10 best picnic baskets to buy in 2025
We've rounded up all the most convenient and stylish baskets and bags to carry your picnic essentials on your next family outing.
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Picnics are a great excuse to eat delicious food out in the sunshine, catch up with family and friends in a casual setting and let the kids run around without worrying about accidental spills and dropping food.
To help you pack for your picnic, we’ve rounded up the best picnic baskets, bags and sets to keep all your food, cutlery and essentials organised.
One of our favourites is the Sunnylife Le Weekend Picnic Basket with a classic design and modern perks like insulation and renewable plastic cutlery. Another top pick is the Alfresco from MyPlaza Picnic Basket with all the essentials you need to feed everyone in group packed and ready to go.
Scroll down to find the perfect picnic baskets for your next outing.
OUR TOP PICKS
Best picnic baskets
Sunnylife Le Weekend Picnic Basket, $249.99 at Sunnylife
Sunnylife Le Weekend Picnic Basket
What You Need To Know
Perfect for the beach, park or in the backyard, this lightweight and waterproof two-person picnic basket set from Sunnylife ticks all the boxes, boasting a 4.9-star rating online.
Described as "chic and functional", it comes with dishwasher safe cutlery and crockery made from renewable plastic that straps into the lid. This leaves plenty of space to pack your food in the main pocket or inside the insulated compartment.
Its simple and stylish jacquard woven strap is also a nice touch that we adore.
Alfresco from MyPlaza 6-Person Picnic Basket, $89.95 at Amazon Australia
Alfresco from MyPlaza 6-Person Picnic Basket
What You Need To Know
If you’re looking for a bigger picnic basket that can serve a group of people, we recommend this Alfresco from MyPlaza basket. Not only do we love the faux leather straps and accents and blue cotton interior, but we love how functional it is.
There’s a built-in thermally-insulated cooler bag to keep your drinks cold, a stainless steel shaker set, cheeseboard, corkscrew and a comfy blanket. You also get all the cutlery, plates and cups you need for six people.
One five-star review says it's an “Absolutely beautiful basket", adding they "love the cold zone zip bag inside, great for entertaining with the six person set.”
Another shopper says "We absolutely love the picnic basket. Everything is there ready to go! Love the insulated bag. Good quality cutlery and plates, mat is great and looks smart too."
Best picnic backpacks
Hap Tim Waterproof Picnic Backpack, $99.99 (down from $159.99) at Amazon Australia
Hap Tim Waterproof Picnic Backpack
What You Need To Know
This Hap Tim waterproof picnic backpack will keep your hands free and carry all of your picnic needs comfortably on your back.
There’s a cutlery set for four people, a cooler compartment to keep your food fresh, a detachable bottle holder and a water resistant fleece blanket. You can also adjust the shoulder straps for a better fit or use its padded carry handle.
With nearly 1900 five-star reviews on Amazon, one customer described it as being “compact with all the features I want.”
Another says "it’s the perfect size", adding you can "easily carry on your back if your [sic] walking to picnic spot" and it "fits good amount of food in it."
For those looking for a smaller backpack, Hap Tim also offers one designed for two people and in six different colours.
Wanderer Chambray Picnic Backpack, $89.99 at BCF
Wanderer Chambray Picnic Backpack
What You Need To Know
With its large 21L capacity, this Wanderer Chambray Picnic Backpack from BCF is a great option not just for picnics, but for any outdoor adventure.
Included are all the necessities for feeding four people and plenty of space to pack your snacks along with a removable drink bottle holder and a small zipper pocket on the front for added storage. You will also benefit from the adjustable padded shoulder straps on longer treks.
Several buyers rave about their backpack, with one saying they're "Very happy with this product", adding it's "easy to carry" and has "lots of space to add to the bag."
Another speaks highly of the "Quality plates, glasses & cutlery in [this] cute backpack" while a third says this "Great compact little backpack" is "essential for camping and picnics."
Best insulated picnic baskets
Bambury Sadie Large Cooler Bag, $46.95 (down from $69.95) at Kitchen Warehouse
Bambury Sadie Large Cooler Bag
What You Need To Know
You can now pack all your food for summer without the worry of it warming up inside this Bambury Sadie Cooler Bag. Designed in Western Australia with a 12 month warranty, you know it can withstand the heat.
Inside is a waterproof lined insulated compartment with a reinforced base to ensure it supports the heavier supplies. The outside is covered with a water resistant canvas material with a small zippered pocket on the front for some smaller essentials.
You'll also love its bright orange floral pattern, which will be a stand out at your next gathering.
Maxwell & Williams Lou Martin Uplift Insulated Picnic Carry Basket, $79.95 at Myer
Maxwell & Williams Lou Martin Uplift Insulated Picnic Carry Basket
What You Need To Know
Built for both hot and cold meals, this Maxwell & Williams insulated basket has a striking pink design with Indigenous Australian patterns created by artist Lou Martin.
It is an extremely functional basket, holding up to 15kg and easily carried with its aluminium handle. It's also a favourite among shoppers, with a 5-star rating.
One buyer made use of there's on a recent trip, describing it as "A lovely sized picnic basket for a day at the beach."
Best wicker picnic baskets
Rurality Wicker Picnic Basket, $119.58 at Amazon Australia
Rurality Wicker Picnic Basket
What You Need To Know
If style is more your thing, this full wicker picnic basket couldn’t get any more classic.
Averaging 4.7 out of five stars, the Rurality Wicker Picnic Basket looks just like a traditional picnic basket with a simple gingham lining.
It’s a convenient design, with two separate lids to reveal all your picnic food and essentials and foldable handles for easy packing in your car.
With close to 900 ratings, this is a basket that is a fan favourite. From comments like “This is the perfect size for a family picnic, nice and sturdy” to “Looks JUST like the photo, great basket on a budget!”, we can tell this is one purchase you won’t regret.
Wanderer Wicker Picnic Basket, $99.99 (down from $149.99) at BCF
What You Need To Know
This 4-person wicker basket set is the ideal combination of compact functionally and classic design. Not only do you get to enjoy the simplicity of the wicker basket, but you'll also have everything at your fingertips with a complete set included.
Inside is an aluminium foil lining that doubles as a cooler to keep your food fresh before serving. On the inside of the two lids are straps for glasses and plates and a fabric cutlery organiser is also included - it couldn't get easier.
Along with its 4.6-star rating, many shoppers can't get enough of this "Stylish hamper with everything you need."
"This is a fantastic Basket. Comfortable to carry and great value" raves one buyer.
Another says it's "Great for outdoor, picnics, beach or whatever you feel like. If you are one of those romantic guys, grab your other half and enjoy."
Best picnic sets
Gourmet Basket Alfresco Picnic Basket, $104.95 at Gourmet Basket
Gourmet Basket Alfresco Picnic Basket
What You Need To Know
This luxurious 12-piece insulated picnic basket comes with everything need for a classy outdoor meal with cutlery and plates to serve four.
What makes this a standout is the wooden serving board. This acts not only to serve your snacks, as but a lid for the basket and as a table, with four pre-cut wine glass holders.
Gourmet Basket provides free standard shipping and offers options to add some ready-to-enjoy inclusions to the basket, like wine and lollies.
Sunnylife Large Picnic Cooler Basket, $129.99 (down from $279.99) at Sunnylife
Sunnylife Large Picnic Cooler Basket
What You Need To Know
Designed with a "retro silhouette", the Sunnylife Picnic Cooler Basket is ready for an old-school family picnic. Feeding a family of four, each piece of cutlery is self secured in the basket while the plates are strapped onto the lid for a safer journey and without the risk of breaking.
On the left of the basket in an insulated zip closure compartment while the right has room for storing cutlery and all your food for the day ahead.
All pieces of cutlery are dishwasher safe and the plates and cups are made from renewable plastic.
This basket also has a 4.9-star rating, with one shopper saying "Aesthetically it’s fantastic and it’s very good quality."
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A PICNIC BASKET
Size: There are picnic baskets designed for single person use and for big family picnics. Make sure the basket you buy will be able to fit everything you need, like plates, cutlery and glassware for the amount of people eating.
Materials: The are many types of material used to make picnic baskets - from the classic wicker to canvas and polyester. Each type has their own benefits and downfalls. Consider the pros and cons of each and what will serve you best.
Style: Away from the traditional wicker picnic basket, you can also buy baskets with multiple pockets and compartments, insulation and different handles. Choose one that will suit your needs the most and will be the easiest for you to take on your next adventure.
Accessories: Instead of packing it all yourself, many picnic baskets now come as sets with all the essentials included. Some also come with a few added bonuses like bottle openers, cheese boards, picnic blankets and salt and pepper shakers. These inclusions can add to the price, so consider exactly what you need and if it's worth spending more for.
HOW WE CHOOSE OUR PRODUCTS
We read thousands of reviews and articles to find the best products to include in our roundups. When looking for picnic baskets, we considered their size, materials, how easy they are to carry and pack, if they can keep your food cold and what accessories are included.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT SHOULD I PACK FOR A PICNIC?
The most important thing you need at a picnic is food. It's best to pack food that won't need refrigeration. A mix of sweet and savoury snacks will cover everyone's tastes, so grab a few bags of lollies and chips and you should be covered. For lunch, a few sandwiches should do the job.
You can't forget about the drinks. If your picnic set comes with wine glasses or cups, a few bottles of water, fizzy drink, juice and (for the grown ups) wine will be enjoyed. Otherwise, packs some cans or juice poppers for the kids.
You'll need some basic eating essentials if they're not already included in your set. Some of the most handy include paper or plastic plates, cutlery, cups and glasses, a cheese board for serving and a few napkins.
For a bit more class, you can also pack a bottle opener, salt and pepper shakers and crockery for tea and coffee. On warmer days, bring along a freezer pack or some insulated containers to keep the contents cool.
Outside of the basket, remember to take along some games for the kids to play, some sunscreen, bug repellent, a cooler or esky, a picnic blanket and chairs.
HOW DO I KEEP FOOD COLD OR HOT IN A PICNIC BASKET?
The easiest way to keep your food at the right temperature is investing in an insulated picnic basket. You can also pack some freezer packs to keep your food cooler for longer. Insulated and thermal containers are also a good option, with many promising to retain their temperatures for hours.
HOW BIG SHOULD A PICNIC BASKET BE?
This is all dependant on how many people will be at the picnic and how much food you want to eat. Some picnic baskets are designed for one person, while others can be as large as serving eight people.
If you're unsure, looking into picnic hampers. These take out the guesswork and supply enough food and utensils needed for a set amount of people.
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