If you've recently searched online for LEGO sets or visited a toy store, you've probably had to look twice at the price tags. A simple city backdrop, a race car, and even a modest Star Wars series can now cost as much as a decent gadget. “Wait a minute, did LEGO cost this much when I was a kid?” you may be asking yourself. You're not alone.
Many fans and casual buyers are asking themselves the same thing. How did this happen? Have LEGO bricks suddenly been gold-plated? Not quite, but the price increase for these toys is real, and there are reasons for it. Let's take a look at why these little plastic bricks have become so expensive.
6 reasons why LEGO is so expensive now
Take a look at the factors that are currently driving up the cost of LEGO:
- Premium quality costs more
LEGO has taken its brick business seriously. These are no longer average toy bricks that fall over if you sneeze near them. The company is more committed than ever to producing sets of the highest quality. Today's bricks fit together with near-perfect precision, and that's no accident. It's the result of strict quality controls and the use of high-quality ABS plastic that will last for generations.
Today's LEGO bricks are durable, precise, and resistant to fading or warping over time. Their manufacturing is so incredibly precise that only 18 out of 1 million bricks are rejected. This level of precision is neither easy nor cheap to achieve. When you're manufacturing millions of perfect, tiny parts that are flawless, quality control adds to the cost.
- LEGO sets are more detailed
Have you noticed that modern LEGO sets have more pieces and details than the ones we had two decades ago? As the world has changed, so has LEGO; it is no longer just for children, but also for adult fans.
The sets have more complex designs, richer storytelling elements, and numerous pieces (some even thousands). Since more pieces need to be assembled, additional packaging, design time, and more molds are required, which increases production costs. Today, the sets seem less like normal toys and more like miniature engineering projects.
- LEGO is committed to sustainability
LEGO is currently investing heavily in becoming more environmentally friendly. The company is currently working on developing plant-based plastics, minimizing single-use packaging, and switching to renewable energy. This is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't come cheap.
Unlike other brands that are cutting corners, LEGO remains true to its values. The company has chosen to remain ethical and sustainable, even if it means that the sets become more expensive. So when you pay $50 for a small car set, part of that price is for a clearer conscience.
- Licensing of well-known franchises
Remember when LEGO mainly consisted of castles? Today, it goes far beyond what we knew. Today, there are LEGO sets like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and more that let you recreate your favorite movie characters. However, these licenses don't come for free, as LEGO has to pay franchises like Disney and Marvel to use their logos and characters. This makes these sets more expensive.
- Inflation drives up prices
We mustn't forget the unpleasant topic of inflation. Like every other industry, LEGO is also heavily affected by rising costs worldwide. Raw material prices have been rising since the beginning of 2020. Add to that rising fuel prices and expensive transportation, and it's no surprise that some of these building blocks cost as much as a mid-range smartphone.
- The collector's market is driving up costs
Gone are the days when LEGOs were just toys. Today, they are seen as an investment. Prices for older sets have risen on the resale market. The Star Wars Cloud City set, which cost $100 in 2003, is now worth over $2,000.
Collectors know this, and some buy extra sets to hoard unopened, hoping they will be worth a fortune in a few years. This demand and the scarcity when a LEGO set is discontinued have made these collections seem more like a luxury product than a toy.
Final thoughts
There are many reasons why LEGO is so expensive today. But when you think about it, when you buy a set for yourself or your child, you're not just buying plastic bricks. You're getting premium quality, a new experience, and saving the planet.
Sure, the new prices may make you want to save up, but the joy of placing that last brick? It's absolutely worth it. So the next time someone asks you, “Why is LEGO so expensive now?”, smile, show off your complete set, and say, “Because great things cost a little more.”
Get your favorite LEGO set now at Fantasi and build something great.