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LEGO has produced some mammoth sets over the years, and continues to up the ante. These large sets provide a challenge for more experienced builders, and tend to introduce new and innovative pieces and building techniques. But, despite their huge price tags, they also tend to be a cheap way to get bricks. You are essentially buying LEGO in bulk with each of these sets. Here is a list of the 10 largest LEGO sets ever produced for sale in stores as of 2017 (all prices are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted). By scrolling the bottom of the article, you can also watch my YouTube video version of this post.
10. Death Star II (10143)
This set was released on October 24, 2007. It retailed for $269.99 in the United States (I was unable to find the original cost in Canada). With 3,441 pieces, each brick would have set you back $0.08. Nowadays, it has been retired and will cost you significantly more on the secondary market.
09. Bucket Wheel Excavator (42055)
This Technic set was released on August 1, 2016, and contains 3,929 pieces. It currently retails for $329.99, and each brick costs $0.08.
08. Assembly Square (10255)
Released on January 2, 2017, this is the newest and largest of LEGO’s Creator modulars. It has 4,002 pieces and costs $339.99. Assembly Square also comes with eight Minifigures and a baby fig. Each brick costs $0.08.
07. The Death Star (75159)
Clocking in at 4,016 pieces, this variant of the Death Star currently retails for $599.99. It comes with 23 Minifigures and two droids. Each brick will set you back $0.15, so as far as the larger sets go, it is actually not the best value. It was released on October 1, 2016, and was a re-make of 10188 from 2008. The first version had 3,803 pieces, but was reportedly 95% the same.
06. The Disney Castle (71040)
The Disney Castle was released on October 6, 2016, and currently retails for $399.99. It has 4,080 pieces, meaning each piece will cost $0.10. It also comes with five Minifigures.
05. Big Ben (10253)
This set has 4,163 pieces, and is currently available for $299.99. This means that each brick will set you back $0.07. It was originally released on July 2, 2016. It has no Minifigures.
04. Tower Bridge (10214)
This set is still currently on the market for $299.99. It comes stocked with 4,295 pieces, and was originally released on May 31, 2011. Each brick costs $0.07, but it has no Minifigures.
03. Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters (75827)
This set was released on January 2, 2016 with 4,634 pieces. It is still available for a retail price of $399.99. Each brick will set you back $0.09. It is well worth the price, and you can read my review by clicking here. It has nine Minifigures and three ghosts.
02. Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon (10179)
While many variations of this famous Star Wars ship have appeared over the years, this one was by far the largest. This set was released on October 24, 2007 and contained 5,197 pieces. This set was retired in 2010, but was sold for $499.99 (this is in American dollars, I was unable to find the Canadian price). Each brick in this set cost $0.10. The set comes with five Minifigures.
01. The Taj Mahal (10189)
Released on September 24, 2010 and retailing at $399.99, this set had 5,922 bricks. While it was retired in 2011, it has held onto the record of LEGO‘s largest set for seven years. Each brick in this set cost $0.07. It has no Minifigures.
So, now that you have seen the ten biggest sets that LEGO has ever produced for the market, here is my question to you: if you could have any one (and only one) of these sets right now for free, which would it be and why?
As many of you know, I am taking part in the April A-to-Z challenge this year. If you want to know more about the challenge, you can visit the official site by clicking here. Be sure to check back tomorrow for my LEGO themed letter “C” post!
Until next time,
-T.N.B.
Crazy! I can’t imagine taking on such a challenge!The things people build Legos are fascinating. I really enjoyed checking out the Lego store in NYC near Rockefeller Center. They had a really cool reproduction of Manhattan in the Window and I got the best photo there 🙂
Ooh…any one of them for free. I’d have to go with either the Assembly Square (because I love miniature cityscapes) or the Taj Mahal (well…I’m indian, but also that set looks really impressive).
How does the 60’s TV show Batman set compare? It’s a pretty hefty set, and one that I will hopefully be able to afford one day…
The ’60s Batcave clocks in at 2526 pieces, and costs $329.99 in Canada. That’s $0.13 per brick, which is about average. You get a lot of really cool Minifigures though… and the ’60s Batmobile. It would be a cool set to own!
That it would!
Assembly Square. It reminds me of my post an Canal Houses. I sold a box of LEGOs years ago that my boys no longer wanted. Could kick myself now.
@msdeniseh553
Denise at My Life in Retirement Canal Houses
And the Death Star II is not even a complete Death Star… *snickers*
Fun theme for A to Z! 🙂
The Multicolored Diary: WTF – Weird Things in Folktales
LOL – that is so true!
The biggest set I ever got was a star cruiser back in the 80’s. I had a lot of Legos as a kid. I gave them all to my Son and he got even more over the years. He recently put them away for his kids someday… 3rd generation Legos coming.. well hopefully
not soo but, someday.
Why put them away? Keep building until that third generation comes!
Ah well you see, no room to keep them all out he has some still put together. I have a few too in my office around my desk… they’re distracting when I write 🙂
Those are amazing. I couldn’t pick one. I went to a Lego exhibition in London about 20 years ago and took a photo of my friend beside a seated man. It was hard to tell them apart!!
Jemima with the Book Bloggers Hop
London currently has the Art of the Brick exhibit of DC Comics heroes. You should check it out! I would if I could.
Hmmm… there’s a place called Assembly Square in Somerville, MA which is the home of Legoland Boston. Coincidence?
Does it look at all like the set?
I guess they are for the more serious enthusiast but very cool. Didn’t know you could get sets of the Taj Mahal and Big Ben, I thought you only saw them at Legoland!
These sets do tend to cater to the adult LEGO fans. Thanks for stopping by!
Assembly Square. Maybe because I see more possibilities with the bricks, or just I like the place.
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Eva – Mail Adventures
B is for: Bank.
Good choice! I love Assembly Square. I have it still sitting in the box. I have not had time to build it yet.
The Taj Mahal is my favourite, that is seriously impressive. Mind you, I’d never have the patience to build it!
Build in short bursts! Thanks for stopping by.
It was such an important lesson for me, when I first started buying Lego, to start thinking about the price per part rather than the price tag of a set overall.
That is so true. I look at every set by the cost of each brick. What themes do you collect?
I go for just about anything space related. I had almost all the Galaxy Squad sets, but at this point I’ve disassembled most of them to build MOCs.
Love this. My favorite was Assembly Square followed by the Tower Bridge. We have a ton of legos in our house including the Harry Potter Castle and other sets.
http://www.tamaranarayan.com
The Harry Potter sets are worth quite a bit on eBay, don’t lose those bricks!
These seem expensive to me. It’s been awhile since I’ve had to buy a Lego set. My son had quite a few of the Star Wars sets and loved them although he hasn’t share them with his young sons yet.
The price tag of the set might seem big, but they are aimed at an older clientele. And, despite the seemingly high price, these sets are actually the cheapest way to get the most LEGO for your money.
Gotta say the Disney castle for me. Mixing two worlds of magic from my childhood!
Spectres & Stardust – B is for Baking
If you love LEGO and Disney, be sure to check back on Wednesday, I’ve got something planned that is right up your alley!
At first, I thought, that is an easy choice Big Ben, but then I thought no mini figures, after it is put together, do I just look at it. so despite the fact I really like the Big Ben, I would go with the Bucket Wheel Excavator –still no mini figures, but my friends boys would love that thing.
I would love to have the Bucket Wheel excavator too! It has so many moving parts.
The first death star is impressive.
Phillip | B is for banana
I agree, thanks for stopping by!
I didn’t realize that Falcon was so big, I’ve seen the smaller ones. And the GB Firehouse is pretty awesome. We have the new ECTO-1, which has more extraneous pieces than I’ve ever seen in a set that size – there are so many small, finicky pieces on the inside and bottom that you can’t even see, I have no idea why it was built that way. We have the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine which is a similar size but only half as many pieces. There are so many wonky pieces in the GB vehicle that we were 2/3 of the way through it before my 5yo could even tell what we were building.
It was pretty cool when it was finished, though. 🙂
It must have been fun to share the building experience with your 5 year old all the same! I used to love when my dad would build LEGO with me when I was little.
Impressive! I smiled at Ghostbusters and Big Ben the most. I don’t think our house could handle quite that many pieces of Lego though….
You can never have too much LEGO! Thanks for stopping by.