The 10 most expensive LEGO sets of all time – August 2022
The biggest, most detailed and most epic LEGO sets also tend to be the most expensive – and now a new contender has just arrived in the top 10 priciest sets of all time.
Despite what some naysayers might… naysay, LEGO is a hobby for all and has price points to suit every pocket. Over 40% of the sets currently available on the official UK LEGO website are under £20 and are an essential part of any self-respecting LEGO collection. But it’s the large sets that often supply that stop-visitors-in-their-tracks moment, when people unfamiliar with the hobby gape, and ask: “Is that really LEGO?”
And it’s a fact of life that large usually means expensive. We’ve revisited the top 10 sets that will put the biggest dent in your purse or wallet (we’re using GBP prices) as it’s just been shaken up by the recently-announced 76405 Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition. Can it topple the king of the hill, or does it just scrape in at the bottom of the list?
10 – 71043 Hogwarts Castle
Theme: Harry Potter Price: £369.99 / $469.99 / €399.99 Pieces: 6,020 Available: Now
A vast set that has a vast price tag. At £369.99, this is an epic recreation of one of the most famous fictional schools ever. With towers, dorm rooms, the Great Hall (and, of course, a dragon) LEGO Harry Potter 71043 Hogwarts Castle is perfect for playing out the countless stories from the books or films. Just make sure you’ve got a very big table.
=8 – 42131 App-Controlled Cat D11 Bulldozer
Theme: Technic Price: £399.99 / $499.99 / €449.99 Pieces: 3,854 Available: Now
The mighty earthmover that is LEGO Technic 42131 App-Controlled Cat D11 Bulldozer is one of the most expensive Technic set ever released. At a penny shy of £400 you get a huge set for your money, which is powered by Control+ and four motors. It’s an ideal purchase if you have some dirt that needs moving, or if you have a particular love of yellow LEGO elements.
=8 – 42100 Liebherr R 9800 Excavator
Theme: Technic Price: £399.99 / $499.99 / €449.99 Pieces: 4,108 Available: Now
Tied with the big Cat at £399.99, the LEGO Technic 42100 Liebherr R 9800 Excavator replicates a real-world, 800-tonne mining excavator. It also just manages to take bragging rights from the Cat by having slightly more parts, with a piece count of 4,108.
7 – 75159 Death Star
Theme: Star Wars Price: £409.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 Pieces: 4,108 Available: Retired
A set that was seemingly available for longer than the actual battle station it was modelled on survived. LEGO Star Wars 75159 Death Star is an iconic set that, with its 27 minifigures, could be the stage for many, many stories from that galaxy, far, far away. At £409.99 though, it wasn’t the cheapest way to play out your Jedi Knight fantasies.
6 – 76405 Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition
Theme: Harry Potter Price: £429.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 Pieces: 5,129 Available: August 31
Our newcomer arrives at number six. And also at platform nine and three-quarters. Running on non-standard gauge track, this detailed replica of the most famous train that you can’t actually catch is destined to be a display model rather than a part of most LEGO train fans’ setup. Until some more track becomes available at least. At £429.99 you’ll probably want to keep LEGO Harry Potter 76405 Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition under glass, anyway.
5 – 10276 Colosseum
Theme: LEGO ICONS Price: £439.99 / $549.99 / €499.99 Pieces: 9,036 Available: Now
The ultimate set for the fan of tan coloured pieces. ICONS 10276 Colosseum, at £439.99, is an impressive set, if not something of a repetitive build. As a monument to Roman architecture though, it will have caught the eye of more than the dedicated LEGO fan.
4 – 10294 Titanic
Theme: LEGO ICONS Price: £554.99 / $679.99 / €629.99 Pieces: 9,090 Available: Now
The doomed liner is not only one of the largest LEGO sets ever created, it’s also one of the most expensive. That said, £554.99 buys you an astonishing build and a set so detailed many will not realise what it’s constructed from. ICONS 10294 Titanic is a considered purchase, but one you’re unlikely to regret.
3 – 75252 Imperial Star Destroyer
Theme: Star Wars Price: £614.99 / $699.99 / €699.99 Pieces: 4,784 Available: Now
Into the top three now, and over the £600 barrier. At £614.99, the gargantuan grey wedge is a conspicuous symbol of both the Empire’s power and firepower. The second (but not the last) of the Ultimate Collector Series in our top ten, what LEGO Star Wars 75252 Imperial Star Destroyer lacks in swooshability, it makes up for with presence.
=1 – 75313 AT-AT
Theme: Star Wars Price: £699.99 / $849.99 / €799.99 Pieces: 6,785 Available: Now
Another of the impressive Ultimate Collector Series sets, the mighty LEGO Star Wars 75313 AT-AT is tied for our top spot with an equally mighty price tag of £699.99. It only appears second on our list as the remaining set a) has more pieces and b) doesn’t represent the evil Empire.
=1 – 75192 Millennium Falcon
Theme: Star Wars Price: £699.99 / $849.99 / €799.99 Pieces: 7,541 Available: Now
The holy grail for the LEGO Star Wars fan. It will take something extraordinary to knock the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy from the top spot. At £699.99 and with over 7,500 pieces, 75192 Millennium Falcon truly is the ultimate LEGO set. Designed to display as Han’s beloved original, or the slightly-tweaked version that Rey flew, this epic set is worth every penny. All 70,000 of them.
The 10 most expensive LEGO sets of all time – August 2022
Position | Theme | Set name | Price | Piece count |
10 | Harry Potter | 71043 Hogwarts Castle | £369.99 / $469.99 / €399.99 | 6,020 |
=8 | Technic | 42131 Cat D11 Bulldozer | £399.99 / $499.99 / €449.99 | 3,854 |
=8 | Technic | 42100 Liebherr R 9800 Excavator | £399.99 / $499.99 / €449.99 | 4,108 |
7 | Star Wars | 75159 Death Star | £409.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 | 4,016 |
6 | Harry Potter | 76405 Hogwarts Express Collectors’ Edition | £429.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 | 5,129 |
5 | ICONS | 10276 Colosseum | £439.99 / $549.99 / €499.99 | 9,036 |
4 | ICONS | 10294 Titanic | £554.99 / $679.99 / €629.99 | 9,090 |
3 | Star Wars | 75252 Imperial Star Destroyer | £614.99 / $699.99 / €699.99 | 4,784 |
=1 | Star Wars | 75313 AT-AT | £699.99 / $849.99 / €799.99 | 6,785 |
=1 | Star Wars | 75192 Millennium Falcon | £699.99 / $849.99 / €799.99 | 7,541 |
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It’s a more interesting list if you adjust for inflation:
#1 remains the same, but #2 goes to Samsonite’s Large Educational Set of 1963, which retailed for a whopping $100 back in the day.
The original UCS Falcon, Star Destroyer and UCS Super Star Destroyer also make the inflation-adjusted list.