Rubbermaid Brilliance is the answer

Rubbermaid Brilliance containers are the best affordable BPA-free plastic lunch boxes that actually survive the dishwasher.

Most plastic lunch boxes are “dishwasher safe” the same way a politician is “truthful” — technically, but with a lot of fine print. The container base is fine, but the lid warps, or the silicone seal traps water and gets gross. Brilliance doesn’t do that. Every part — base, lid, latch, and gasket — is top-rack dishwasher safe, and they’re genuinely leak-proof, so you can pack soup or salad dressing without a separate baggie.

You’ll pay around $10–12 for a three-pack. That’s a few bucks more than the junk tier, but the difference is they’ll still latch properly after a year of daily washing. The budget brands save you maybe four dollars and then warp or crack in month four.

If you want cheaper anyway: Sistema is BPA-free and fine, but the lids and gaskets get grimy in the dishwasher. Ziploc’s entree containers are the cheapest option and top-rack safe, but they’re flimsy and very much not leak-proof. They are not a better deal, they are a worse box that costs less.

This is not where you save four bucks.