Selling old LEGO bricks and sets is a great way to turn unwanted plastic bricks into extra cash. How to Sell Your LEGOs. Some LEGOs are worth a few dollars, while others are worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It’s easy to sell LEGOs but you do need to do a bit of work to make sure you sell them for as much as they are worth. You can maximize your profit by knowing what LEGOs you have, what your LEGOs have sold for in the past, and where to sell your LEGOs for the most money.
Sorting and Assessing Your LEGOs
Assess the general condition of your LEGOs.
How you list and sell your LEGOs depends on what type of shape they are in. To start the process, determine their general condition. Conditions are typically described as:
- New (A LEGO set is only considered new if it has never been put together.)
- Lightly used (Played with but still in near perfect condition)
- Heavily used (Scratched, lots of wear and tear, and potentially broken pieces)
- Sealed in Box
- Sealed in Damaged Box
Research your LEGOs to find out what sets you have.
LEGOs are typically sold as collections, sets, mini figures, or parts. If you do not have your original packaging or you’re unsure which LEGOs you have, inspect your LEGOs for a part number and then look up the numbers online.
- Once you have the part numbers you can search for them online by entering the number and the word “legos.”
- In most cases, the BrickLink catalog website will have your parts listed.
- The theme or franchise of your LEGO can have a significant impact on value.
Inspect your LEGOs for imperfections.
Imperfections in your legos can have an impact on their value. Look over each piece and if you see any problems, write down the part and what is wrong with it. This will allow you to give an accurate description of the legos you want to sell. Common imperfections to look for include:
- Scratches and wear
- Bending stretch marks
- Loose hinges
- Cracks
- Deteriorated stickers
- Discoloration
- Cleanliness
Tip: If you have sealed packages, keep them sealed. Do not open them to inspect the pieces, as this will reduce their value. If you have used sets that still have the packaging, put the sets back in their packaging after inspecting them.
Sort general pieces by color or shape.
If you have parts that are not part of a set, make your own groupings to sell together. It’s best to either make packs of specific colors or specific shapes. If you have unique pieces, such as jewel rocks, you can list them individually.
- Your groupings can range from 2 pieces to hundreds of pieces. With specialty pieces, such as antennas, it’s best to group just a few together. With general building blocks, you can make groups of hundreds if you have that many.
- When you make a grouping, write down how many pieces there are and what shape they are in so that you can use this information in your listing.
Consult LEGO price guides to determine how much to sell your LEGOs for.
There are many LEGO price guides available online. The best resources to find the value of your LEGOs are:
- BrickLink: The BrickLink price guide displays historical sale prices from the past six months.
- BrickSet: BrickSet lists Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP), and also includes information about how rare a given LEGO part or set is, which can have a significant impact on value.
- eBay Search: Search on eBay for your LEGOs by name or part number. Then filter by completed sales to see what similar LEGOs have recently sold for.
Listing Your LEGOS Online
Pick a general online selling platform for selling common LEGOs.
There are a wide variety of websites that allow you to sell LEGOs. The most popular, and easiest to use, is eBay. eBay is a website where all kinds of items are sold. However, there are also a variety of other sites, including buyback stores.
- Online buyback stores typically have a form, email address, or phone number to call to start the sales process. They’ll ask for a description of your LEGOs, and they might ask for a photo. If they’re interested, they’ll make you an offer. If you accept, you’ll ship your LEGO to them and they’ll pay you in cash or store credit. Examples of such stores include The Plastic Brick, Toy Brick Brigade, and Replay Bricks.
- If you already have an eBay account, it will be easy to sell your LEGOs on that website.
Use the website BrickLink to sell specialty and rare LEGOs.
BrickLink is a specialty website just for LEGOs. If you have specialty sets or rare pieces, you may have more success selling them on BrickLink, as specialty collectors often use that site.
- BrickLink functions similarly to eBay and other online selling platforms, expect it’s just for selling LEGOs.
Warning: Do not list the same LEGOs on several platforms at once. There is a chance that you could sell them on both at the same time and you wouldn’t be able to fulfill both sales.
List everything you know about your LEGOs.
You’ll need to create a detailed listing, complete with a condition assessment, part numbers, and everything you know about your LEGOs. Include set and mini figure names, collection weights, conditions, status of the packaging (missing, damaged, or new), and anything else you know about your LEGOs.
- List everything that is included in the sale, as well as any parts that are missing from sets.
- If you’re selling a LEGO collection, you do not need to identify each individual piece, as long as they are all included.
- If applicable, include your payment and shipping policies. This should include under what conditions you will accept returns. However, on some websites, the shipping costs and policies are set by the company, not you.
Include photos in your listing.
Take high-quality photos from multiple angles to make it easy to understand what you’re selling. Having clear photos of the exact LEGOs you are selling will make your pieces sell much quicker than without them.
- Show any discoloring, scratches, and cracks in the photos. This will help you avoid disputes and poor ratings because your buyer won’t be able to claim that they didn’t know what state the LEGOs are in.
Ask for a fair price to facilitate quick and hassle-free sales.
Set your priorities: do you want a quick and easy sale to cash in fast, or do you have a valuable item that’s worth waiting for the right buyer to get the highest price? Make a decision and set a price that you will be happy with, even if it takes awhile to make a sale.
- Include how much shipping will cost, including whether the buyer will pay it separately or if it is included in the asking price.
- Collections are typically worth between $5 to $15 per pound, depending on their makeup: mostly bricks, mostly mini figures, a mix of non-LEGO parts (like Hotwheels tires), etc.
Ship LEGOs that have sold quickly.
Once your items have sold, ship them out as soon as possible. Package the LEGOs well, with a lot of padding to ensure that they don’t break in transit.
- Do not ship LEGOs without payment.
- Shipping promptly will help you get good reviews, which will help make future listings more attractive to buyers.
Selling Your LEGOs Locally
Sell to brick-and-mortar stores that deal in LEGOs.
Toy stores and pawn shops often buy used LEGOs. Take your LEGOs in to the store to see if they’re interested in buying. You can find local brick-and-mortar stores with a quick online search.
- This is a quick way to sell your LEGOs but it won’t get you the highest price in most cases.
List your LEGOs on local classifieds sites.
Websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are great places to sell LEGOs without having to ship them. You will list what you have, just as you would on online selling platforms, but you will need to meet with the person and get payment from them directly.
- These options are typically unmoderated, so you must be careful to avoid scams, no-shows, and other hassles.
Tip: If your sale is not moderated by a trusted third-party, take measures to protect yourself. For example, if you’re meeting a stranger, take a friend along and meet in a well-lit, busy public location.
Find other LEGO selling opportunities at meetups and in online communities.
You can try selling your LEGOs via online LEGO forums and groups. It’s also possible to sell LEGOs at local events like flea markets or at a garage sale at your home. Basically, wherever people are selling miscellaneous items, you can try selling your LEGOs there.
- Online LEGO forums and groups are also great places to trade your LEGOs if your aim is to get a different set or piece without needing to exchange money.
Start an online business if you’re passionate about selling LEGOs and it’s working out for you.
Start an online business if you see that your sales are going well. Start researching and buying LEGOs and then resell them on your online store. If you’re passionate about LEGOs and you know you have what it takes to recognize a good deal, if you consider yourself an expert in LEGOs, then absolutely open an online store where you can buy and sell LEGOs. Issue a press release on relevant news sites about your business so you can reach millions of readers.
wikiHow, “3 Ways to Sell Your LEGOs – WikiHow,” wikiHow (wikiHow, April 16, 2018), https://www.wikihow.com/Sell-Your-LEGOs.
