Before You Donate Old Metal Lunch Boxes, Check These 9 Characters

That dented metal lunch box in the garage once carried a bologna sandwich to school. Today, certain ones can fetch real money, but only if you know which characters to look for before you drop the box in the donation bin.

History.com’s Erin Blakemore profiled nine of the most collectible school lunch boxes in the article Nine of the Most Collectible School Lunch Boxes, 1935 to Now, first published in 2017. The values below come from that article, and they are for boxes in mint condition. Yours will likely be worth less if it is scratched or rusty.

Mickey Mouse From 1935 Can Reach Up To $2,000

The oldest box on the list is the 1935 Mickey Mouse, which History.com says originally sold for 10 or 20 cents. The article puts its value at up to $2,000.

That is a big jump from a dime, and it is the oldest of the nine.

Hopalong Cassidy From 1950 Is Worth Up To $500

The 1950 Hopalong Cassidy box is described by History.com as worth up to $500 in mint condition.

It is the most modest value among the older boxes on the list, yet still a nice surprise to find in a closet.

Superman From 1954 Tops The List At Up To $13,000

The 1954 Superman box has the highest value in the article, at up to $13,000 for a mint example.

If you have one, the condition matters more than anything else. Dents, rust and missing paint all bring the price down.

The 1957 Toppie Is About $6,000 Mint, And A Beat-Up One Still Sold For $2,717

History.com says a mint Toppie box is worth about $6,000. It adds that a far-from-mint example sold for $2,717 in 2003.

That shows even a worn box of the right kind can bring a surprising sum.

A Beatles Lunch Box From 1963 Sold For $750 At Heritage Auctions In 2015

According to History.com, the 1963 Beatles box sold for $750 in a 2015 sale at Heritage Auctions. The article gives its current mint value as about $1,820.

The gap between those two figures is a good reminder to check condition and recent sales.

The Jetsons Box From 1963 Can Reach Up To $1,700

The 1963 Jetsons box is valued at up to $1,700 in mint condition, per History.com.

It is the only cartoon family box on the list, and it shares its 1963 year with two other entries.

The 1963 Orbit Box Is Worth Up To $3,200

History.com lists the 1963 Orbit lunch box at up to $3,200 in mint condition.

That puts it third in the article, behind Superman and Toppie. If a box has the name Orbit on the front, set it aside and look it up before you do anything else.

Campus Queen From 1967 Is Worth About $330

The 1967 Campus Queen box is listed at about $330 in mint condition.

It is the lowest value in the group, but still more than most people expect to find from an old school lunch box.

Rambo From 1985 Is Likely Worth $380

The 1985 Rambo box is the newest of the nine, and History.com says a mint-condition one is likely worth $380 today.

It shows that boxes from the 1980s can matter to collectors too.

Three Of The Nine Boxes Came Out In 1963

Look at the years and one stands out. The Beatles, Jetsons and Orbit boxes all date to 1963, which makes it the busiest year on History.com’s list.

If you find a box with 1963 printed on it, it is worth a closer look. Add the three values together and you get up to roughly $6,700 for three boxes in mint condition.

What Mint Condition Really Means

Every value above is for a mint box, which means one with no rust, no dents and bright paint. Most boxes that spent years in a garage or a school locker look nothing like that.

The Toppie story shows both sides of the coin. A far-from-mint example still sold for $2,717 in 2003, yet that is well under the roughly $6,000 History.com gives for a mint one.

How To Check Before You Donate

The nine boxes span 1935 to 1985, so even a box from your own school years deserves a second look. The list runs from a 1935 Mickey Mouse to a 1985 Rambo, and the values range from about $330 to as much as $13,000.

Look at the front of the box for the character names above and the year printed near the bottom. Take a few photos, and compare with recent sold listings on auction sites before you decide.

Keep the box out of damp places while you decide, because moisture is the enemy of old metal and paint. If you plan to sell, take clear photos of the front, back and inside.

Remember that History.com’s figures are for mint boxes, and values are “up to” estimates. A rusty or scratched box will sell for a fraction, and a donation might still be the right call.

When in doubt, ask a local antique dealer or toy collector to look at it before it leaves your hands.

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