The Best LEGO Sets for Adults, Because Grown-Ups Need Toys, Too

No matter how old you think you are, there are some things in life you never grow out of. Perfect examples of this include eating ice cream at the beach, going to Disney World and building LEGO sets.

When it comes to the best LEGOs, there may be a general belief among adults that these intricate blocks are made for kids. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only is indulging in building the best adult LEGOs an ideal way to stimulate your brain and build inspiring models from the most creative parts of your mind, but it can actually be a great way to destress, too.

Granted, many adults only play with LEGOs in order to spend time with their kids and share the experience of building a LEGO masterpiece together. But it’s also important to remember that children are not required. (The instructions say “Ages 5 and up,” right?) Plus, if the LEGO Movie taught us anything, it’s that letting children loose on a LEGO city usually ends in destruction, as you can imagine every adult LEGO hobbyist already knows.

While we’re confident any of these adult LEGOs are sure to satisfy your creative side, we suggest asking yourself the following questions to ensure you get the best LEGO set for you.

How Many Pieces Are Too Many?

Not only will the number of pieces in the kit generally translate into the amount of time it will take to put it together, but it also gives a good indication of how difficult this LEGO set for adults will be, too. If this is your first time building, you may want to try a lower number to see if it’s something that appeals to you. Conversely, if this isn’t your first time with the colored bricks, we suggest heading to the end of the list for a challenge.

Who Is This LEGO Set For?

If the kit is a gift, it’s important to think about what the person you’re buying it for is into. The best LEGOs for adults come in all shapes and sizes, meaning that there’s likely a kit for almost any interest, no matter whether it’s an unhealthy obsession with Disney or a love of architecture.

Do You Want to Display Your LEGO Afterward?

If you’re a “make it and break it” kind of person, it doesn’t really matter whether your kit looks good when finished. However, if you’re after a kit worthy of displaying when it’s finished, there are definitely some kits better suited to this than others. For example, kits like the International Space Station and Harley-Davidson Fat Boy include stands for post-build display.

Below, we’ve put together a list of the 24 best LEGOs for adults (and older kids if you want to let them play, too). It includes something for everyone, with cityscapes and iconic buildings for the architecture lovers, spaceships and castles for the sci-fi fans, a roller coaster and a high-power supercar for everyone else.

1. LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Kit

BEST OVERALL

How do we know this is one of the best LEGO sets for adults and not just a kid’s toy? Because it costs $800. But if you’re a Star Wars fan and a LEGO fan, owning the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Millennium Falcon Building Kit is pretty much the pinnacle of existence. It’s full of fun features like removable hull panels, a moving boarding ramp and a detachable roof on the cockpit. This extra-large model measures eight inches high, 33 inches long and 22 inches wide.

Inside, you’ll also find mini-figures in the kit including Chewee and Han as well as C-3PO and three figures from Episode VII. The Millennium Falcon LEGO kit has 7,541 pieces, ensuring you’ll get hours of fun from this impressively comprehensive building set. 

2. LEGO City Great Vehicles Diving Yacht Building Kit

BEST FOR REAL-LIFE ROLE PLAY

If you love putting together LEGO kits that look just like the real thing, then the LEGO City Great Vehicles Diving Yacht Building Kit is for you. Inside this comprehensive kit, you’ll find a sleek diving yacht that includes a removable roof, turning searchlight and a buildable buoy. The kit also has two diver mini-figures, crabs, a functioning treasure chest and a swordfish to complete your underwater scene. At 148 pieces, this mini kit is ideal for adults and kids alike. It makes for a great standalone adventure or the perfect addition to any existing LEGO City setups you own.

3. LEGO Marvel Avengers Iron Man Hall of Armor Building Kit

BEST FOR MARVEL FANS

With the LEGO Marvel Avengers Iron Man Hall of Armor in your home LEGO setup, you’ll be able to recreate any number of your favorite scenes from the Avengers and Iron Man movies. The set includes Iron Man’s famous rotating suit podium with robotic arms surrounded by a number of detachable modules that can be set up in arrangements of your choosing. The set also boasts a posable Igor suit along with two outriders, a Tony Stark face and four different Iron Man suits, namely Iron Man MK 1, Iron Man MK 5, Iron Man MK 41 and Iron Man MK 50.

4. LEGO Ideas Pop-up Book Building Kit

BEST SURPRISE

You can now add pop-up books to the list of things you never thought would work in LEGO but actually do. This LEGO Ideas Pop-up Book Building Kit is made up of 859 pieces and includes two different fairy tale stories, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk, which can be switched out for one another depending on the story you want to see when the book is opened. You’ll also find four additional mini-figures that add to each scene and allow for imagination play. In addition, to add to the set’s book-like appearance, the front cover sports an attractive border and reads “Once Upon a Brick.”

5. LEGO Star Wars: D-O Building Kit

BEST STAR WARS

It’s not a true Star Wars film if there isn’t a cute little character for everyone to fall in love with. And in the case of The Rise of Skywalker, this responsibility fell on the heroic and rather dog-like droid D-O (and Babu Frik!). In this LEGO Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker D-O Building Kit, you’ll find a 519-piece model of the droid that sits just over 10 inches high. The set includes a built-in display stand and an information sign to boot. Because of the kit’s “10 years and up” rating, this is a great gift idea for younger Star Wars fans as well as adult fans alike.

6. LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box

MOST CREATIVE

If you like to test your creativity and see what weird and wonderful creations you can produce, forget kits with instruction manuals and get yourself the LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box. Inside, you’ll find 790 different pieces which include windows, tires, baseplates and a number of different colored bricks to put together however you see fit. Build a house, make a new car or create something the world has never known before. And, if it’s not a gift for yourself, this is a great way to encourage creativity in children. The set comes in a handy box to make storing your handiwork and leftover pieces a little bit easier.

7. LEGO Architecture San Francisco Building Kit

BEST FOR FAMILIES

Whether you’ve visited the city yourself, love architecture or have been searching for a new part of town to add to your LEGO city, you need not look any further than the LEGO Architecture Skyline San Francisco Building Kit. This 565-piece kit is great for adults and older kids and features some of the city’s most famous buildings and landmarks. Build 555 California Street, the Transamerica Pyramid, Salesforce Tower, Coit Tower, Fort Point, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. The skyline sits at just over six inches high, and the base is marked “San Francisco.”

8. LEGO Ideas Central Perk Building Kit

BEST FOR GROWN-UP 90s KIDS

If you aren’t one of the millions of Friends fans out there, it’s probably hard to imagine why this LEGO Ideas Central Perk Building Kit holds any interest at all. For everyone else, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to have your very own version of the most famous sofa in the world. In addition to the complete Central Perk set, this 25th-anniversary set comes with the six main cast members in LEGO mini-figure form as well as everyone’s favorite coffee server, Gunther. Each mini-figure includes one additional prop. For example, Phoebe has her guitar, and Joey comes with a slice of pizza. For any Friends fan, this 1,070-piece kit will provide plenty of fun during the building process with much more to come when you start playing out all your favorite scenes.

9. LEGO Technic Compact Crawler Crane Building Kit

BEST FOR PRACTICAL MINDS

With its 920-piece composition, the LEGO Technic Compact Crawler Crane Building Kit is a great way to introduce yourself into the world of LEGO Technic. Slightly more technical than the average LEGO model, these complex models offer a more interactive experience. For builders of all ages, this crawler crane kit will help you to understand the basics of how gears, force and movement work and interact. At the end of the build, you’ll be able to move, lift and adjust any part of the crane you need to. Stand out parts of this kit include the crane’s crawling tracks, extendable boom, safety lock and functioning outriggers. As a two-in-one kit, you can also choose to rebuild your crawler crane into an alternative model in the form of the compact tower crane.

11. LEGO International Space Station Building Kit

BEST FOR STAR GAZERS

The best way to celebrate America’s 2020 return to space is to enjoy a space station of your own back here on Earth. The LEGO Ideas International Space Station Building Kit includes a range of authentic ISS details, including eight adjustable solar panels, rotatable joints and a posable Canadarm2. For display purposes, the 864-piece kit also comes with a stand. Furthermore, the accompanying 148-page booklet gives you lots of information about the station, while the mini cargo spacecraft and pair of astronauts allow for plenty of imaginative play.

11. LEGO Creator Volkswagen T1 Camper Van Set

BEST FOR GROWN-UP 60s KIDS

Whether you owned one or have always wanted to, this LEGO Creator Expert Volkswagen T1 Camper Van Construction Set is akin to having your very own VW camper van. The set is based on the iconic 1962 model and features a number of authentic features. Look closely and you’ll spot the V-shaped color split, the “splittie” safari windshield and the pop-up roof. When complete, the van sits at over five inches high and 11 inches long and is made from 1,332 pieces.

12. LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian Building Kit

BEST PRE-ORDER

Good things come to Star Wars fans who wait. And while you can’t get your hands on this LEGO Star Wars: The Mandalorian The Razor Crest Building Kit quite yet, on September first, it’s all yours. In this 1,023-piece kit, you’ll find a detailed replica of the Mandalorian’s spaceship along with miniatures of your favorite characters from the first series, including the Mandalorian himself, Baby Yoda, Greef Karga and a scout trooper. This set is a must for Star Wars fans and a great gift idea for any kids (10 years and older) who love LEGO.

13. LEGO Architecture Statue of Liberty Building Kit

BEST TABLE PIECE

If you want a piece that is as much fun to build as it’s going to be to look at and display once complete, the LEGO Architecture Statue of Liberty Building Kit is for you. Whether it’s on your office desk or a shelf in your home, the statue’s 17-inch height and flat and shiny finish make this a set that travel, architecture, history and general LEGO enthusiasts are sure to enjoy. To add to the display-worthy feel of this “16 years and older” kit, you’ll find a stylish base with “Statue of Liberty” written on it.

14. LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle Expert Kit

BEST FOR HOME DISPLAY

In this LEGO Ideas Ship in a Bottle Expert Building Kit, you don’t just get hours of fun construction time, you also get a beautiful model to display on any shelf or surface in your home. Like the best LEGO sets for adults, your finished creation will double as a quirky piece of home decor. The ship inside the bottle boasts impressive details while the included stand also has plenty of attractive features of its own including a nameplate, compass and miniature globes. The set is made from 962 pieces and sits at just over three inches high and 12 inches long.

15. LEGO Ideas Disney Steamboat Willie Building Kit

BEST OLD SCHOOL DISNEY

The LEGO Ideas Disney Steamboat Willie Building Kit lets you express your love for Disney and LEGO at the same time. As Mickey Mouse’s first official on-screen debut, the black-and-white cartoon called Steamboat Willie holds a special place in the heart of all Disney fans. Combine this with a beautiful 751-piece LEGO kit, and you’ve got hours of nostalgic fun to enjoy. The kit, which was created to celebrate Mickey’s 90th anniversary, includes a Steamboat Willie model sporting moving steam pipes, rotating paddle wheels and an adjustable crane. In addition, you’ll find both Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse mini-figures to create a set that makes a great display item or allows for fun play, too.

16. LEGO Creator Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

BEST FOR BIKE LOVERS

The LEGO Creator Harley-Davidson Fat Boy is a pretty good backup option for those days when it’s not possible to get out on your own wild hog. This classy set is ideal for older teens and adults and measures seven inches high and 12 inches long, making it a great display piece after you’ve completed the build. The kit includes some of the original elements bike lovers want to see in a model, including the tear-drop fuel tanks, dual exhaust pipes and a built-in speedometer. Additional parts to grab your attention are moving pistons, real handlebar steering and a movable gear shift pedal.

17. LEGO Creator Expert Ford Mustang Building Kit

BEST FOR TECHNICAL MINDS

If you love motor vehicles and want a mental workout in your build, it’s worth checking out this LEGO Creator Expert Ford Mustang Building Kit. Not only is the 1,471-piece kit a test for even the most advanced builders, hence the 16 years+ rating, it’s also modeled on one of the most popular car models of all time. The car sports an attractive dark blue body along with white racing stripes and classy five-spoke rims for a piece worth displaying when you’re finished.

18. LEGO Creator James Bond Aston Martin Building Kit

BEST MOVING PARTS

When it comes to Bond, there are few things people associate with the character more than his famous Aston Martin DB5, which is why this LEGO Creator Expert James Bond Aston Martin DB5 Building Kit should be attractive to all the James Bond fanatics out there. What’s even better is that the model isn’t just a shell. It includes a number of exclusive details and a whole host of 007 gadgetry. Whether it’s the stick shift that reveals the front-wing machine guns or the working trigger ejector seat, the fun only just begins when your build is complete.

19. LEGO Stranger Things The Upside Down Building Kit

BEST FLIPPABLE MODEL

Granted, if you aren’t a fan of Stranger Things, you might think this LEGO Stranger Things The Upside Down Building Kit isn’t for you. However, on closer inspection, you’ll find one of LEGO’s most intelligent and intricately made products which can be built and enjoyed by fans and non-fans alike. The model is a combination of the Byers’ home and The Upside Down, an alternate dimension that exists parallel to the human one. This is ingeniously represented in this model which can be turned about its axis and presented with either of the two realms facing up. In addition, the kit includes eight of the characters from the program, including Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Jim Hopper and, of course, the Demogorgon.

 

20. LEGO Technic Liebherr Excavator Building Kit

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

If difficulty is at the top of your wish list for your LEGO build, this LEGO Technic Liebherr R 9800 Excavator Building Kit fits the bill. The imposing machine is made up of 4,108 pieces and measures an impressive 15 inches high, 25 inches long and 10 inches across. You’ll find plenty of true-to-life details, including the authentic color scheme and on-excavator walkways. The kit is powered by two advanced Smart Hubs and seven motors which can be controlled using the LEGO TECHNIC CONTROL+ app for a new level of creative play. Elements to control include the boom and bucket, the central articulation, sound effects and the tracks.

21. LEGO Creator Expert Roller Coaster Building Kit

BEST FOR THEME PARK FANATICS

The LEGO Creator Expert Roller Coaster Building Kit offers you the chance to own a functioning roller coaster. With two trains, a working chain lift, several ups and downs and even a cotton candy machine, this comprehensive kit delivers an exciting build from start to finish. It has 4,124 pieces, and it’s an advanced kit that can also be upgraded using the LEGO BOOST and LEGO Power Functions for a roller coaster that actually runs by itself. Each of the two trains included in the kit is made up of three individual cars that can accommodate the rider mini-figures that come with the set. You’ll also find ride staff, spectators and other mini-figures to complete the theme park atmosphere.

If you’re looking for the best LEGO sets of all time, this intricate Toy of the Year-winning kit is a must-have.

22. LEGO Disney Castle

BEST DISNEY

If you get goosebumps every time its famous outline appears before a feature film or heading to a Disney park is your number one choice of vacation destination, imagine how great it’d be to have your very own Disney castle in your home. This impressively-sized set is made from 4,080 pieces and comes with five mini-figures to live inside, including Mickey in his classic tuxedo, Minnie in her spotted dress as well as Donald, Daisy and Tinkerbell. Details in the castle include the wide-arched entrance, a clock, the stone bridge and a number of ornate balconies. From behind, it’s possible to peer into a number of the rooms inside to see many of the additional details which make this challenging build such an outstanding option for Disney and LEGO fans alike.

23. LEGO Creator Emerald Night Train

CLASSIEST

The LEGO Creator Emerald Night Train combines fun and challenging building with a classy piece you’ll be happy to have and display once completed. Styled like a classic locomotive steam engine, this 1,085-piece set includes the engine along with a dining car with a removable roof, opening tender, doors and a realistic interior. It measures just over 27 inches long and includes three mini-figures, namely a driver and two passengers. The set also boasts a number of outstanding features, like the furnace and functioning piston motion.

24. LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle Building Kit

MOST PIECES

Good news! Your letter arrived, and now you can finally go to Hogwarts. This outstanding LEGO set for adults is a dream come true for fans of the Harry Potter series, and the set includes everything you could ask for, from the tower-clambering dragon to the tree-smashing weeping willow. You’ll also find a number of dementors flying around and everyone’s favorite giant spider, Aragog. There’s plenty of fun to be had with this kit after you’ve completed the build. This castle kit includes 6,020 pieces.

Low-Cost Legos: The 10 Best Lego Sets Under $40