The Best Retro Lunchbox

Best image of retro lunchboxes
Photo: 80's Boombox Radio Lunchbox Tin Tote
UPDATED MARCH 27, 2024

To help you find the perfect retro lunchbox, we continuously put forth the effort to update and expand our list of recommendable retro lunchboxes. Our team collects, edits and publishes new information, in order to present it to you in an accurate, significant and neatly arranged way.

Our Picks

Stanley Classic 10qt Lunch Box – Large Lunchbox image
CLASSIC LUNCH CONTAINER: Inspired by the 1950s-style lunch boxes, Stanley bui...
The Tin Box Company 1971 Coca Cola XL Tin Lunch Box image
Huge lunchbox measuring 9 x 6-3/4 x 3-1/2
Stanley Classic 10qt Lunch Box – Large Lunchbox image
CLASSIC LUNCH CONTAINER: Inspired by the 1950s-style lunch boxes, Stanley bui...
Low Price
The Tin Box Company 1971 Coca Cola XL Tin Lunch Box image
Huge lunchbox measuring 9 x 6-3/4 x 3-1/2

6 More Retro Lunchbox Alternatives

A PREVEIWS Exclusive

Features the classic movie poster on the front of the lunchbox

Includes a 10oz beverage container/soup cup

A PREVIEWS Exclusive

Based on artwork from the 1983 edition of the D&D Basic Set Player's Manual

Includes a 10-ounce retro-style beverage container

Stylish & Large Capacity: The Lunch Tote Measures 8.5x8x5 Inches,Suitable For Various C...

Durable Material -Made Of High-Density 600d Polyester And Thick Aluminum Foil. Keep You...

Portable & Easy To Clean:Light And Portable, Padded Handles And Smooth Zippers, Designe...

A PREVIEWS exclusive

Wolverine illustrated tin tote

Includes 10oz retro-styled beverage container/soup cup

A PREWIEWS Exclusive

Featuring iconic artwork by Hector Garrido of the Cobra sword brothers

Includes a 10oz retro-styled beverage container

DURABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY: Our 8.6 x 6.6-inch large stainless steel lunch box for kids i...

KID-FRIENDLY DESIGN: Featuring fun lunch box themes, our metal lunch box for kids delig...

VERSATILE AND SPACIOUS ALUMINUM LUNCH BOX: Holds multiple smaller stainless steel lunch...

Buying Guide

Retro lunchboxes have become an exciting trend for those that enjoy bringing a packed lunch to work or school rather than paying for over-priced fare in the local restaurants and cafeterias. It is also a great way to ensure that you are getting a nutritious lunch while avoiding any foods, calories, or fats you wish to avoid. Selecting a lunchbox with a retro look and feel makes the experience of a packed lunch all the more fun.
What is a Retro Lunchbox?

Young people have made the retro lunchbox popular. These styles of lunchboxes are most often constructed of a tin metal and include the old fashioned flip latches and plastic carrying handles on top, but they can be made out of fabric or plastic as well. They are decorated with bright colored images of everything from old TV sitcoms to modern blockbuster movies.
Plastic Retro Lunchboxes

Plastic lunchboxes are rigid which helps protect food from being crushed. The plastic versions are often less expensive too. Many people like them because they are easy to keep clean. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are usually covered in a brightly colored picture of super heroes or a favorite cartoon character. Keep in mind that unless the label specifically says so, plastic retro lunchboxes are not insulated. They will not help keep foods cold. You also want to look for plastic that is free of any chemicals that can be absorbed by food. Look for ones described as kitchen safe.

Fabric Retro Lunchboxes

Fabric retro lunchboxes are becoming quite popular due to the fact they can be adorned with the retro images we all love while providing modern features such as thermal insulation to keep foods cold. This is very important if you will be carrying perishable foods like yogurt. Fabric lunchboxes come in a wide range of sizes which include small, compact designs as well as large backpack styles. Fabric lunchboxes also eliminate the worry about dangerous chemicals found in plastic.

Metal Retro Lunchboxes

Metal retro lunchboxes are the most popular because they look just like the vintage boxes we all adore. They tend to be limited when it comes to sizes, but they are excellent when it comes to protecting foods from bruising or being crushed. They also have no chemicals to worry about. They are easy to clean, but they do not keep foods cold.
Decoration

The design you choose for the outside of your retro lunchbox is purely a personal choice. If you want a truly vintage feel, look for lunchboxes with images of old TV shows like Happy Days or Howdy Doody. Some people enjoy a more recent style such as packman and other video games from the 1980’s. Classic characters like Mickey Mouse are timeless, and modern movies like Frozen are also great picks.
Thermos

Deciding whether to purchase a retro lunchbox that comes with a thermos or not will depend on how you choose to use the box. If you are simply looking for something you can use as home décor, the thermos isn’t as important. If this is something you are actually going to use on a daily basis for your lunch, the thermos could be quite handy to have. Although you can purchase a thermos from most retail stores easily, it may be hard to find one that matches your lunchbox’s images if you don’t buy them together.

Shape

The shape is also a personal choice, but if you are truly trying to capture that vintage feel, you will want a square or rectangular shaped box. These are the shapes that pop into our mind when we hear someone mention a retro lunchbox. Round boxes were also popular long ago, and they are making their way into today’s trendy designs with images of rock bands like the Beatles.
Size

Retro lunchboxes are often found in a standard size that is approximately eight by seven by four inches, but you can find them in larger versions. Those that want to capture a vintage feel will stick to this size, but if you are the type to carrying a lot of food to work or school, you may be happier with something a bit larger. Larger designs are easier to find in plastic or fabric versions.

Recommendations

If you are in the market for a retro lunchbox with that classic vintage feel, you can’t do any better than the Aquarius Wizard of Oz Large Tin Fun Box. This officially licensed product features colorful graphics of Dorothy and her friends making their way down the yellow brick road. This particular box is not recommended for food, but it is the perfect accent to retro home décor.

Those that want a lunchbox they can safely send to school with their kids each day will appreciate the plastic SUGARBOOGER Good Lunch Box with a retro robot design. This fully functional lunchbox is BPA-free, lead-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free.

Part of the fun of a retro lunchbox is the uniqueness. The Beatles Black and White Shaped Tin Tote looks like a drum pulled right of the stage complete with the Beatles logo. This unique round box can be used safely with foods. Another unusual design is the fun Aquarius Vintage TV Embossed Large Tin Fun Box. This lunchbox looks just like those old fashioned box TVs. It even has a test pattern displayed on the screen.

Many people want a lunchbox that will combine the old with the new. Disney’s Frozen Olaf Embossed Tin Carry All Lunch Box has that retro feel with the images of a modern day hit movie. It has the classic square shape, plastic carrying handle and latch closure that is ideal for storing small toys, accessories, or jewelry.

Top Rated Retro Lunchboxes

If you're looking into finding the best rated retro lunchbox, you should probable check out the Igloo 90s Collection Square Lunch Box Cooler with Front Pocket and Adjustable Strap. We looked at various sources of reviews and found this one to have the best mix between review count and average rating stars.

Igloo 90s Collection Square Lunch Box Cooler with Front Pocket and Adjustable Strap

The Lowest Price We Could Find

Often, going for the best price is a simple but good option. With a price of $16.27 (last checked this morning), we do not list any other retro lunchbox cheaper than the Marvel: Wolverine Previews Exclusive Lunchbox. Just remember that it's not always the best option to go for the cheapest one.

Marvel: Wolverine Previews Exclusive Lunchbox

The Retro Lunchbox With the Most Reviews

With at least 0 reviews and counting, the Igloo 90s Collection Square Lunch Box Cooler with Front Pocket and Adjustable Strap might be another option to consider. This large amount of reviews signalizes that many people are using it, with most of them beeing satisfied.

High Quality Retro Lunchboxes

It's quite rare that the saying "You get what you pay for" turns out incorrect. If you have the money on the sideline, feel free to choose the most expensive item from our list: The Stanley Classic 10qt Lunch Box – Large Lunchbox currently sells for $55.00.

Stanley Classic 10qt Lunch Box – Large Lunchbox

The Retro Lunchbox With the Most Clicks

If you trust us and our users, feel free to check out the Igloo 90s Collection Square Lunch Box Cooler with Front Pocket and Adjustable Strap. Our statistics say that it is the most favorite Retro Lunchbox from the list above.

Our Bestseller

If you're still undecided, I would recommend that you go with the masses and choose the top selling retro lunchbox: The Igloo 90s Collection Square Lunch Box Cooler with Front Pocket and Adjustable Strap is the hottest bestseller in this category right now.

Retro Lunchbox Reviews

There are no reviews on retro lunchboxes, yet.
Be the first to write a review, or check for additional reviews in the Further Reading section below.

Further Reading on Retro Lunchboxes

New: Our editorial list of additional articles. We decided to gather informartion all around the internet and present you a list of helpful, external links to interesting reads about reviews, pros & cons and similar products.
Planetbox Vs Lunchbots Lunchbox Review - Pretty Litt...
If you are shopping around for a new, high quality Lunchbox system check out my Planetbox vs. LunchBots review! I have used both systems  ...
0 persons liked this post.
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Planetbox Vs Lunchbots Lunchbox Review - Pretty Litt...
If you are shopping around for a new, high quality Lunchbox system check out my Cons: The LunchBots system doesn't have an icepack specifically Pros: The lunch box itself is super durable stainless steel. Planetbox  ...
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Lunch Box Comparison Chart: How 6 Popular Boxes Stac...
Plus, this year I swapped out two lunch boxes that have been. As a lunch box aficionado and…ahem…collector, I am regularly asked to recommend . Lunches review, Read my full LunchBots Trio review (similar to the Quad), Read my full  ...
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Lunchbox vs Rack unit: Pros vs Cons - Profiler relat...
Here are some of my perceived Pros vs Cons of the 2 versions, but Im sure Power amp must be retro-fitted (involves shipping, waiting, etc etc. ...
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Green product review: PlanetBox reusable lunch kit
Complete pros: PlanetBox Complete cons: No spills with this cool lunchbox: microwave them – it's super dangerous to microwave metal. ...
0 persons liked this post.
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Pros and cons of the top lunch boxes | Fraser Coast ...
HARD pressed picking the best lunch boxes for the kids to go back to school? We've weighed up the pros and cons of some of the best lunch  Missing: retro ‎| ‎Must include: ‎retro ...
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Vintage / Retro Lunchboxes

A look at lunchboxes from the past.

Disclaimer: This video was not made by us, but we found it interesting enough to embed it here.

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