You've finally tackled the playroom, and now there's a mountain of LEGO and a simple question: what do you actually do with it? Before it all goes in a bin bag, here are the realistic options — and how to pick the one that suits you.
Option 1: Keep it for the future
If you've got younger children coming up, or you're thinking ahead to grandchildren one day, holding on to a core tub makes sense. LEGO is genuinely timeless and survives being handed down.
The catch: "one day" can mean another decade in the loft. Be honest about whether it'll be used or just stored.
Option 2: Hand it down now
Friends and family with younger kids will often happily take a tub off your hands. It's a lovely option — though it does rely on someone actually wanting it, and it doesn't help if you're decluttering precisely because nobody around you needs more toys.
Option 3: Donate it
Charity shops, schools, nurseries and playgroups can all make use of LEGO. It's a feel-good choice and keeps the bricks in play.
Worth knowing: many places prefer it cleaned and won't have a use for broken or incomplete oddments, so you may still be left with some.
Option 4: Sell it
Because LEGO holds its value so well, selling is the one option that also puts money back in your pocket — often more than people expect for a mixed, used collection. And unlike donating, buyers will happily take the incomplete, boxless, mixed-up stuff that charity shops turn away.
For most parents clearing out, this is the path of least resistance: you get the space and a bit of cash, with no sorting required.
How to decide
A quick way to choose:
- Sentimental favourites or future use? Keep a small tub.
- Someone you know wants it? Hand it down.
- Want it gone for a good cause and don't mind the effort? Donate the usable sets.
- Want it gone with the least hassle and some cash? Sell the lot.
Plenty of people do a mix: keep one special set, sell the rest.
If you go the selling route
It's quicker than the other options, oddly enough. You get an instant price for the whole collection, send it free, and get paid — no listings, no drop-offs, no sorting.