diff --git a/openmc/bounding_box.py b/openmc/bounding_box.py
index e5655cf8cae..6e58ca8ba02 100644
--- a/openmc/bounding_box.py
+++ b/openmc/bounding_box.py
@@ -95,9 +95,23 @@ def __or__(self, other: BoundingBox) -> BoundingBox:
         new |= other
         return new
 
-    def __contains__(self, point):
-        """Check whether or not a point is in the bounding box"""
-        return all(point > self.lower_left) and all(point < self.upper_right)
+    def __contains__(self, other):
+        """Check whether or not a point or another bounding box is in the bounding box.
+
+        For another bounding box to be in the parent it must lie fully inside of it.
+        """
+        # test for a single point
+        if isinstance(other, (tuple, list, np.ndarray)):
+            point = other
+            check_length("Point", point, 3, 3)
+            return all(point > self.lower_left) and all(point < self.upper_right)
+        elif isinstance(other, BoundingBox):
+            return all([p in self for p in [other.lower_left, other.upper_right]])
+        else:
+            raise TypeError(
+                f"Unable to determine if {other} is in the bounding box."
+                f" Expected a tuple or a bounding box, but {type(other)} given"
+            )
 
     @property
     def center(self) -> np.ndarray:
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_bounding_box.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_bounding_box.py
index 89e50427151..57c880092e3 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_bounding_box.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_bounding_box.py
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ def test_bounding_box_input_checking():
 
 
 def test_bounding_box_extents():
-    assert test_bb_1.extent['xy'] == (-10., 1., -20., 2.)
-    assert test_bb_1.extent['xz'] == (-10., 1., -30., 3.)
-    assert test_bb_1.extent['yz'] == (-20., 2., -30., 3.)
+    assert test_bb_1.extent["xy"] == (-10.0, 1.0, -20.0, 2.0)
+    assert test_bb_1.extent["xz"] == (-10.0, 1.0, -30.0, 3.0)
+    assert test_bb_1.extent["yz"] == (-20.0, 2.0, -30.0, 3.0)
 
 
 def test_bounding_box_methods():
@@ -156,3 +156,35 @@ def test_bounding_box_methods():
 
     assert all(test_bb[0] == [-50.1, -50.1, -12.1])
     assert all(test_bb[1] == [50.1, 14.1, 50.1])
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "bb, other, expected",
+    [
+        (test_bb_1, (0, 0, 0), True),
+        (test_bb_2, (3, 3, 3), False),
+        # completely disjoint
+        (test_bb_1, test_bb_2, False),
+        # contained but touching border
+        (test_bb_1, test_bb_3, False),
+        # Fully contained
+        (test_bb_1, openmc.BoundingBox((-9, -19, -29), (0, 0, 0)), True),
+        # intersecting boxes
+        (test_bb_1, openmc.BoundingBox((-9, -19, -29), (1, 2, 5)), False),
+    ],
+)
+def test_bounding_box_contains(bb, other, expected):
+    assert (other in bb) == expected
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "invalid, ex",
+    [
+        ((1, 0), ValueError),
+        ((1, 2, 3, 4), ValueError),
+        ("foo", TypeError),
+    ],
+)
+def test_bounding_box_contains_checking(invalid, ex):
+    with pytest.raises(ex):
+        invalid in test_bb_1