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Picnic season is upon us, and whether you’re in your backyard, at a nearby park, or on a camping trip, there’s always a place to have a picnic. While your first thought might be to pack picnic ingredients, you’ll also need a basket to store snacks and a picnic blanket. The best picnic basket should be cute, rustic, and practical all at once. Choose a basket that’s roomy enough to hold all the essentials, but not so big that it’s awkward to carry.
The experts at KitchenAid’s KitchenAid Lab and the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Innovation Lab looked at the best-selling picnic baskets and tested six models to help you find the right one for your next outdoor summer party.
When testing the best picnic baskets, our experts evaluated the material, durability, ease of use and, of course, the appearance of each product. Picnic baskets can be surprisingly expensive, so we made sure there was a choice for every budget.
Now that you’ve checked out our top picks for picnic baskets, keep reading to learn more about how to choose the best picnic basket. Once you’ve found the right picnic basket for you, check out our guide to healthy beach snacks for more tips on how to take a picnic basket to the beach.
This traditional picnic basket from Picnic Time is the epitome of rustic style. It has a classic shape, and the blue-and-white striped lining gives it a classy look, although the cotton/polyester lining isn’t lined or padded. But our experts say there’s enough room inside to fit a cooler, a bottle of wine, and a few non-perishables. We also like that the lining is removable for easy cleaning if you spill any jelly or juice.
The wooden lid will provide you with cover on your way to the picnic area, and you can even use it as a makeshift table to set out your wine glasses. However, we found that the edges of the lids easily break or chip. A Velcro strap allows you to secure the cover or remove it completely. Whether you want to remove the lid to display your packed items or use the basket as a home decoration, this picnic basket offers versatility that adds to its overall value.
Dimensions: 17.5″ x 13″ x 0.6″ | Materials: Willow, wooden top, cotton/polyester lining | Weight: Not specified
Picnic baskets can be expensive, but this collapsible picnic basket costs less than $25 and is fully functional, making it a great option for sandwiches. It’s an Amazon Choice product with a 4.7-star rating based on more than 2,900 reviews, some of which praise it for being “great value for money” and “a large basket with more than enough space.” Medium and large sizes are available, as well as 10 colors and patterns, from striped to cherry.
We love its large capacity and insulated foil lining that keeps perishables cool and cooked meals warm. The soft-touch handle makes it comfortable to hold, and it can be folded up for storage when not in use. The brand claims the basket is lined to keep out leaves, but some Amazon users have still experienced leaks.
If you’re looking for a bag that’s comfortable to carry (pun intended), then you’ll want to check out this stylish canvas bag. It has a durable woven bottom that holds its shape even when placed on the ground. The interior of the basket is roomy enough to hold all your favorite snacks and drinks. The brand even claims there’s room for a blanket! We love that it comes with two wine glasses, a plate, fork, knife, and spoon, making it perfect for a date in the park. While there’s no insulation inside, you can put a separate insulated bag inside. For an extra fee, you can have it monogrammed and gifted as a gift.
While it’s not the most stylish backpack on the market, the insulation may be worth the tradeoff. With two double-walled insulated compartments, you can keep a full pot warm on the bottom and cold food on top. Who says picnics are just sandwiches and delis? We also like that it comes with a trivet for resting oven mitts or hot dishes. There’s also a zippered pocket on top for storing cutlery and napkins.
This food holder is extremely versatile and practical. You can even fold the top compartment to hold smaller items, like a dozen cupcakes for a birthday party, or you can keep both compartments completely organized.
Lady Whistledown invites you to a luxurious picnic filled with pastries, custard, jellies and more. While this picnic basket for two doesn’t include any real food, it does have almost everything you need to throw a truly royal picnic.
The interior is made of a beautiful floral fabric, which is also used for the napkins, cooler bag, and blanket tied at the side. We especially like the sturdy acacia cheese board and the gorgeous decoration along the edge of the plate. The ends of the cutlery also have a vintage sheen, and we really like that the set includes a cheese knife. However, our expert also noted that the knife is a little thin and top-heavy.
The most expensive picnic basket on our list costs just under $350. Even though it comes with a lot of picnic supplies and a padded interior with straps to keep everything secure, it’s still not the most budget-friendly. If you’re willing to splurge, this is the picnic basket for you.
Dimensions: 19″ x 13″ x 17″ | Materials: Willow, synthetic straps, polycotton lining | Weight: 6.5 lbs
Whether you’re heading out on a solo picnic or a date, a small basket like this one will suit your needs. No more carrying around a basket that’s bigger than you need. The interior is lined for extra protection, and we love the stylish look of the striped lining that ties at the top. The thick navy straps are comfortable to carry over your shoulder or in your hand, and contrast beautifully with the lighter sea grass weave.
The downside is that there is only one small interior pocket for your phone or keys. Everything else will have to go in the main compartment, which can make organizing your things difficult. But the big plus of this Parisian-style basket is that it can easily be used as a beach bag or even as an everyday bag in the summer.
Planning a day hike with a lunch break at the summit? The Picnic Daypack will make it easy to carry food and drinks during your hike. The exterior is available in beige or gray, and both options have a durable polyurethane bottom that provides stability even when placed on the ground. The insulated lining is water-resistant. We like the roll-top design, which expands to hold more snacks, and the magnetic clasp makes it easy to open and close. The front pocket can store the included stainless steel cutlery and two plates made from recycled plant fibers. The two glass water bottles with bamboo lids are beautiful and can be used separately from the backpack at any time. Our testers found the backpack comfortable to hold and easy to adjust. However, the clasp is a little difficult to open and close again.
This versatile picnic set (minus the food, of course) is a fantastic value. The handmade baskets are filled with stainless steel cutlery, forks and spoons, as well as wine glasses, plates and striped napkins that match the pattern of the interior. We love that the 7-inch plate is made of durable melamine, which won’t break easily. We also like that the main compartment is insulated.
Five-star reviews say the basket is beautiful and practical, and the plates are the right size. “The basket feels sturdy and can easily support a fair amount of weight,” said one satisfied customer, while another noted that the included blanket felt more like a tarp.
This large picnic basket has a sophisticated look and would make an elegant wedding gift for your engaged couple. You can also gift it to your partner for your wedding anniversary! The set includes cutlery for four, including reusable cups and plates, stainless steel cutlery, and even a bottle opener and wooden cutting board. According to SunnyLife, we love the fact that these plates and cups are made from renewable materials.
Shoppers are very pleased with this stylish and well-made basket. One customer who gave it five stars even commented, “It was the right size and had all the cutlery and crockery we needed. I was looking for a picnic basket that fits and this one did.” Another shopper even wished the basket had a shoulder strap so they could sling it over their shoulder when their arms were full.
Dimensions: 18.9″ x 11.8″ x 11″ | Materials: Willow, PLA, Cotton, Aluminum, Foam, Metal, Wood | Weight: Not Specified
This basket is covered in a beautiful honeycomb fabric that highlights the black woven frame, while the gold accents on the straps and buckle are the icing on the cake. The matching gold-plated cutlery added to the luxurious feel, although we found that they scratched easily. Additionally, you’ll find four ceramic plates and a bottle opener. Four wine glasses and napkins were also a nice touch, although we wish they were a little more durable. The insulation can hold a bottle of wine, as well as many other perishable items, while keeping them cool. It’s important to note that this is the heaviest basket we recommend, and it doesn’t come with shoulder straps.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts test everything from kids’ lunch boxes to food storage containers. After reviewing the top performers, the experts at the Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab selected six picnic baskets to evaluate. We carefully examined the materials and dimensions, and tested the durability of the cutlery and kitchen utensils they contained. For ease of use, we opened and closed the baskets and loaded them with accessories to get a feel for how comfortable each basket was to carry. We also studied online reviews and combined them with our experience evaluating other styles to round out our list.
✔️ Material: When you think of picnic baskets, the first thing that comes to mind is wicker and willow, but we also offer baskets made of other materials. Wicker baskets will give you a traditional look, and these baskets usually have a cotton or polyester lining. However, there are other types of baskets whose outer layers are made of polyester or canvas, which provides better insulation. Some baskets also have faux leather details on the buckles and straps.
✔️ STYLE: Traditional baskets usually have one or two large compartments with a curved handle on top. They are cute, but can be awkward to carry over long distances. You can also find picnic basket backpacks, tote bags, and other bags with zippers that can be more convenient to carry.
✔️ Functionality: When choosing the best picnic basket for you, be sure to consider other features. For example, some picnic baskets have an insulated lining that helps keep perishable foods at the ideal temperature. Other picnic basket models may have a buckle or lock on the top, or a zipper or magnetic closure. Interior pockets and zippered compartments also help keep things organized.
✔️ Accessories: Some baskets come with accessories, which is a nice touch but can drive up the price. The baskets we offer come in sets of two or four. In addition to plates, cutlery, and wine glasses, some picnic baskets come with cheese boards, bottle openers, napkins, and blankets.
Of course, it’s food! But you’ll want to be careful about how much you can fit in your basket. “I recommend packing lighter items in your picnic basket so it’s not too heavy,” says Eva Blair, an analyst at Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab Reviews. Consider packing wine in a thermos, which will keep it warm without the need for a bulky glass bottle. “Put prepared foods in lightweight containers so you don’t have to cook anything else when you go on your picnic,” says Blair. You can also bring a trash bag so you don’t have to pack used items.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the updates editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Previously, she was an editorial assistant at Woman’s Day, where she worked on everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact-checking business articles, and holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Italian from Connecticut College.
Eva (she/her) is a review analyst at the Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen appliances, home appliances, and culinary innovations. She graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Science in Food Studies, Nutrition, and Public Health, and completed her chef training at the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has over 10 years of experience in the food industry, including working as a food stylist, private chef, and marketing manager.
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