FlipLensHow much is my LEGO set worth?
LEGO keeps its value better than most toys, but two boxes of the same set can sell for very different amounts. The set number tells you exactly what you have; condition and completeness decide the price.
Find the set number
Every LEGO set has a set number of 4 to 6 digits. You find it on the box, on the front of the instructions and in the LEGO catalogue. The set number identifies the exact set, so always compare listings of that number, not just the theme or the name.
No box and no instructions? Search the catalogue by theme and a few distinctive pieces or minifigures until you find the matching set.
Condition and completeness
- New, sealed: factory sealed in the original box (in German listings often called OVP). Usually the highest price.
- New, opened: box opened, bags still sealed or unused.
- Used, complete: all pieces, the instructions and all minifigures.
- Used without box: complete set, but no box. Worth less than with the box.
- Incomplete: missing pieces, minifigures or instructions. Missing minifigures and instructions cut the value a lot.
To check completeness, look up the inventory for the set number and tick off the parts and minifigures. Say clearly in your listing what is included.
Retired sets, current sets, bulk bricks and copies
- Retired sets: once LEGO stops selling a set, its value often rises, especially when it is sealed or complete.
- Current sets: still sold in shops, so your used set competes with retail discounts and sells for less than you might expect.
- Bulk bricks: loose mixed bricks sell by weight. This is a separate market from complete sets.
- Copies: compatible bricks from other makers, such as Lepin, or listings marked "compatible" are not LEGO and are worth far less. Look for the LEGO logo on the studs.
Where to sell LEGO
- eBay: the widest audience for complete and sealed sets. Private sellers in Germany and the UK pay no selling fees, but the seller usually pays shipping.
- Locally: Kleinanzeigen, classifieds and flea markets, good for large sets and bulk bricks with no shipping.
- Vinted: works well for smaller kids' sets.
- BrickLink: a marketplace for single parts and minifigures, useful if you sell them separately.
Check the price with FlipLens
Take a photo of the box or the instructions. FlipLens reads the set number and compares listings of that exact set, leaving out instructions-only listings, incomplete sets, copies and bundles. It searches eBay in five EU countries or eBay.co.uk, adjusts asking prices down and shows the most to pay if you are buying to resell.
Sorting a whole box of sets? Use the "many items at once" mode: one photo per set, prices for all of them and listings written. See how to check resale value and the flea market reselling checklist.
Questions
Where do I find the LEGO set number?
The set number has 4 to 6 digits and is printed on the box, on the front of the instructions and in the LEGO catalogue. It identifies the exact set.
How much do missing minifigures lower the value?
A lot. Minifigures and instructions are what buyers check first, so a set without them sells for much less than a complete one. Check the inventory for the set number before you sell.
Are compatible bricks like Lepin worth the same as LEGO?
No. Copies and compatible bricks are not LEGO and sell for far less. FlipLens leaves copies out when it compares prices.
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