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Thermos FUNtainer 10 oz vs 16 oz Food Jar: Which Size?

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yotsuba347

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Short answer: Get the 10 oz for younger kids and smaller lunches. It is shorter, cheaper ($20.99 at Thermos) and rated 5 hours hot. Get the 16 oz for bigger appetites or later lunch periods. It holds 6 oz more and is rated 7 hours hot and 9 cold. Both include a folding spoon.

How we compare: every spec in this article comes from official manufacturer specifications and product pages (starting with Thermos’s official 10 oz product page and 16 oz product page), all listed under Sources below. We don’t run hands-on tests, and if a spec isn’t published, we say so. Last updated: October 2026.

Check price: Thermos FUNtainer 10 oz Food Jar
Check price: Thermos FUNtainer 16 oz Food Jar

I live in Japan, where soup jars are a normal part of packed lunches. In the US, the FUNtainer is the kids’ food jar most parents start with, and it comes in two sizes.

I haven’t tested these side by side. Everything below comes from the manufacturers’ official product pages, linked at the end. If a spec isn’t published, I say so instead of guessing.

Quick Comparison Table

Spec FUNtainer 10 oz Food Jar FUNtainer 16 oz Food Jar
Capacity 10 oz (290 mL) 16 oz (470 mL)
Height 5.3 in 6.65 in
Width x depth 3.5 x 3.7 in 3.46 x 3.72 in
Weight 0.6 lb 0.6 lb
Hot rating Up to 5 hours Up to 7 hours
Cold rating Up to 7 hours Up to 9 hours
Opening Wide-mouth twist Wide-mouth twist
Spoon Folding spoon included Folding spoon included
Dishwasher Top rack only Top rack only
Thermos list price $20.99 $22.99
Origin China China

All figures are from Thermos’s US product pages, checked October 2026. List prices are Thermos.com prices, not Amazon prices.

Key differences at a glance

  • Capacity: The 16 oz holds 6 ounces more than the 10 oz, which is roughly a full extra serving of soup or pasta.
  • Rated time: Thermos rates the 16 oz for up to 7 hours hot and 9 hours cold, compared with 5 hours hot and 7 hours cold for the 10 oz.
  • Height: The 16 oz is about 1.35 inches taller at 6.65 inches, while the footprint is almost the same.
  • Price: Thermos lists the 10 oz at $20.99 and the 16 oz at $22.99.
  • What stays the same: Both have a wide-mouth twist lid, a folding spoon, a 0.6 lb listed weight and top-rack dishwasher cleaning.

The 3 Differences That Matter

1. How much food

10 oz suits a side of soup or a small pasta portion for a younger child. 16 oz is closer to a full meal for an older kid.

2. Rated hours

The larger jar has the longer rating: 7 hours hot versus 5. If lunch is late, or you fill the jar early, the 16 oz rating gives more margin.

3. Lunch-box fit

The two jars have nearly the same footprint, but the 16 oz is 6.65 inches tall versus 5.3. Check the depth of your lunch bag.

What’s the same

Same wide-mouth twist lid, same folding spoon, same BPA-free double-wall stainless construction, and the same 0.6 lb listed weight.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the FUNtainer 10 oz if you:

  • Pack for a preschooler or early grade-schooler
  • Send soup as a side, not the whole meal
  • Have an early lunch period

Choose the FUNtainer 16 oz if you:

  • Pack a full meal
  • Have a later lunch or a long day
  • Want the longer hot rating

Soup Jars in Japan

In Japan, Thermos sells soup jars rather than the FUNtainer line. Its JBR-401 holds 0.4 L, close to the 16 oz FUNtainer, and Thermos Japan rates it at 60 °C or above after 6 hours and 11 °C or below cold, at a suggested price of ¥6,050.

A Kakaku.com reviewer who used the JBR-401 for about a year liked that the gasket comes apart and that the wide mouth is easy to clean. They called the heat retention average, and noted that a jar packed with chunky ingredients leaves little room for broth. (Third-party reviews, not our own testing.)

Comparing the 10 oz against a Zojirushi? See Zojirushi SW-KA30 vs Thermos FUNtainer 10 oz.

Thermos FUNtainer 10 oz vs 16 oz Food Jar: Frequently Asked Questions

Does the FUNtainer food jar come with a spoon?

Yes. Thermos lists a folding spoon with both the 10 oz and 16 oz.

Which FUNtainer keeps food hot longer?

The 16 oz. Thermos rates it up to 7 hours hot, versus 5 hours for the 10 oz.

Is the FUNtainer food jar dishwasher safe?

Yes, top rack only.

Do the two sizes weigh the same?

Thermos lists both at 0.6 lb.

Check current listings

Prices and colors change often, so check the current listing before buying.

Check price: Thermos FUNtainer 10 oz Food Jar
Check price: Thermos FUNtainer 16 oz Food Jar

Sources

Specs checked October 2026. Prices and availability change, so check the current listing before buying.

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