Which Lunch Bag and School Bag Size Is Right for Your Child? A Size Guide by Age
There’s a certain look kids get the first time they try on a brand new school bag. Shoulders back, chin up, very proud of themselves. Then you notice the bottom of the bag is sitting somewhere near the backs of their knees.
Buying something they’ll “grow into” feels like the sensible choice in the moment. But a bag that’s too big is heavier to carry, harder for them to pack on their own, and leaves the lunch bag sliding around inside all day. Go too small and you’re shopping for a replacement before Term 3.
The good news? Getting the size right is mostly about matching the bag to the stage your child is at right now. Here’s our age-by-age guide to choosing a lunch bag and school bag that work together, from the first day of daycare right through to Year 6.
Why the Right Size Makes Such a Difference
Your child’s lunch bag decides what fits inside and how long it stays cool. Too roomy and boxes tip on their side. Too snug and you’re playing lunchbox Tetris at 7am.
Their school bag decides how comfortable the walk from the car is, and whether everything (lunch bag, drink bottle, readers, hat and that one random rock) has a proper home.
When the two are sized to suit each other, packing is quicker, unpacking at school is easier for little hands, and both bags last longer because they aren’t being overstuffed every day.
Quick Size Guide by Age
Short on time? Here’s the cheat sheet. Keep reading for the why behind each pick.
Every child is different, so treat ages as a starting point. A tall Prep student or a big eater in kindy might be ready to size up, and that’s completely fine.
Daycare and Toddlers (Ages 1 to 3)
At this age it’s all about small portions, spare clothes and gear that little ones can carry (or at least feel like they’re carrying) on their own.
Lunch Bag: Mini Insulated Lunch Bag
Our Mini Insulated Lunch Bag is the baby of the family. At 18.5cm x 15cm x 7.5cm, it’s made for snack boxes like the Bento Two or Snack Lunch Box, and it comes with a small ice pack that keeps snacks cool for up to 4 hours.
The clip handle is a little game-changer. Clip it to the outside of a backpack or the pram and it’s ready to grab at drop-off, no digging required.
School Bag: Junior School Bag
The Junior School Bag holds 19L and weighs just 500g, so it’s light on little shoulders while still fitting spare clothes, a hat, a drink bottle and all the treasures they collect along the way. It’s machine washable too, which you’ll appreciate after the first yoghurt incident.
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Montii Tip: Write your child’s name on the sewn-in label inside every MontiiCo lunch bag and school bag. Skip iron-on labels for lunch bags, as the heat can damage the foam lining. |
Kindy and Prep (Ages 4 to 6)
This is the big one. For many kids it’s the first time managing lunch all on their own, so the goal is gear that’s simple to open, easy to unpack and sized for smaller appetites.
Lunch Bag: Medium Insulated Lunch Bag
The Medium Insulated Lunch Bag is our in-between size, made for smaller eaters and anyone packing a single lunch box. It measures 22cm x 24.5cm x 7cm and its ice pack keeps lunch cool for up to 6 hours, so it’s still fresh when the lunch bell rings.
Many schools also have a fruit and veggie break (Munch and Crunch, Crunch and Sip or Brain Break, depending on where you are) that needs packing separately. A Mini Lunch Bag with a snack box clipped to the outside of their school bag makes that break super easy to grab.
School Bag: Junior School Bag
For most kindy and Prep kids, the Junior School Bag is still the sweet spot. It’s big enough for a lunch bag, drink bottle, library bag and readers, but small enough that it isn’t swamping them.
If your Prep student is on the taller side, or their school has a device program, the School Bag (below) may suit better thanks to its padded laptop sleeve.
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Montii Tip: Do a practice run at home before Day One. Let them unzip their school bag, take out their lunch bag and open their lunch box all by themselves. A few rounds at the kitchen bench builds a lot of first-day confidence. |
Primary School (Years 1 to 6)
Bigger kids, bigger appetites and a lot more to carry. Now you want room for a full lunch, a drink bottle, books and whatever the day throws at them.
Lunch Bag: Large Insulated Lunch Bag
Our best-selling Large Insulated Lunch Bag measures 30.5 × 24.5 × 10cm and fits most popular bento boxes, with room to spare for extra snacks. It comes with our best-selling ice pack, which sits in its own dedicated pocket and keeps lunch cool for up to 8 hours, even through a hot Aussie summer.
Want to see exactly which lunch box fits? Our Lunch Bag Size Guide has packing photos for every combo.
School Bag: School Bag
The School Bag holds 28L (43cm x 34cm x 20cm) and fits books, a laptop, spare clothes and a Large Lunch Bag. Three zip compartments and a padded laptop sleeve give everything its own spot, and two large side pockets hold MontiiCo drink bottles up to 750ml. Padded, adjustable shoulder straps and a hard foam back keep it comfortable, from their first year of primary school to their last.
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Montii Tip: Check the fit once it’s packed. The top of the bag should sit around shoulder height and the base shouldn’t hang down past their lower back. Adjust both shoulder straps evenly so the weight sits close to their body. |
For Sport Days and Big Loads
If your child heads straight from class to training, or their bag is regularly bursting with boots, balls and swimmers, the School Sports Bag is our biggest bag yet.
It holds 32L (46cm x 35cm x 20cm) and has a stretchy front mesh pocket for balls, boots, helmets or hats that zips away when it’s not needed. That keeps muddy gear on the outside and the good stuff on the inside. A hard foam back, padded foam handle and reinforced stitching help make the daily load more comfortable to carry. Pair it with a Large Insulated Lunch Bag for long days that need a big lunch.
How Your Lunch Bag and School Bag Work Together
All our Insulated Lunch Bags are designed to slide comfortably into MontiiCo School Bags, with plenty of room left over for books and other school essentials. Our School Bag Size Guide shows each lunch bag packed inside each school bag, so you can see the fit before you buy.
Don’t forget the drink bottle. Each school bag has side pockets to keep bottles upright and easy to reach. If you’re still choosing one, our Drink Bottle Size Guide and our guide to the best drink bottles for kids starting school will help you pick the right size.
Still Deciding? Ask Yourself These Four Questions
- How much do they eat at school? Big eaters and kids packing two boxes will be happier with a Large Lunch Bag, whatever their age.
- How long between packing and eating? Longer days and early starts make the extra cooling time of a larger bag and ice pack worth it.
- What else are they carrying? A school device or sports gear usually means sizing up to the School Bag or School Sports Bag.
- Can they carry it comfortably? If a packed bag feels heavy to them on the walk from the car, it’s worth sizing down.
Find Their Perfect Fit
The right size isn’t about buying the biggest bag. It’s about choosing gear that suits your child today, so school days feel a little easier for everyone.
Head to our Size Guides for packing photos, dimensions and side-by-side comparisons of every lunch bag, lunch box, drink bottle and school bag in our range.
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