The Best Retro Lunchbox

Best image of retro lunchboxes
Photo: Retro Boombox Radio Lunchbox Tin Tote - 1980s Inspired Merchandise - Novelty Costume Accessories And Storage Container - Fun Unique Gifts for Halloween, Birthdays, Holidays, Graduation Multicolor
UPDATED OCTOBER 14, 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

Boombox Radio Lunchbox image
TURN IT UP TO 11: Retro tin tote that looks just like a retro boombox! A Toyn...
Stanley Classic Lunch Box Large Lunchbox image
CLASSIC LUNCH CONTAINER: Inspired by the 1950s-style lunch boxes, Stanley bui...
Our Choice
Boombox Radio Lunchbox image
TURN IT UP TO 11: Retro tin tote that looks just like a retro boombox! A Toyn...
Low Price
Stanley Classic Lunch Box Large Lunchbox image
CLASSIC LUNCH CONTAINER: Inspired by the 1950s-style lunch boxes, Stanley bui...

7 More Retro Lunchbox Alternatives

Huge lunchbox measuring 9 x 6-3/4 x 3-1/2

Commemorates the release of the 1971 commercial

Classic retro lunch box

Lunch Box Set: we will provide you with a total of 6 pieces vintage lunch boxes for kid...

Safe and Reliable: these tin lunch boxes for kids vintage are made of quality tin mater...

Suitable Size: each tin box with lid measures approx. 8 x 6 x 4 inches, which is suitab...

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

SAY CHEESE: Get a little cheesy with this exclusive tin lunch box inspired by Kraft Mac...

CRAVING THATS CLASSIC STYLE: Featuring a retro-style design and colorful embossed front...

VERSATILE USE AND DISPLAY: This timeless lunch box packs a lot of flavor with its fun a...

Retro-styled lunch box

Constructed from sturdy metal

Beautifully detailed and very trendy

FULLY FREEZABLE: The Freezable Classic Lunch Box features PackIt’s Patented ECOFREEZE T...

EASY TO USE: Collapse and freeze overnight (8 hours for optimal results). Next morning,...

FAST TOP-LOAD PACKING: Large zip opening allows for faster top-load packing and locks i...

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 Boombox Radio Lunchbox. We looked at various sources of reviews and found this one to have the best mix between review count and average rating stars.

Boombox Radio Lunchbox

The Lowest Price We Could Find

Often, going for the best price is a simple but good option. With a price of $14.99 (last checked this morning), we do not list any other retro lunchbox cheaper than the Shirin Packaging Metal Lunch Box 7.9" L x 7" W x 3.7" H Metal Lunchbox. Just remember that it's not always the best option to go for the cheapest one.

Shirin Packaging Metal Lunch Box 7.9" L x 7" W x 3.7" H Metal Lunchbox

The Retro Lunchbox With the Most Reviews

With at least 2 reviews and counting, the Boombox Radio Lunchbox 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 Lunch Box Large Lunchbox currently sells for $55.00.

Stanley Classic Lunch Box Large Lunchbox

The Retro Lunchbox With the Most Clicks

If you trust us and our users, feel free to check out the Boombox Radio Lunchbox. 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 PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box is the hottest bestseller in this category right now.

PackIt Freezable Classic Lunch Box

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  ...
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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. ...
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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.

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