10 Vintage Lunch Boxes Worth Way More Than You'd Expect

These days, many people are peddling vintage items — from clothing to furniture to toys — to earn extra income . It can be a lucrative endeavor if you happen to own or get your hands on some valuable collectibles. Even your old lunch box may be worth a pretty penny.

You may be surprised how much vintage lunch boxes can go for on resale sites like eBay (think upward of $1,000). Below are 10 of the most valuable we’ve found.

1. 1983 Rainbow Brite

Courtesy of eBay/Lecia Joy's Collectibles

It’s not quite as vintage (or as rare) as some of the other lunch boxes on this list (and it’s plastic rather than metal), but you could still nab quite a bit for a “Rainbow Brite” lunch box from the early ‘80s.

There are currently a few options for purchasing the colorful lunch box and thermos featuring the characters from the classic ‘80s TV show on eBay, with asking prices up to $95 for good condition.

2. 1954 Howdy Doody

Courtesy of eBay/cival_us2014

Some fans of the classic “Howdy Doody” TV show are willing to shell out some serious cash for a lunch box from 1954 when the children’s show was in its heyday.

Asking prices for the lunch box in solid condition range from around $150 to more than $300 on eBay.

3. 1954 Mickey Mouse

Courtesy of eBay/bar.star

Disney collectors are willing to shell out some serious dough for vintage lunch boxes, including a 1954 edition featuring Mickey and friends. The pricing for the lunch box on eBay seems to average around $100, but one never-been-used option in pristine condition is listed for $275.

Enjoying our content? Click the Follow button above to see more from us.

4. 1965 The Beatles

Courtesy of eBay/ONCE UPON NANA'S TREASURES

Shortly after the so-called British Invasion in the U.S., a fantastic, bright blue Beatles lunch box was released in 1965. The lunch box features cartoon versions of the Fab Four performing and even includes their signatures on top near the handle.

The going rate on eBay seems to be around $500 — and some of the listings include the original thermos that came with the box as well.

5. 1965 The Munsters

Courtesy of eBay/C-Team Collectibles

A rare vintage lunch box featuring the characters from “The Munsters” TV show, along with an accompanying thermos, could also net you some serious cash on the resale market.

Even in less-than-mint condition, these classic lunch boxes are listed for a few hundred dollars on eBay. In good condition, eBay sellers are asking for nearly $600.

6. 1968 Star Trek Dome

Courtesy of eBay/randywadehall

Like many fandoms, Trekkies have been known to shell out the big bucks for Star Trek memorabilia. If you happen to have the Star Trek Dome lunch box that was released in 1968, it could be worth well over $1,000.

There are several of the lunch boxes listed on eBay for hundreds of dollars — and one in solid condition, with the original accompanying thermos, for just over $1,000.

7. 1954 Superman

Courtesy of eBay/all*that*glitters*is*old

A hot item for vintage comic collectors, a 1954 Superman lunch box in decent condition could net you over $1,000 on eBay. You may be able to net even more if the lunch box is in good condition and comes with the original thermos.

One ambitious eBay seller is even asking $2,200 for the lunch box alone (sans thermos).

8. 1963 The Jetsons

Courtesy of eBay/all*that*glitters*is*old

It might be shocking to find out just how much people are willing to pay for a vintage “Jetsons” lunch box from the early ‘60s. The 1963 collector’s item appears to be pretty rare — each listing on eBay for the product is well over $1,000.

A product in excellent condition with an accompanying thermos is listed for more than $3,000 on eBay.

9. André 3000 ‘Class of 3000’

Courtesy of eBay/mirandamadness0

Another gem that could net any seller several thousand is the André 3000 “Class of 3000” lunch box. The lunch box, featuring characters from the Cartoon Network show co-created by the Outkast singer, is a rarity that fans and collectors will be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

It’s currently listed for $5,000 on eBay.

Make Money: Discover 17 legit ways to make extra cash

10. 1950s Toppie

Courtesy of eBay/pastorthad4frw

The Toppie metal lunch box, given out as a prize by Kroger in the 1950s, is one of the rarest lunch boxes — and highly sought after by collectors. If you happen to have one, you may be able to resell it for a not-so-small fortune.

The only one even listed on eBay currently is part of a collection (of 600+ collectible lunch boxes) with an asking price of $1.7 million.

Bottom line

Selling collectors’ items online is a great way to make extra cash — particularly if you have some just lying around your house. Baseball cards, coins, and even vintage bakeware can net you some serious cash online if you can find the right collector to sell to.

Before you get rid of your old toys or kitchen appliances in a garage sale, consider looking some of those items up on eBay to see if you could net more on the resale market.

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).