Lego sets aren’t just for kids–and they certainly don’t come at kid prices. I’ve gazed longingly at the “Death Star” and “Imperial Shuttle” kits, the “Mindstorms NXT 2.0,” the adorable “Hogwarts Castle,” and even “The Black Pearl.” But for the combined price of those sets, you could make a mortgage payment.
In fact, every time my husband and I see a Lego display, we comment on how they’re so cool, but so darn expensive. And everyone we knew had piles of them when we were kids–it doesn’t seem like our parents would have bought them at these crazy prices! I decided to compare the inflation-adjusted prices of Lego sets over the years to see how big the difference was.
As it turns out, after going up in the 70’s and 80’s, the average price per brick has actually been trending down. I sampled the prices of sets through the years as listed on brickset.com from across themes and set sizes. To try to make it an apples-to-apples comparison, I excluded minifigs by themselves, accessories, promotional items, games, or anything that required batteries, as well as Mindstorms, Duplo, and non-brick items. Here’s how the data graphs:
One factor that is not accounted for here, which is harder to track, is price/weight. Many people believe (and have observed in their own purchases) that price-by-weight is more consistent than price/brick (i.e., is that a set with 10 2×4 bricks or 10 4×6 bricks?). Prices in any given year are also subject to the changes in oil prices, which may be the biggest factor influencing brick price in the coming years…
I have two theories about the cause of the apparent-but-imagined price increases (feel free to chime in with your ideas in the comments). Initially, I thought that licensing costs for names like Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean were driving the prices up–but the licensed sets don’t seem to be any more expensive per brick than other sets. This lead me to my first theory–that these sets seem more expensive because they contain a lot more bricks than sets did when I was a kid. For example, the $399.99 “Super Star Destroyer” contains 3,152 pieces! In comparison, 1975’s “London Bus” had 110 pieces and sold for $49–after adjusting for inflation, that is an appalling $1.87/brick!
My second theory is that, in my childhood memories, I am actually recalling the products of Lego competitors. We had both Lego and non-Lego brand bricks in our house. (Woe be to the kid who tried to stick the two types together: they never come apart.) One of my favorite sets was the Papa Smurf Loc Blocs set (even if one forum poster I came across calls Loc Blocks, “Legos for kids whose parents hated them.”).
On the up side, the bricks are nearly indestructible (as opposed to your feet, should you step on a stray brick in the dark). This means that the old Lego box languishing in your parents’ garage is just waiting to find a new home in your kid’s room, with 100% of the joy that you had the first time around, for absolutely free.
For tons more Lego brick price data, read more below.
Price data
The following tables sample across the price ranges for specific themed sets, based on the data available at brickset.com
Average price/piece: $0.143
| Name| Year| Price| Pieces| Minifigs| Inflation adjusted price| Price/piece
| Droid Fighter (Ep I) | 1999 | $6.00 | 62 | 0 | $8.15 | $0.13
| Snowspeeder (Ep IV-VI) | 1999 | $20.00 | 215 | 3 | $27.18 | $0.13
| X-Wing Fighter (IV-VI) | 1999 | $30.00 | 266 | 4 | $40.77 | $0.15
| X-Wing Fighter (re-release oromff 1999) | 2002 | $30.00 | 267 | 4 | $37.76 | $0.14
| Mos Espa Podrace (Ep I) | 1999 | $90.00 | 896 | 7 | $122.32 | $0.14
| Naboo Starfighter | 2011 | $49.99 | 318 | 6 | $49.99 | $0.16
| Hoth Echo Base | 2011 | $89.99 | 773 | 8 | $89.99 | $0.12
| Genosian Starfighter | 2011 | $29.99 | 155 | 3 | $29.99 | $0.19
| Super Star Destroyer | 2011 | $399.99 | 3152 | 5 | $399.99 | $0.13
Average price/piece: $0.183
| Name| Year| Price| Pieces| Minifigs| Inflation adjusted price| Price/piece
| Escape from the Dragon’s Prison | 2011 | $19.99 | 185 | 4 | $19.99 | $0.11
| King’s Castle | 2011 | $99.99 | 933 | 8 | $99.99 | $0.11
| Prison Carriage Rescue | 2011 | $9.99 | 50 | 3 | $9.99 | $0.20
| Wizard | 2011 | $3.99 | 19 | 1 | $3.99 | $0.21
| Magic Shop | 1993 | $4.50 | 47 | 1 | $7.05 | $0.15
| Medieval Knights | 1993 | $6.75 | 41 | 4 | $10.58 | $0.26
| Black Knight’s Castle | 1992 | $85.00 | 588 | 12 | $137.18 | $0.23
| Knight’s Joust | 1981 | $16.00 | 211 | 6 | $39.85 | $0.19
Average price/piece: $0.156
| Name| Year| Price| Pieces| Minifigs| Inflation adjusted price| Price/piece
| Pet Shop | 2011 | $149.99 | 2032 | 4 | $149.99 | $0.07
| City Airport (re-release of Century Skyway) | 2004 | $90.00 | 928 | 12 | $107.88 | $0.12
| Century Skyway | 1994 | $109.00 | 894 | 12 | $166.53 | $0.19
| Mobile Outpost | 2000 | $30.00 | 218 | 2 | $39.45 | $0.18
| Jet Airliner | 1985 | $12.75 | 136 | 2 | $26.83 | $0.20
| Delivery Center | 1985 | $25.50 | 305 | 4 | $53.66 | $0.18
Average price/piece: $0.176
| Name| Year| Price| Pieces| Minifigs| Inflation adjusted price| Price/piece
| Alien Striker | 2011 | $4.99 | 42 | 2 | $4.99 | $0.12
| Mini-Robot 2008 | $3.49 | 24 | 2 | $3.67 | $0.15
| Alien Fossilizer | 1996 | $6.00 | 53 | 1 | $8.66 | $0.16
| Cosmic Cruiser | 1982 | $11.00 | 115 | 1 | $25.81 | $0.22
| Space Cruiser | 1978 | $10.00 | 170 | 2 | $34.73 | $0.20
| Surface Explorer | 1982 | $7.50 | 82 | 1 | $17.60 | $0.21
Pricier sets overall
The sets in the following table are the most expensive sets published in a given year, every five years, until the earlier years, at which point I found less price data was available. Some years may have had more expensive sets, but this is based on the data available at brickset.com. Price/piece does not include minifigs, but the included minifig count is noted.
| Name| Year| Price| Pieces| Minifigs| Inflation adjusted price| Price/piece
| Super Star Destroyer | 2011 | $399.99 | 3152 | 5 | $399.99 | $0.13
| Mercedes Benz Unimog U 400 | 2011 | $199.99 | 2048 | 0 | $199.99 | $0.10
| Robie House | 2011 | $199.99 | 2276 | 0 | $199.99 | $0.09
| Cargo Train Deluxe | 2006 | $149.99 | 856 | 5 | $168.48 | $0.20
| Ferrari F1 Racer | 2006 | $139.99 | 1246 | 0 | $157.23 | $0.13
| Tow Truck | 2006 | $119.99 | 1877 | 0 | $134.76 | $0.07
| Rebel Blockade Runner | 2001 | $200.00 | 1747 | 0 | $255.70 | $0.15
| Darth Maul | 2001 | $150.00 | 1868 | 0 | $191.77 | $0.10
| Metroliner (rerelease) | 2001 | $149.00 | 782 | 11 $190.50 | $0.24
| Space Shuttle | 1996 | $158.00 | 1368 | 0 | $228.01 | $0.17
| Freight and Crane Railway | 1996 | $140.00 | 914 | 3 | $202.03 | $0.22
| Giant Truck | 1996 | $139.00 | 1757 | 0 | $200.59 | $0.11
| Metroliner | 1991 | $149.00 | 784 | 11 | $247.70 | $0.32
| Rock Island Refuge | 1991 | $66.00 | 381 | 7 | $109.72 | $0.29
| Intercoastal Seaport | 1991 | $63.75 | 545 | 5 | $105.98 | $0.19
| Black Falcon’s Fortress | 1986 | $35.00 | 430 | 6 | $72.31 | $0.17
| Flour Mill and Shop | 1986 | $26.75 | 73 | 2 | $55.26 | $0.76
| Riding Stable | 1986 | $26.00 | 275 | 2 | $53.71 | $0.20
| Castle | 1981 | $48.00 | 767 | 14 | $119.56 | $0.16
| Basic Building Set, 5+ | 1981 | $38.00 | 384 | 2 | $94.65 | $0.25
| Public Works Center | 1981 | $30.00 | 421 | 4 | $74.73 | $0.18
| Building Set, 6+ | 1977 | $40.00 | 467 | 3 | $149.45 | $0.32
| London Bus | 1975 | $49.00 | 110 | 0 | $206.22 | $1.87
| Basic Set #8 | 1973 | $19.00 | 776 | 0 | $96.89 | $0.12
| Tipper Truck | 1971 | $14.00 | 48 | 0 | $78.27 | $1.63
Inexpensive sets
The sets in the following table are the least expensive sets published in a given year, every five years, until the earlier years, at which point I found less price data was available. Some years may have had less expensive sets, but this is based on the data available at brickset.com. Price/piece does not include minifigs, but the included minifig count is noted.
| Name | Year | Price | Pieces | Minifigs | Inflation adjusted price | Price/piece
| Ninja Training Outpost | 2011 | $4.99 | 45 | 1 | $4.99 | $0.11
| Space Moon Buggy | 2011 | $4.99 | 37 | 1 | $4.99 | $0.13
| Speedboat | 2011 | $4.99 | 34 | 1 | $4.99 | $0.15
| Auto Pod | 2006 | $3.49 | 56 | 0 | $3.92 | $0.07
| Robo Pod | 2006 | $3.49 | 65 | 0 | $4.92 | $0.08
| Airplane Mechanic | 2006 | $3.49 | 26 | 1 | $4.92 | $0.19
| Cameraman | 2001 | $2.00 | 21 | 1 | $2.56 | $0.12
| Director’s Copter | 2001 | $3.00 | 22 | 1 | $3.84 | $0.17
| Camera Car | 2001 | $3.00 | 20 | 1 | $3.84 | $0.19
| Treasure Surprise | 1996 | $2.00 | 22 | 1 | $2.89 | $0.13
| Paravane | 1996 | $2.00 | 16 | 1 | $2.89 | $0.18
| Tidy Treasure | 1996 | $2.00 | 21 | 1 | $2.89 | $0.14
| Renegade’s Raft | 1991 | $3.25 | 38 | 1 | $5.40 | $0.14
| Mud Runner | 1991 | $3.25 | 34 | 1 | $5.40 | $0.16
| Screaming Patriot | 1991 | $6.75 | 65 | 1 | $11.22 | $0.17
| Outdoor Cafe with Bonnie Bunny | 1986 | $2.25 | 6 | 1 | $4.65 | $0.78
| Catherine Cat in her Kitchen | 1986 | $3.35 | 28 | 1 | $6.92 | $0.25
| Patricia Piglet at her Bakery | 1986 | $3.35 | 30 | 1 | $6.92 | $0.23
| Knight’s Procession | 1981 | $5.00 | 48 | 6 | $12.45 | $0.26
| Basic Building Set | 1981 | $9.50 | 141 | 1 | $23.66 | $0.17
| Basic Set | 1981 | $10.00 | 98 | 2 | $24.91 | $0.25
| Stage Coach | 1976 | $5.00 | 95 | 1 | $19.90 | $0.21
| Hospital | 1976 | $15.00 | 202 | 7 | $59.69 | $0.30
| Gravel Works | 1974 | $14.00 | 211 | 0 | $64.30 | $0.30
| Basic Set | 1973 | $16.00 | 415 | 0 | $81.59 | $0.20
| Basic Set | 1973 | $7.00 | 349 | 0 | $35.70 | $0.10
