Frequently Asked Questions

Laptop Lunches Bento-ware products can be purchased online by clicking HERE.

They are also available through select retailers. For a list of current retailers, visit our retail page.

Yes. This online store serves the US, Canada, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia. Please be advised, however, that our international customers are responsible for all customs fees and import taxes imposed by their country's government. If you'd like to order directly from Canada, Australia, Norway, Denmark, United Arab Emirates or Indonesia, choose "International" on the the drop down menu of the "shop" tab. For all other countries, please contact us directly at info (at) obentec (dot) com, and we'll send you a shipping quote. Please be sure to tell us exactly what (and how many) you are interested in ordering when requesting a shipping quote.

Yes. We'll ship your order via the US Postal Service at no extra charge to you. If you experience problems ordering online, please let us know by sending an email to info (at) obentec (dot) com. To order by phone, call us at 831-457-0301 or fax your order to 831-430-0302.

• The Bento System is slightly larger than the Bento Kit.
• The Bento System has a roomier carrier, so you can fit a small drink bottle inside of the carrier. The Bento Kit has a collapsible side pouch on the outside of the tote for a drink bottle.
• The Bento System has a shoulder strap, but the Bento Kit does not.
• The Bento System is slightly more expensive than the Bento Kit.
• The Bento System currently comes in the following styles: Berry Blue, Dots, Galaxy and Dahlia. The Bento Kit comes in Garden, Moss, Pastel, and Primary.
• Both products feature a mesh pocket on the inside for an ice pack (not included).
• Both the carrier and the tote are made with 100% post-consumer recycled fabric.
• All of our bento sets contain 10% recycled content.
• All of our bento sets are free of lead, phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and PVC.

Yes, the plastic water bottle sits along one edge of the Carrier and the Laptop Lunches® Bento Lunch Box sits next to it (see photo). Please note that the Moss, Pastel, Garden and Blue Totes, will only hold the Bento Lunch Box and an ice pack inside the main compartment (a bottle can fit in the collapsible side pocket on the outside of the tote). Our newest Carriers are a bit roomier and will hold most small (12 oz) stainless bottles or plastic bottles (no taller than 7" high). Add non-toxic ice pack (also sold separately) to the inner mesh pouch to keep your food nice and cold.

The Laptop Lunches® Bento Lunch Box is designed to fit inside an insulated carrier with a drink and an ice pack. The Laptop Lunches® Bento Carrier (as in our Systems), can fit a small drink bottle inside and the Totes (as in our Bento Kits), can hold a stainless or plastic bottle on the outer side pocket. If you pack a drink that needs to stay cold and you are considering a tote, we recommend using an insulated stainless bottle.

A traditional Bento box has no lids on any of the inner containers. When the box is opened, all your food is nicely displayed and easily accessed. We designed our lunch box so that some of the containers could be used for wet foods and not leak when the box is tipped sideways. The two containers that are unlidded can hold dry ingredients and the lid of the Bento Box rests on top and will hold food in place. If you require more lidded containers, you can use the Bento Buddies for a variety of configurations. We hope you enjoy the versatility of our 2.0 Bento-ware!

The outer container itself will not keep wet foods from leaking out. However, if you pack your wet foods in the leak proof inner containers with lids, they should not leak (note, please release the air pressure by burping the containers before packing). The unlidded containers are designed to accommodate dry foods such as sliced apple, cucumber, carrot and celery sticks, crackers, and pretzels. The outer container lid rests on top of the unlidded containers, so the food will not spill out.

The Laptop Lunches® Bento Lunch Box was designed for cold and room temperature foods only. We recommend packing it inside an insulated bag with non-toxic ice pack. To keep foods hot, consider using one of our insulated Bento Jars.

Our plastic containers are all FDA-approved for microwave use. However, some experts believe that microwaving in plastics of any kind may be hazardous. If you microwave in plastics, our containers are fine, but please use short intervals of time, so the containers do not over heat and warp. Please also note that the lids are not microwave safe.

The Laptop Lunches® Bento Lunch Box can be kept cold by putting it in an insulated carrier with an ice pack. We sell non-toxic ice packs for $1.99. They stay frozen for a long time and fit perfectly in the mesh pocket of our carriers and totes or directly inside a Bento Sleeve.

The Carriers were only designed to hold the Bento lunch box and a drink bottle inside. However, the Dual-Compartment Totes will hold a Bento Jar, as well as a drink, in the top compartment. The Bento lunch box fits perfectly in the bottom compartment and sits flat on the bottom.

BENTO CARRIER: The Bento carrier is approximately 12" x 8.5" x 3"

BENTO TOTE: The Bento Tote is approximately 10" X 8.5" X 3.5"

BENTO LUNCH BOX 2.0: The outer container is approximately 9" x 7" x 2 1/4 inches. The inner containers are approximately 4 3/4 x 3 1/8 x 2 and 3 1/8 x 2 1/2 x 2 and 2 x 1 1/2 x 1 3/4 inches. This is a modular system so you can include or omit the containers as needed. The two larger containers hold 1 1/4 cup and 1 2/3 cup each. The two medium containers hold 3/4 and 2/3 each, and the dip container holds 1/8 cup.

At Obentec, Inc. we are extremely concerned about toxins in our food and in the environment. Thus we take great care to ensure that we use the safest materials available. For this reason we manufacture our lunch containers here in California using plastics (polypropylene and polyethylene) that are FDA-approved for food use. None of our products contain phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), or lead.

Most parents currently pack lunches in plastic wrap, plastic bags, and single-serve plastic packages, including PET water bottles, which are considered far less stable than their reusable counterparts. Plastic may not be the perfect solution, but it does offer a stylish, affordable, non-breakable alternative for families wishing to move from a disposable to a reusable system.

For more information on plastics, click HERE.

I assume that you're referring to the Center for Environmental Health's press release entitled "A Back to School Warning: Children’s Vinyl Lunch Boxes Can Contain Dangerous Levels of Lead." As crazy as this claim sounds, it is--unfortunately--not a hoax.

The good news is that all of the Laptop Lunches® Bento-ware has been thoroughly and independently tested and is completely lead-free.

Yes, the bento lunch box outer container and inner containers are dishwasher safe (top rack only, away from the heating element). CAUTION: Laptop Lunch containers may warp if exposed to very hot temperatures. DO NOT use heat boosters. DO NOT wash in the dishwasher on high heat.

Our stainless steel drink bottles and Bento jars are not considered dishwasher safe and should be hand washed.

Yes. The outer container and inner containers are made of polypropylene and the lids are made of polyethylene. Both are recyclable but may not be collected at the curb in your area. Check with your recycling center or waste hauler to find out how you can recycle these materials in your area.

Keep in mind that these containers are built to last a long time, so it is unlikely that they will need to be recycled anytime soon!

In brief:

• The original (discontinued) Bento Set has two lidded containers inside the outer container (large container and small dip), and the the Bento Lunch Box 2.0 has three (includes a medium container with lid).


• The original Bento Set came with 2 part utensils (stainless with plastic handles). The Bento Lunch Box 2.0 does not come with utensils (all-stainless utensils are sold separately).


• The Bento Lunch Box 2.0 is about 1/4-inch deeper than the original Bento Set.


• Our Bento Buddies can be used inside the Bento Lunch Box 2.0 for a wider variety of configurations. The Bento Buddies DO NOT fit inside the original Bento Set.


• Both the original Bento Set and the Bento Lunch Box 2.0 fit in all carrying cases and totes. However, the Bento Lunch Box 2.0 does not fit in the original Bento Sleeve.

Children don't treat their Laptop Lunches the same way they treat mom's food storage containers. They hang on to them because they take pride in ownership. The Laptop Lunch container belongs to them!

The pieces fit together like a puzzle, so it's easy to see when something's missing from the set.

All of our products can be labeled with a child's name. If a piece is left at school, the adult who finds it will know who it belongs to, and will likely make sure that it's returned.

If you are in need of a replacement piece, please check out our replacement parts available online.

Please contact us for information on how to obtain replacement parts not found in our online store.

Our Laptop Lunches® Bento Lunch Boxes and ice packs are made in Northern California. Our carriers, totes, bento sleeves, drink bottles, and Bento Jars are made in China in order to have a competitively priced product. All products have been independently tested and are free from lead, pthalates, BPA and PVC.

Our unique Bento Lunch Boxes are made of high-quality materials, and they are built to last well beyond one school year.

Laptop Lunches Bento Lunch Boxes are manufactured in California, where labor costs are comparatively high.

Absolutely not. Our containers are made of very sturdy plastic and are built to last for years under normal use. If one of your containers has cracked, and you have not accidentally backed over it in your car, run it through the garbage disposal, or found one of your kids using it to play fetch with your dog, please contact us. We want to hear about it!

Email us at info (at) obentec (dot) com to get started.

We have a ready-to-go 2-sided flyer available at www.laptoplunches.com/articles/PackHealthyLunchesFlyer.pdf. Feel free to print it off and distribute as you see fit. Side one provides information on packing nutritious lunches. Side two covers waste-free lunch basics.

Yes, we do. Our highly popular affiliate program is designed to help you spread the word AND earn cash for your school, business, or organization.

Probably not. Because of the way the hinge is designed, it is normal for there to be a gap between the top and bottom of the outer container. The Laptop Lunches lunch box is not meant to be air tight. Dry foods should not be able to spill out of the unlidded containers if the gap is less than ¼ inch. If the gap is larger than that or the corners seem to flare up more than you like, please e-mail us (with a photo if possible) and we can give instructions of how to re-shape the box as well as prevention methods for keeping the top flatter.

Yes. For more information on our company policies, click HERE.