10 best Lego sets for adults

Lego is one of those hobbies many of us picked up as a kid, where we would build medieval castles, underwater labs, or pirate ships to kill hours or days. Then came the deconstruction phase and building your own unique creations. Now, you’re an adult with adult money, and Lego is preying on your nostalgia and fandoms to generate revenue.

The following are 10 of the best Lego sets for adults. This list, understandably, is subjective. I’ve based it on kits my wife and I have assembled. So, while the Lego Millennium Falcon and Eiffel Tower are out there, I can’t attest to their quality as I’ve not had the pleasure of building them.

The 10 best adult Lego sets

10. Captain Rex Helmet (75349)

• Lego Site
• 854 Pieces

The Lego helmets are fun builds that can be put together in about an hour or two. There are many options out there, from DC and Marvel to Star Wars. I’ve put together several of the Star Wars helmets, and Captain Wrex has been my absolute favorite due to my love of that era of Clonetrooper helm and how great it came out. Even better, they’re typically on the lower end of the Lego price scale, at about $70.

9. Optimus Prime (10302)

• Lego Site
• 1508 Pieces

There are few things that I’ve loved as long as Lego, and Optimus Prime is one of them. The Autobot’s leader, alongside Voltron, kicked off my passion for big robots. This kit takes us back to his G1 design and hits all of the right notes of nostalgia. Optimus comes with his iconic blaster, Energon axe, jetpack, and Energon cube. Yet, those accessories are trivial when you realize this Lego kit actually transforms! That’s right, you can easily switch Optimus between his truck and Autobot forms.

8. Ship in a Bottle (92177)

• Lego Site
• 962 Pieces

The Ship in a Bottle is such a delightful play on the concept. You’re not only building the ship but also the bottle and stand. Throw in some clear blue gems for the waves and a faux wax seal, and this is a great piece to keep on a mantle or desk.

7. Boutique Hotel (10297)

• Lego Site
• 3066 Pieces

The Boutique Hotel is a deceptively dangerous kit. It’s gorgeous to look at and super fun to build (especially with an aftermarket light kit). However, once you’ve built it and see that there is essentially a city’s worth of buildings to collect and build, your bank account and available floor space will weep.

6. 2022 Ford GT (42154)

• Lego Site
• 1468 Pieces

If you’re looking for a challenge, look no further than the Technic series. Lego has partnered with several vehicle manufacturers like Lamborghini and Peugeot to make some incredibly detailed recreations. Once you’ve spent a few hours just assembling the engine and realize the pistons actually move, it will hit. These kits are a labor of love, and the 2022 Ford GT is the perfect starting point.

5. Concorde (10318)

• Lego Store
• 2083 Pieces

A lot of the Lego Icons series operates on the Rule of Cool, and the Concorde is a prime example. At 41.5″ long, the Concorde demands your attention by dominating the space it occupies. The build is a joy thanks to the various moving parts, like the droop nose, landing gear, and more. Then, putting it on that elegant stand will make you marvel at the engineering that went into it.

4. The Guardians’ Ship (76193)

• Lego Site
• 1901 Pieces

The Guardians of the Galaxy films (not the third one, it’s too sad) are fun watches and serve as a good introduction to the weird world of Marvel Cosmic. No matter how much Rocket and Groot may steal scenes, The Milano and its various iterations have always been great eye candy thanks to their designs.

So, there are few better ways to kill an afternoon than watching the Guardians while building their ship. It’s a great way to make the world and its problems disappear as you connect one orange brick to another. Dang it, now I need to replay Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

3. Typewriter (21327)

• Lego Site
• 2079 Pieces

I’m going to let my bias really shine here. I grew up plinking away on an old typewriter my grandfather owned, and this was the first domino that led to this article. The Typewriter is a beautiful kit in terms of design and the engineering behind it. Much of the build is hidden behind the case because those keys actually work. Pressing each one will trigger the key slug and move the carriage! Pardon me while I geek out.

2. Hokusai – The Great Wave (31208)

• Lego Site
• 1810 Pieces

Lego has been branching out into the world of art with its aptly named Lego Art series. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your artistic preferences might be, Hokusai’s “The Great Wave” is a striking piece. Being able to recreate it through the imagination of Lego’s engineers is a treat, thanks to the creative use of existing pieces and the ability to hang the final product.

1. Hogwarts Castle (71043)

• Lego Site
• 6020 Pieces

Separate the art from the artist for me. My wife is a gigantic Harry Potter fan, and seeing the way her face lit up when she opened this up for the holidays is a memory I’ll treasure forever. I got to see a grown woman come home and excitedly get back to work on her set over the course of months before proudly declaring it finished and showing it off.

This is the joy that Lego creates. I firmly believe there’s a kit out there for everyone, and it gives us a necessary outlet. Creating and building something is one of the best ways to trigger those feel-good brain chemicals and Lego makes it readily available (for a not unsubstantial price).