Thermos FUNtainer 16 oz vs Icon 16 oz Food Jar: Which?

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Short answer: For a kid’s lunch, the FUNtainer 16 oz ($22.99 at Thermos) is the better value. It is lighter, comes with a folding spoon, and is rated 7 hours hot. For an adult lunch or a long day, the Icon 16 oz ($29.99) is rated 10 hours hot and 24 cold, and it has a pressure-relief stopper.

How we compare: every spec in this article comes from official manufacturer specifications and product pages (starting with Thermos’s official FUNtainer page and Icon 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.

I live in Japan, where a 400-500 mL soup jar is a standard lunch size for adults. Thermos US sells two 16 oz jars that look similar on paper but are aimed at different people.

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	Thermos FUNtainer 16 oz	Thermos Icon 16 oz
Capacity	16 oz (470 mL)	16 oz (475 mL)
Dimensions	3.46 W x 3.72 D x 6.65 H in	3.9 W x 3.9 D x 6.0 H in
Weight	0.6 lb	0.75 lb
Hot rating	Up to 7 hours	Up to 10 hours
Cold rating	Up to 9 hours	Up to 24 hours
Steel	BPA-free stainless	18/8 BPA-free stainless
Stopper	Wide-mouth twist	Dura-Guard pressure relief stopper
Spoon	Folding spoon included	Not listed
Dishwasher	Top rack only	Top rack only
Thermos list price	$22.99	$29.99
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

• Rated time: Thermos rates the Icon for up to 10 hours hot and 24 hours cold, compared with 7 and 9 hours for the FUNtainer.
• Stopper: The Icon has a Dura-Guard pressure relief stopper, while the FUNtainer uses a simple wide-mouth twist lid.
• Spoon: The FUNtainer comes with a folding spoon, and Thermos doesn’t list one with the Icon.
• Price and weight: The FUNtainer costs $7 less at Thermos and is lighter, at 0.6 lb versus 0.75 lb.
• What stays the same: Both hold 16 oz, are double-wall vacuum-insulated and go on the top rack of the dishwasher.

The 4 Differences That Matter

1. Insulation rating

10 hours hot versus 7 is the Icon’s main advantage. If the jar is filled early and opened late, that longer rating is what you pay for.

2. Pressure relief

Thermos lists a Dura-Guard pressure relief stopper only on the Icon. The FUNtainer has a wide-mouth twist lid.

3. Kid-friendliness

The FUNtainer is lighter, comes with a folding spoon and has kid-oriented colors. The Icon is styled as an adult jar.

4. Shape

The FUNtainer is taller and narrower (6.65 x 3.46 in). The Icon is shorter and wider (6.0 x 3.9 in).

What’s the same

Same 16 oz capacity, same double-wall vacuum insulation, same BPA-free stainless interior, and both are top-rack dishwasher safe.

Who Should Buy Which?

Choose the FUNtainer 16 oz if you:

• Pack lunch for a kid or tween
• Want the spoon included
• Want the lower price

Choose the Icon 16 oz if you:

• Want the longest hot and cold rating
• Want a pressure-relief stopper
• Pack for an adult

The View from Japan

We didn’t find the FUNtainer or Icon lines on Thermos Japan’s site. The closest Japanese model is the JBR-401 soup jar: 0.4 L, rated 60 °C or above after 6 hours and 11 °C or below cold, with a suggested price of ¥6,050.

A Kakaku.com reviewer who used the JBR-401 for about a year praised the easy-to-clean wide mouth and removable gasket, called heat retention average, and noted that chunky ingredients leave little room for soup. That last point applies to any 16 oz jar. (Third-party reviews, not our own testing.)

Comparing the Icon with Zojirushi? See Thermos Icon 16 oz vs Zojirushi SW-EAE50.

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

Which Thermos 16 oz jar keeps food hot longer?

The Icon. Thermos rates it up to 10 hours hot, versus 7 for the FUNtainer.

Does the Icon food jar come with a spoon?

Thermos doesn’t list a spoon for the Icon. The FUNtainer includes a folding spoon.

Are both dishwasher safe?

Yes, top rack only, according to Thermos.

Is the Icon part of the Stainless King recall?

No. The April 2026 recall covers certain Stainless King food jars (SK3000, SK3020) and bottles (SK3010), not the Icon line.

Check current listings

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

Related comparisons

• Thermos FUNtainer 10 oz vs 16 oz Food Jar: Which Size?
• Thermos Icon 16 oz vs Zojirushi SW-EAE50: Which Food Jar?
• Zojirushi SW-EAE50 vs Thermos Stainless King 16 oz: Which?
• Thermos FUNtainer 12 oz vs 16 oz Water Bottle: Which Size?

Sources

• Thermos, 16oz FUNtainer Food Jar (official): https://thermos.com/products/funtainer-r-stainless-steel-food-jar-16oz
• Thermos, 16oz Icon Food Jar (official): https://thermos.com/products/icon-food-jar-16oz
• Thermos, product recalls (official): https://thermos.com/pages/product-recalls
• Thermos Japan: JBR-401 soup jar specs (thermos.jp): https://www.thermos.jp/english/product/detail/jbr-401.html
• Kakaku.com: Thermos JBR-401 review (Japanese): https://review.kakaku.com/review/K0001468229/ReviewCD=1934359/

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