Which EcoCocoon Bento is right for you?

A side-by-side guide to our four stainless steel lunch boxes, so you can pick with confidence.

It’s the question we hear most often: "Which lunch box should I buy?" Fair enough. We offer four models, and they’re genuinely different: different sizes, different compartment layouts, different price points. Finding the right non-toxic school lunchbox depends entirely on who’s eating from it, how much they eat, and what you tend to pack. This guide walks you through each plastic-free lunchbox option, the differences that actually matter, and a short decision flow at the end to help you choose with less plastic and less guesswork.

Good to Know: All four of our Bento lunch boxes share the same EcoCocoon foundations: 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, leak-proof silicone seals tested to FDA and LFGB standards, BPA and phthalate-free, and dishwasher-safe. The choice is about size, compartments and use, not material quality.

Meet the EcoCocoon Bento Range

Bento 2 - the everyday compact lunchbox ($69.95)

The Bento 2 is our most compact Bento. It has two flat compartments, side by side. It slips easily into smaller bags, suits younger kids, and works beautifully as a "second box" for parents who like to pair a Bento with a Food Jar.

Best for:

• Smaller appetites, or kids who don’t love heaps of variety 
• Pairing with the Insulated Food Jar for warm-lunch days
• Bags with limited space

What goes in it:

• Roughly: a sandwich + cut fruit and veg.
• Or yoghurt + granola in one compartment, fruit or crackers in the other.
• Or a wrap cut into pieces + a dip pot tucked in.

Classic Stacker Lunchbox - the deep-dish all-rounder ($49.95)

The Stacker is the one to reach for when lunch is more of a "main + side" than a multi-compartment graze. The two stacking compartments have sufficient depth and are joined as a single neat unit. 

Best for:

• Deeper meals: pasta, rice bowls, noodle salads, fruit salad.
• A main on the bottom, a separate side or fruit on top.
• Families on a tighter budget who still want a proper stainless steel box.
• Adults wanting a simple, no-fuss work lunch.

Important: The Stacker is leak-proof on the outside, but the seal between the two stacked layers is not watertight. Therefore, keep wet foods (like sauce or yoghurt) separately rather than relying on the divider. 

What goes in it:

• Roughly: pasta in one layer, cut fruit and veg in the other.
• Or rice and curry on the bottom, a piece of cake and some berries on top. (Make sure there isn't too much liquid leaking from the curry.)
• Anything where depth matters.

Classic Bento 3 - the big-appetite workhorse ($59.95)

The Bento 3 holds the most food of any of our lunch boxes: it has three compartments, each deeper than our flat Bentos. It's the go-to for hungry kids, growing teens, and adults who want a proper lunch, not a snack-size one.

Best for:

• Upper primary, high school, teen appetites.
• Adult work lunches (enough room for a real meal).
• Hungry days, sport days, big-eater kids. Families wanting one box that grows with the child.

What goes in it:

• Roughly: a large sandwich or wrap OR a large serving of pasta or rice PLUS two smaller compartments of fruit and veg or treat.
• Or simply three substantial portions: main, side, treat. 

Bento Lunch Box 5 - the variety-lover’s box ($79.95) 

The Bento 5 is our most popular box and the one that solves the "everything has to stay separate" problem: five compartments in a wide, flat layout keep fruit, veg, main, dip, and treat all apart and visible at a glance.

Best for:

• Variety lovers and picky eaters: a little of everything.
• Parents who like a balanced "five food groups" approach.
• Wet things kept separate from dry things (dips, yoghurt, sauce).
• Older primary kids who like making their own choices

Pro Tip: The Bento 5’s small dip-pot-sized compartment is perfect for a tablespoon of hummus, tzatziki, or peanut butter: enough to dip everything else into without the volume of a separate snack pot.

What goes in it:

• Roughly: sandwich or main in the largest section, cut fruit in another, cut veg in another, a small treat in the fourth, and a dip or sauce in the smallest.
• Or any combination of five small portions.

At a glance: a side-by-side comparison

If you’d rather just compare them on one screen:

Still unsure? Here's our Quick Decision Flow Test

How big is the appetite?

• Small (kindy, prep, picky eater) → Bento 2 or Bento 5
• Medium (lower-mid primary) → Bento 5 or Stacker
• Big (upper primary, teen, adult) → Bento 3 or Stacker

How do they like their food?

• Everything must stay separate → Bento 5
• Main + side, depth matters → Stacker
• Simple sandwich + a couple of bits → Bento 2
• Hearty meal, real portions → Bento 3

Choose by appetite size first, then by how food needs to be separated.

FAQs to help you choose your lunchbox.

Which EcoCocoon lunch box is best for a kindy or prep child? 

The Bento 2 is our go-to recommendation for kindy and prep. Its compact size fits smaller bags, the two compartments are perfectly sized for younger appetites, and it pairs beautifully with our Insulated Food Jar on cold-lunch days. The Bento 5 is a good second option if your child likes a wider variety of small portions.

Are all EcoCocoon Bentos leak-proof?

The Bento 2, Bento 3 and Bento 5 are fully leak-proof thanks to their silicone seals (tested to FDA and LFGB standards). The Classic Stacker is leak-proof on the outside, but the seal between its two stacking layers is not watertight. So keep wet foods like yoghurt or sauce in their own container rather than relying on the divider.

Can I put EcoCocoon Bentos in the dishwasher?

Yes, all four Bentos are fully dishwasher safe; the top rack is recommended for the longest seal life. We designed them for the realities of daily family use, not hand-washing.

What’s the difference between the Bento 5 and the Classic Bento 3?

The Bento 5 has five compartments in a wider, flatter layout, which is best for variety and keeping foods separate. The Classic Bento 3 has three deeper compartments and holds the most food of any of our boxes. It is best for bigger appetites, teens and adult lunches. Choose Bento 5 if your child likes a little of everything; choose Bento 3 if they’re packing a proper meal.

Which Bento is the best value?

On price alone, the Classic Stacker ($49.95) is our most affordable option, and a genuinely capable everyday box; just bear in mind it’s designed for deeper meals (pasta, rice) rather than fully separated compartments. For long-term value, all four are built to last for years rather than terms, so the right box for your family is the one that fits how they actually eat.

What every EcoCocoon Bento shares

Whichever you choose, you’re getting the same EcoCocoon foundations engineered to help you upgrade what matters most without any all-or-nothing pressure:

• 18/8 food-grade stainless steel - doesn’t stain, smell or warp.

• Leak-proof silicone seals tested to FDA and LFGB standards.

• BPA, phthalate and lead-free.

• Dishwasher safe - designed for the realities of daily family use, not hand-washing fantasies.

• Freezer- and fridge-safe - making it easy to guide nutritious building blocks from freezer to fridge to bag or table.

• Designed in Brisbane by a small Aussie team who pack lunches too.

Still not sure? Reply to any of our emails, or send a quick note to hello@ecococoon.com.au and tell us about your child’s age and what you usually pack. We’ll happily help you pick the right one; it’s the question we love answering most.