6 Ways to Buy LEGO On Sale

LEGO is one of the greatest toys of all time and that’s not just me saying it. The National Toy Hall of Fame declared it the “Toy of the Century” in 2000. As an internationally beloved toy brand, they’ve created countless sets and builds around some of pop culture’s biggest icons. 

The only problem: LEGO sets can get kind of expensive, quickly — especially if you want to buy a bigger and (quite frankly) cooler set. 

But, if you know where to look, there are ways that you can save money and find a great LEGO sale.

Where Can I Find LEGO on Sale? 

One of the biggest benefits of LEGO’s popularity is that you can buy incredible sets at nearly every major in-store retailer, including Best Buy, Target and Walmart. Because these are bigger retailers, they are constantly rotating and managing their inventory. This is especially true around major holidays when they want to make room for seasonal toys.

Even the LEGO store itself will discount old sets in order to make room for new inventory. 

As a result, there is usually a LEGO sale of some kind going on somewhere.

So if you are looking to score a particular set for your kid or, who are we kidding, for yourself (no judgment, I’m currently working on a 2,287-piece “Stranger Things” set myself), you should check the weekly ads at these major retailers to see if any of them are offering LEGO sets on sale. If you’re patient, chances are you’ll find one you want for a discount. 

You can also check online retailers, like Amazon. They will often discount their toys too, especially during their annual sales. 

Tips For Finding a Great LEGO Sale 

1. Always Start With the Source: LEGO.com

If you are looking for LEGO on sale, heading over to the actual LEGO store or LEGO.com is a great place to start. While new sets are rarely on sale (you can always add them to your wishlist for later), they are always running a sale or promotion on some of their older stock. For example, LEGO.com has a sales page that is updated weekly, and an offers page that lists free items that are included after you spend a certain amount. These free items are usually not sold in store and typically tie into a new set that is being released on an upcoming holiday, but they’re a nice perk you can’t get elsewhere.

2. Consider Joining the LEGO VIP Program 

Don’t worry; it’s free. The VIP program is LEGO’s loyalty program that offers perks, discounts and a points system that earns you coupons. You can redeem points in multiples of $5 that you can use in store or online — even on new sets. These points work out to about $5 for every $100 that you spend. Being a LEGO VIP member also means you will receive their weekly e-newsletter with special offers, including which sets you can earn 2x the points on, which helps your point total go up faster!

3. Try to Hold Out for Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day

It can be hard waiting to buy something you really want or worrying it will sell out for the holidays (especially if your kid already asked Santa for it), but Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day always offer LEGO on sale. In fact, one of the top-selling items for Amazon Prime Day 2020 was a discounted LEGO Star Wars set and Prime Day 2021 offered a substantial discount on a 962-piece model of a ship in a bottle.

4. Look into Third-Party Marketplace Sellers

For a product as popular as LEGO, there are many third-party sellers that offer LEGO on sale. Amazon and Walmart both let you buy items from third-party vendors. Meanwhile, websites like BrickLink.com and Ebay.com can connect you to sellers around the world. Apps like Mercari also can connect you directly with people selling LEGO sets from their own collection. 

The benefit of working with the seller directly is that you can find a great deal on an imperfect set (like a box that is dented or a box that was opened but all the pieces are still there) that can’t be sold as new (or “Mint In Box” in collector speak), but that are still perfect for assembling. Just be aware that there is always a risk when going through a third-party vendor, so you will want to study up on that website’s selling and buyer protection policies as well as checking the seller’s reviews and rating before purchasing. 

5. Save Money by Being Flexible with What you Build

LEGO prices are pretty standard based on the size and number of pieces in the set. However, if you consider sets based around LEGO’s generic themes that aren’t tied to a popular movie or brand, (like LEGO City, Creator, Ideas, Technic, etc.) you can save a lot of money, especially on larger sets. For example, a LEGO City Fire Rescue set will be cheaper than a similar-sized Batmobile chase set.  

6. Look Into Older and Recently Retired Sets or Seasonal Builds

After a LEGO set has been out for a few years, the chances are that set will be put on the clearance shelf. This is an excellent opportunity to get LEGO on sale. This is also true for a theme that has been recently discontinued (R.I.P. Lego Hidden Side) because stores start to offer deep discounts to help sell off their remaining stock. 

The LEGO store also offers great seasonal sets (think: a teddy bear with a heart for Valentine’s Day or a Santa and Mrs. Claus Brickheadz set for Christmas) that usually go on sale a few months after the holiday passes. All you have to do now is stick it in your closet for a year until the holiday rolls around again.

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