LEGO's enduring appeal has expanded beyond childhood, captivating teens and adults alike. The complexity, functionality, and variety of LEGO sets have also dramatically increased. Sets now range from playful builds to elaborate display pieces and even home décor items.
The sheer volume of LEGO sets available presents challenges: finding desired sets and securing them at reasonable prices. This is often due to LEGO's practice of retiring sets, even popular ones, leading to inflated resale prices on secondary markets (often 2-3 times the original cost). Furthermore, LEGOs are inherently expensive, a trend that has intensified in recent years. The 2017 Millennium Falcon, for instance, initially cost $800 and now commands even more.
Smart shopping strategies can mitigate these issues. Below are the best places to buy LEGO sets in 2025, along with optimal times to hunt for deals.
Online LEGO Shopping Destinations
LEGO Insiders Program### LEGO.com
4See it at LEGO
Best Discounts### Amazon
2See it at Amazon
Accepts LEGO Insider Points### Target
1See it at Target
Exclusive Deals### Walmart
0See it at Walmart
The official LEGO Store (LEGO.com) offers the most comprehensive selection, easily searchable by theme, price, release date, and customer ratings. Its responsive customer service and LEGO Insiders program (offering various perks including early access to sets and exclusive items) are significant advantages. The points system—where every dollar spent earns 6.5 points, redeemable at a rate of 130 points per dollar—effectively provides a 5% discount. Double points promotions further enhance its value.
Amazon, Target, and Walmart offer online storefronts with modest discounts on many sets, although they lack the LEGO Insiders program and exclusive sets. The LEGO Store typically charges full price except for select sales, often towards the end of a set's lifecycle.
AnswerSee ResultsUltimately, careful comparison of prices and benefits is crucial. Consider the trade-off between a potential 10% discount at Target (with a less advantageous points system) versus full price at LEGO.com with future discounts and potential free sets.
Finding Retired Sets Online
For retired sets, unofficial marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook are the only options. Expect higher prices; direct communication with sellers, negotiation, and thorough price comparisons are essential.
In-Store LEGO Shopping
While in-store selection might be smaller than online, the hands-on experience is attractive to many. The official LEGO Store offers the same Insiders program benefits and interactive elements like building stations. Target and Walmart also carry LEGO, and Gamestop and Barnes & Noble offer select sets. Discounts are less common in smaller stores, but checking for clearance is worthwhile. Brick-and-mortar stores sometimes have recently retired sets remaining in stock.
When to Find LEGO Deals
Beyond standard discounts at larger retailers, LEGO sets rarely see significant price reductions. However, specific times offer better chances:
- May 4th (Star Wars Day) and March 10th (Mario Day): Double points promotions are common.
- Year-End Clearance: Beginning of the year often sees clearance sales as retailers refresh inventory after new set releases.
- Holiday Season (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime Days): Significant discounts are possible.
