There comes a day in most homes when the LEGO has to go. The kids have moved on to phones and football, the tub in the corner hasn't been opened in two years, and you'd quite like the cupboard space back. Maybe you're moving house and the thought of boxing up ten kilos of plastic bricks is the final straw.
The good news: that pile is worth something, and getting rid of it doesn't have to mean weeks of faff. Here's the simple version.
You don't need to sort it first
This is the worry that stops most people: "It's all mixed up, half the sets are missing pieces, and we lost the boxes years ago — is it even sellable?"
Yes. You don't need to rebuild anything, match pieces to sets, or hunt for instructions. Loose bricks, half-built sets, a sealed set someone never opened, a bag of stray minifigures — it can all go together. The whole messy lot is fine as it is.
That alone saves you the job most people dread. No sorting evening at the kitchen table.
Your three realistic options
When you decide to sell, there are broadly three routes:
Car boot sale. Cheap to do, but you'll spend a Sunday morning haggling over a tub for a tenner, and you take home whatever doesn't sell.
Listing it yourself (eBay, Facebook Marketplace). You'll often get a decent price per set — but only if you photograph everything, write listings, answer messages, deal with no-shows, and post it all off. For a single rare set that can be worth it. For a big mixed collection, the time and hassle rarely pays.
Selling to an online buyer. You tell them what you've got, get an instant price, post it for free, and the money lands in your account. No listings, no strangers at your door, no waiting around for the right buyer.
For a parent clearing out a child's collection, the third option is usually the path of least resistance — one pile, one transaction, one payment.
How selling online actually works
It's quicker than most people expect:
- Get a price. Tell us what you have — sets by name or number if you know them, or just the rough weight of your loose bricks. You'll get an instant valuation. Get an instant price for the whole lot →
- Box it up. Pack everything securely so the small bits don't escape in transit. A sturdy cardboard box and some bags will do.
- Send it free. Use the prepaid postage label or arrange a home collection — no printing, no post-office queue.
- Get paid. Once it's checked, the money goes to your bank or PayPal, usually the next day.
That's it. No photos, no listings, no negotiating.
A few things that nudge the price up
You don't need any of these, but if you happen to have them, they help:
- Original boxes and instructions make complete sets worth a little more. If you've binned them, it's not a dealbreaker.
- Minifigures — the little people — often carry decent value, so it's worth checking down the back of the sofa and in old toy boxes before you send everything.
- Sealed sets that were never opened are the most valuable of all, so set those aside if you spot one.
If none of that applies and it's just a giant tub of mixed bricks — that's completely normal, and still worth money.
Is it worth the effort?
For most family collections, yes. A big tub of mixed LEGO adds up by weight, and any complete or sealed sets on top of that can be a pleasant surprise. More to the point, the effort is genuinely small: a few minutes for a price, ten minutes to box it, and it's gone — with a bit of cash to show for it instead of a cupboard you've been ignoring.
Ready to clear the space?
If the LEGO has had its day in your house, you can find out what the whole collection is worth in about thirty seconds — no sorting, no commitment.
Get an instant price for your kids' old LEGO →
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell LEGO that's missing pieces? Yes. Incomplete sets and loose, mixed bricks are all welcome — you don't need to complete anything before selling.
Do I need the original boxes? No. Boxes can add a little value to complete sets, but you can absolutely sell without them.
How do I price a big mixed tub? Loose bricks are valued by weight, so you just need a rough idea of how heavy the collection is. Sets are priced individually if you list them.
How quickly do I get paid? Typically the next day after your LEGO is received and checked, by bank transfer or PayPal.