LEGO is one of the most popular childrens (and adults!) series of toys in recent history. The LEGO company has crafted some of the most creative and recognizable sets, often following popular culture and producing incredible sets from Star Wars, Harry Potter and so many more.
In more recent years, LEGO sets have become highly collectible. Some of these sets sell for an incredible amount and the good news is: their value is rising year on year! Could you be sitting upon a small fortune with the LEGO set up in your attic? Or are you interested in getting your hands on the most valuable LEGO sets of all time?
You have come to the right place! Here, we will list the 10 most valuable LEGO sets of all time along with the average prices they fetch, and a guide on buying and selling valuable LEGO sets.
Round-Up List: Most Valuable Lego Sets
Original LEGO sets and limited editions sets in mint condition can fetch a shockingly high price at auction! Year of production, length of production, rarity, and condition are the key factors affecting the value of LEGO sets today. So what are the most valuable LEGO sets? Here, we will set out the 10 most valuable and rare sets produced so far in value order. Prices are correct as of September 2022, according to Brick Economy, the official LEGO economics site.
1. LEGO Star Wars Cloud City (10123)
Let’s kick off with the most valuable LEGO set today – the Lego Star Wars Cloud City! This set is based on the hometown of notorious Star Wars character Lando Calrissian, from Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. The debut of the Lando Calrissian minifigure and a unique Boba Fett minifigure with armour plating are two of the reasons this set is so valuable. It contains 698 pieces, and 2 other minifigures that are totally exclusive to the Cloud City set. When sold originally in 2003, it was one of the most expensive LEGO sets on release, and is the most valuable LEGO Star Wars set.
Release date:
2003
Minifigures included:
- Darth Vader
- Luke Skywalker
- 1 Stormtrooper
- Boba Fett (Markings)
- Han Solo
- Han Solo (Carbonite)
- Princess Leia
- Lando Calrissian
Retail price (in the US):
$99.99
Value today (new/unopened, approximate USD):
$9300
Find the set for sale here on Brick Link, the number 1 site for buying and selling collectible LEGO sets.
Annual growth:
+18.62%
2. LEGO Castle (375-2)
LEGO Castle, also known as “Yellow Castle”, is one of LEGOs most well-known and instantly recognizable set (at least in the regions it was released in which included Europe, the UK, Australia and Canada). This set contains 767 pieces and a whole handful of minifigures. A variety of minifigures and 3 different sticker sets available to apply to the set make this vintage set the second most valuable on our list today!
The same set was released in the US in 1981 with the series number 6075-2, but is not as valuable today perhaps because it is not considered as the “original”. However, the 6075-2 Lego Castle is still very valuable. It’s currently valued at around $5300! This means it should technically be 8th on our list today, but because it is basically the same set as the 375-2 LEGO Castle, we have included here.
Release date:
1978
Minifigures included:
- The black knights: Knight Black, Knight, Castle Knight Black, Knight Black Cavalry
- The blue knights: Knight Blue Cavalry, Castle Knight Blue, Guard, Knight
- The red knights: Knight Red, Knight Red Cavalry, Castle Knight Red, Knight Red Cavalry
- The white knights: Knight White, Knight White Cavalry
Retail price (in the US):
$49.99
Value today (new/unopened, approximate USD):
$9000
Find the set for sale here on Brick Link, the number 1 site for buying and selling collectible LEGO sets.
Annual growth:
+12.66%
3. LEGO Ole Kirk’s House
This exclusive model does not have a model number because there were only 32 copies made which were given to 32 lucky attendees of the 2009 LEGO Inside Tour. However, it may be given the unique code LIT2009 in some listings. Ole Kirk’s House is based on the actual house of Ole Kirk Kristiansen, the original founder of the LEGO company. There is another exclusive version of this set with the model number 4000007 which was made and given only to LEGO employees as a present in 2012. The original Ole Kirk’s House was hand-numbered, so this is the giveaway when trying to identify an genuine model.
Release date:
2009
Minifigures included:
No minifigures were made for this set.
Retail price (in the US):
N/A
Value today (new/unopened, approximate, USD):
$7700
This model comes up for sale incredibly rarely and is coveted by its owners! But check Brick Link for sets on a regular basis.
Annual growth:
+ 34.30%
4. LEGO Cars (4000000)
Another highly exclusive set comes in at fourth on our most valuable list today. There are only 33 copies of Cars, sometimes simply called the LEGO Inside Tour 2010, which was made for attendees of the 2010 LEGO Inside Tour. Each of the unique sets was given a model number from 1 to 33 (for example, the first set has to model number 4000000-1). The Cars set is incredibly rare and has not been available through auction for over a year at the time of writing.
Release date:
2010
Minifigures included:
No minifigures were made for this set.
Retail price (in the US):
N/A
Value today (new/unopened, approximate, USD):
$6800
This model comes up for sale incredibly rarely and is coveted by its owners! But check Brick Link for sets on a regular basis.
Annual growth:
+ 31.30%
5. LEGO Moulding Machines (4000001)
Another exclusive set, this time made for attendees of the 2011 LEGO Inside Tour. Moulding Machines is less rare compared to the previous 2 sets on our list today because 68 copies were made. This set is hailed particularly for attention to detail and 795 highly intricate parts that require serious accuracy on assembly.
Release date:
2011
Minifigures included:
No minifigures were made for this set.
Retail price (in the US):
N/A
Value today (new/unopened, approximate, USD):
$6400
Check out Brick Link for copies of this set on sale – make sure you keep an eye on it because this set rarely comes up for sale!
Annual growth:
+ 36.2
6. LEGO Star Wars Miniland Figures
Although this set contains 3 figures comprised of multiple smaller bricks, so it is regarded as a set of figures rather than a collection of minifigures. Yet another rare and exclusive set, there are only 125 copies in existence. These were made for attendees of the LEGO Collectors Party in 2011, which was based in New York. Technically, the Star Wars Miniland Figures set was produced as a promotional set which means 2 of the figures are pre-assembled (i.e. glued) – Han Solo and Chewbacca. Boba Fett is the third figure which can be built by the owner of the set using the 140 bricks. Once complete, Boba can be set up next to the pre-assembled characters for display!
Release date:
2011
Minifigures included:
No minifigures were made for this set. But 3 figures can be built from individual bricks:
- Han Solo
- Chewbacca
- Boba Fett
Retail price (in the US):
N/A
Value today (new/unopened, approximate, USD):
$5900
Check Brick Link for this set – it rarely comes up for sale and therefore the information for this listing is incomplete.
Annual growth:
+ 16.63%
7. LEGO Trains Steam Engine with Tender (7750)
The second vehicle build on our list today, the LEGO Trains Steam Engine with Tender is a classic build with a smart black engine and carriage and complementary red wheels. In fact, this is the only LEGO train model with red wheels which is part of the reason for it being the most expensive LEGO train set today. This set comes equipped with working lights and a 12v motor and is hailed for its realistic look and large size.
Release date:
1980
Minifigures included:
- Construction Worker
- Male With Buttoned Shirt
Retail price (in the US):
$75
Value today (new/unopened, approximate, USD):
$5500
Check out Brick Link to see if there are any of these sets for sale currently. This listing comes up at auction a little more often than our previous entries on the list!
Annual growth:
+10.88%
8. LEGO Piper Airplane (4000012)
Yep, you guessed it, another exclusive set made just for the attendees of the 2012 LEGO Inside Tour. The Piper Airplane was made in only 53 copies, making it another super rare find. The model is based on the first ever airplane bought by the LEGO company in 1962 for the purpose of business expansion and international travel. The set includes both a bright red plane and a control tower. These components may look simple but are highly desired by collectors for a truly “complete” LEGO collection.
Release date:
2012
Minifigures included:
No minifigures were made for this set.
Retail price (in the US):
N/A
Value today (new/unopened, approximate, USD):
$5100
Keep your eyes peeled for sales of this exclusive set on Brick Link! At the time of writing there was 1 set for sale.
Annual growth:
+35.40%
9. LEGO Black Knight’s Castle (6086)
The second castle set on our list today, the LEGO Black Knight’s Castle comprises 588 pieces which combine to form an impressive castle, 4 horse figures and 12 whole minifigures. Some go as far as to say it is the best castle set ever release by LEGO! This is thanks to the varied minifigures, raisable drawbridge, and key details like a portcullis and archer towers. The Black Knight’s Castle has high playability and is well-loved by all its owners. 8 of the minifigures were made exclusively as part of this castle set, adding to its value.
Release date:
1992
Minifigures included:
- Knights: Armoured Knight with Breastplate x 2 (different designs), Blue Knight with Breastplate, Red Knight with Breastplate,
- Guards: Scale Mail Guard x 5 (all different designs)
- Others: Ghost, Wolfpack 1
Retail price (in the US):
$84.99
Value today (new/unopened, approximate, USD):
$5000
Find this set on Brick Link, maybe somebody is selling it near you!
Annual growth:
+13.76%
10. LEGO Command Center (926/493)
The same version of this set was sold in the US with the model number 493 and elsewhere with the model number 926. One of the more vintage sets on our list today, the LEGO Command Center (called the Command Centre in Europe) comprises 173 pieces and 4 minifigures which are all exclusive to this particular set. The first appearance of the crater baseplate, swivel chairs, and a control centre full of cool-looking tech makes this set notable and valuable.
Release date:
1979
Minifigures included:
- Astronaut Red
- Astronaut White
- Red Classic Spaceman
- Space Astronaut White
Retail price (in the US):
$24.99
Value today (new/unopened, approximate, USD):
$5000
Try to find this set on Brick Link today!
Annual growth:
+13.15%
LEGO Sets: Price Guide
There are several factors that will influence the value of a LEGO set that need to be taken into account when buying or selling. LEGO sets are considered to be a good investment on the whole, so checking their value and making sure their value is increasing over time is a great idea. Once you have worked out which set you have along with the model number, you can start to valuate your LEGO set.
1. Completeness
First, a complete set will fetch the best price – this means a set containing all the original parts and included minifigures. It is rare to find a LEGO set on auction which has all its original bricks.
2. Condition
Next, the condition of the set is very important. Sets in new, or even better unopened condition have the highest value. Sets in their original boxes which have not been removed and built before will reach top prices.
3. Rarity
Searching for the model number on trustworthy sites such as Brick Economy is a great way to find out how rare your set it. A low number of copies makes a set rare, so try to find out how many sets were made. The more rare a set, the higher the price.
4. Market Price
Search for your LEGO set on popular online marketplaces including Brick Link and eBay. Try to find a set in the same condition and with the same kind of completeness as your set. This will help you gauge the supply and demand for your particular set, and evaluate how much it is currently worth. Low supply + great demand = high value!
LEGO Sets: Buying And Selling Guide
Whether you want to buy an awesome LEGO set to add to your collection, or sell a set you found for the best price, you need to think about how much you want to spend or sell for, and where to buy or sell.
Researching the market value of the set you want to buy or sell is key to get an idea of the right price. You can try posting images or searching for the same set on LEGO specialist forums or in catalogues including:
- BrickSet forum
- The Ultimate Guide to Collectible LEGO Sets (available on Amazon)
Try having a look on Brick Link and the LEGO set section of eBay. Here, you can filter your search by set theme (Technic, Star Wars, Harry Potter, City, Ninjago and so many more!), characters included, and set condition.
Make sure you look for listings with plenty of information including the model number, set condition, set completeness (and which parts are missing), and detailed photos of the packaging and set contents.
Try to buy from reputable sellers, and don’t be afraid to ask them for more information regarding the listing.
FAQs
What LEGO sets are worth investing in?
This is a hard question to answer as predicting market value in future years is notoriously difficult! But the top 5 LEGO sets from 2022 which are relatively cheap to buy now and are predicted to rise in value over time include: LEGO Star Wars The Armorer’s Mandalorian Forge (75319), LEGO Star Wars Trouble on Tatooine (75299), LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts: First Flying Lesson (76395), LEGO Architecture Tokyo (21051), and LEGO BrickHeadz Lady Liberty (40367).
What is the most valuable LEGO Star Wars set?
That would be the set at the top of our list today which is also the ultimate, all-round most valuable LEGO set today: LEGO Star Wars Cloud City (10123). It is currently valued at around $9300 USD (September 2022).
What is the most valuable LEGO Harry Potter set?
Currently, the most valuable LEGO Harry Potter set is the LEGO Harry Potter Prisoner of Azkaban Motorised Hogwarts Express (10132). It is valued at around $900 USD.
What is the most valuable LEGO Technic set?
Today, the most valuable LEGO Technic set is the Silver Champion (8458), a silver F-1 car produced in 2000. It is currently valued at around $3480 USD (September 2022).
