic compartment that is not heated, and a leak proof silicone ring in the lid. The box measures about 24 by 12 by 17 cm, and the set includes an insulated lunch bag, a spoon and a fork. It holds 4.5 stars from 121 ratings. See our heated lunch box guide for more plug in options.
It suits a hot lunch at a desk or in a work vehicle. The honest catch: it has only 121 ratings so far and needs a power point to heat.
Best value: Smash Stainless Steel Bento Lunch Box
Best value: the Smash Stainless Steel Bento Lunch Box, because the listing gives 1300ml in three compartments and says microwave and oven safe with the lid removed.
The listing describes a stainless steel base with an air tight, leak proof lid, three compartments for meal prep and portion control, and clips to release before microwaving. It says top rack dishwasher safe. It adds that Smash 200ml Snack Pots and 60ml Mini Pots fit inside. It holds 4.5 stars from 120 ratings.
It suits a lower cost bento for work or school with room for a full meal. The honest catch: only 120 ratings so far, and the listing says the compartments will not stop liquids mixing inside the box.
How to choose a stainless steel lunch box
Compartments or one container
Compartments keep foods apart, which suits school lunches and portion control. The Blockhuette gives three with movable dividers, the Smash gives three, and the DaCool gives five. A single container such as the BLACK + BLUM suits one main dish, a salad or leftovers, and the stacked Reabulun splits a meal across two layers.
Check the capacity
The listings give 500ml for the Thermos jar, 800ml for the Blockhuette, 900 millilitres for the BLACK + BLUM, 1300ml for the Smash, 1.8L for the TOJUNE and 2L for the Reabulun. Compare that with what you normally pack, not with the age of the person eating.
Read the lid and seal wording
Most listings describe a seal ring, rubber seal or spare seal. Look for it, then read the small print: the Smash listing says liquids can still mix between its compartments, and the DaCool listing says to keep its small lids out of the dishwasher.
Microwave wording differs by listing
The BLACK + BLUM, Smash and Reabulun listings mention microwave use, each with its own conditions. Others do not mention it, and the TOJUNE listing says no microwave is needed because the box heats itself. Check the listing for the boxes you want to reheat, and follow its wording.
Plain, insulated or heated
Plain stainless boxes hold food as packed. The Thermos jar is described as double wall vacuum insulated, and the TOJUNE plugs in to heat. For school bags, a plain box is simpler; for a site or a desk, heated or insulated earns its place. Our kids lunch box guide covers school choices.
Not every part is steel
Several listings mention plastic. The Reabulun listing says PP plastic, and the TOJUNE listing says food grade PP plastic alongside 304 stainless steel. If you want mostly steel, check which parts are steel before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best stainless steel lunch box in Australia?
The Blockhuette Premium 800ml is our best stainless steel lunch box for most people, and a good school choice. The listing describes three compartments with two movable removable dividers, a spare seal and a leak proof design, and it holds 4.5 stars from 4,682 ratings. For adults, the Reabulun 2 layer holds 2L.
What is the best stainless steel lunch box for adults?
The Reabulun 2 layer is our pick for adults: the listing gives 2L with a soup bowl, spoon and fork, though it also says men and large eaters should buy the 3 layer version. For a single container the listing calls microwavable, choose the BLACK + BLUM at 900 millilitres.
Is a stainless steel lunch box microwave safe?
It depends on the box, so read the listing. The BLACK + BLUM and Smash listings say microwave safe, and the Smash listing says to remove the lid first. The Reabulun listing gives a reheating limit of 3 minutes. The Blockhuette and DaCool listings we read do not mention microwaves, so we make no claim for them.
Is the Smash stainless steel lunch box worth buying?
The Smash 3 compartment bento is our best value pick. The listing gives 1300ml, three compartments, a leak proof lid, and says it is microwave and oven safe with the lid removed. It holds 4.5 stars, but from only 120 ratings, and the listing says the compartments will not stop liquids mixing.
Is the BLACK + BLUM stainless steel lunch box good?
The BLACK + BLUM 900 millilitre box holds 4.5 stars from 416 ratings. The listing describes 18/8 stainless steel, a vacuum sealed lid with a silicone ring, and says it is microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe. It is a single container, so choose the Blockhuette if you pack separate foods.
Which stainless steel bento box is best?
For the most sections, the DaCool 5 compartment is our pick: the listing gives two bigger and three smaller compartments with a lunch bag and a fork, and it holds 4.4 stars from 1,423 ratings. The Blockhuette has three adjustable compartments and a 4.5 rating, so choose it if you want movable dividers.
Are stainless steel lunch boxes leak proof?
Most listings here describe a leak proof or air tight lid, but the detail differs. The Blockhuette listing mentions a spare seal, the DaCool lists seal rings on its inner lids, and the BLACK + BLUM lists a silicone ring. The Thermos food jar is described as insulated, not leak proof.
Is there a stackable tiffin style stainless steel lunch box?
The Reabulun 2 layer is the stackable pick. The listing describes a stackable design you can use as 1 or 2 layers, 2L capacity, four snaps with a built in rubber seal and a handle. It holds 4.3 stars from 415 ratings, and the listing says the 3 layer version suits large eaters.
Why is there no Bentgo stainless steel lunch box on this list?
No. We checked the Bentgo insulated stainless steel container, but it holds 4.2 stars from about 1,900 ratings, below every pick on this page, so the THERMOcafe by Thermos food jar at 4.6 stars from 1,831 ratings took the insulated spot. For a hot lunch, the Thermos jar is vacuum insulated and the TOJUNE box plugs in to heat.
