35 Best LEGO Sets for Adults and Fans Who Want a Challenge
When it comes to LEGO, it's not just for kids!
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My house is full of completed LEGO sets, and they're mostly not my daughter's — they're my husband's. (And man did I earn aura points with him when I got him the X-Mansion set for Christmas last year.) I know I'm not the only one living with an AFOL — an Adult Fan of LEGO. "Kidults" are a growing segment of the toy audience in general, and LEGO is certainly on it, putting out bigger and better sets that appeal to those 18+.
Below is a list of the best LEGO sets for adults. Many of these are sets with fan-favorite pop-culture characters, like those from Star Wars, Marvel or Harry Potter. We also included sets from the Botanicals line, which lets builders tap into their inner flower-arrangers, and the Ideas line, which come conceptualized by fans.
Some have even earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, which means they've gone through rigorous testing. (And the Seal-holding LEGO sets are protected under the same limited warranty program as the rest of Seal-holders from the Good Housekeeping Institute.) The only left to answer: Where will these sets go when they're all assembled?
Sure, this set is Jurassic Park-themed, but you'd never know it unless you spy the minifigures of Ellie Sattler and Alan Grant. Otherwise, it looks like something you could pick up in a gift shop at a natural history museum. The detailed skeleton model set is made with more than 3,000 pieces, and when it's done it rests on a display-worthy stand. Those who want less of a challenge can also get just the T-Rex skull (577 pieces), or a Triceratops Skull (468 pieces). Ages 18+
It's hard to fully convey just how massive this LEGO Titanic replica is — it's the third-largest LEGO set ever, in fact, after the World Map (which has the most pieces, but is sadly retired) and the Eiffel Tower (which stands the tallest and is available now).
Before it's opened and put together, the box with all the pieces in it weighs more than 30 pounds by itself! When completed, it's a 1:200 scale model of the real thing, and there are cross-sections that show interior details like the first-class dining room, grand staircase, boiler rooms and cabins. If you turn the propellers, the piston engines inside move (and you can also raise or lower the anchor or adjust the tension line between the masts). Ages 18+
Whoever thought you could make a painting out of LEGO bricks? With this version of "The Starry Night," art appreciators can take a walk in Vincent van Gogh's shoes and create a work of art perfect for hanging on walls. This set is a collaboration with The Museum of Modern Art to ensure great quality and rich colors. It also comes with a Van Gogh minifigure, paintbrush and easel. Ages 18+
RELATED: The Vincent van Gogh Starry Night LEGO Set Is an Actual Work of Art
While the life-sized version of this classic Porsche 911 sports car may be a bit out of your budget, this LEGO version is a particularly good alternative for a gift for Dad. Choose between building the Turbo or Targa model; both look equally amazing on display. Ages 18+
Hey hey, kids! For fans who grew up with The Simpsons, there's no more recognizable fast-food location than the ol' Krusty Burger. Fans can take the roof off to see the kitchen, dining room, bathroom and drive-thru area, and it also comes with a buildable marquee sign and clown car. In addition to Homer, Bart and Lisa, the set includes minifigures of Krusty Burger regulars, like Farmer Krusty, Sideshow Bob, Squeaky Voiced Teen and Officer Lou. Ages 18+
Builders can make a serene scene with his Seal-holding set, which features a pavilion, an arched bridge, a stream, koi fish, lotus flowers, trees, rocks and stone lanterns that can be arranged to the heart's delight. The pavilion can even be opened to reveal a tiny tea set inside. Reviewers noted that, even though this is a set geared towards adults, the build isn't too much of a challenge. Ages 18+
Good news! This year's Wicked sets are every bit as good as last year's, if not better. Those waiting with baited breath for Wicked: For Good can bide their time with this Emerald City building set, which commemorates the scene when Galinda and Elphaba arrive at Emerald City. The complex includes stores to shop in, a coffee cart for treats and three floors to explore. Ages 9+
RELATED: LEGO Just Announced 7 Wicked Sets — and Fans Are Already Obsessed
For Good Housekeeping testers, this is the droid they seek — they loved putting together this R2-D2, which has a rotating head and attachable periscope. It even comes with a display plaque and a Darth Malak minifigure celebrate the 25th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars. In addition to R2-D2, other LEGO Star Wars sets that boast the Good Housekeeping Seal include The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter and a TIE Bomber. Ages 10+
I've been in houses that have had this assembled, and it's amazing how, every time I caught it out of the corner of my eye, I thought it was a real cat. (I also get a kick out of black-and-white cat owners who posts memes of their real cats crawling into the LEGO box.) When the 1,710 pieces are assembled, builders can swivel the head and adjust the ears for the perfect catlike pose. Ages 18+
Sunflowers and daisies and poppies — oh my! This wildflower bouquet has so many different colors and types of flowers, and arranging and re-arranging them can be a peaceful hobby. There are eight species of flowers represented, including blooms inspired by cornflowers, lavender, Welsh poppies, cow parsley, leatherleaf ferns, gerbera daisies, larkspur and lupins. Ages 18+
RELATED: "Grandma Hobbies" Could Be the Secret to Better Mental Health
Hogwarts Castle
For those that truly believe Hogwarts is their home away from home, this massive set may just bring tears to their eyes. As one of the biggest sets on the market, with more than 6,000 pieces, and measuring over 22 inches tall, 27 inches wide and 16 inches deep, this set will keep fans occupied for quite some time. It even includes magical details like Hagrid's Hut, the Whomping Willow and moving staircases. Ages 16+
RELATED: The Best 'Harry Potter' Gifts
With the popularity of Formula 1 right now, there have to be some adult F1/LEGO crossover fans. LEGO offers their Speed Champions line, which may not be the most challenging to build, but feature many of their favorite F1 race cars. This one is for the Ferrari fans, and comes with a minifigure in a red Ferrari driving suit, but there are others, including a Mercedes-AMG F1 W15, an Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 and a McLaren (another set that holds the Good Housekeeping Seal), among others. Ages 10+
With 1,685 pieces, including details inspired by the real architectural like the torch and detailed pedestal, this set is a great addition to anyone's home who loves travel, architecture or design. Even seasoned LEGO testers noted the impressive sculpting for this updated Statue of Liberty set. Ages 16+
LEGO fans who are also Disney adults can wish upon a star for this re-creation of the iconic Cinderella castle from Walt Disney World. Inside the 4,800-piece castle there are shout-outs to Disney movies, like Sleeping Beauty's spinning wheel or Snow White's magic mirror. It even looks like there are fireworks going off. Ages 18+
For those who use their LEGO building time to relax, this set is great for getting in the zone — builders can scan a QR code to get access to a soundtrack that's tailor-made to listen to while putting this set together. When it's finished, it can be hung on a wall as a unique piece of 3D art. Ages 18+
They don't need to use The Force to complete this 7,541-piece set — just a lot of time (and patience). But if they complete it, the Star Wars fan in your life will be rewarded with a ship that looks just like the real thing. Inside, there are tons of features to delight fans, including a holographic Dejarik area, a combat training helmet, a cockpit and an engineering station with a rotating seat, and 1o minifigures to keep the whole thing running. Testers say that the final version has a huge "Wow" factor. To turn it into a family affair, there's also a smaller Millennium Falcon set for $85. Ages 16+
There are so many little details in this set that bring the fantasy world of The Lord of the Rings into the real world, from the individual ceiling tiles to the statuary that stands guard around the tower. Even the artwork that hangs in the hall details memorable moments from the epic saga — and are great Easter eggs for fans. There's an armory, a gazebo, a forge, the formidable Council of Elrod and 15 minifigures (which is a good thing, because we all know 13 is bad luck). Ages 18+
We're gonna need a bigger baseplate. As the first-ever summer blockbuster celebrates its 50th anniversary, LEGO has stepped up with a set that includes both shark and ship, along with minifigures of Brody, Hooper and Quint. Only one question remains: Can fans put it together without humming the ominous theme music? Ages 18+
Whether it's Halloween, Summerween or any time in between, it's always spooky season somewhere. Monster-lovers will get a kick out of putting together this eerie mansion, then taking it apart to build a ghost ship or a haunted train. (It should tide over horror fans until the Dark Universe Ideas set gets enough votes — fingers crossed!) Ages 9+
Uh-oh, the villains are breaking out of the asylum! And so many villains, too: Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Bane, The Riddler, the Penguin, Catwoman and Mr. Freeze — the gang is all here in this Arkham Asylum set (plus various guards and heroes to try and round them up again, including Batman of course). The set has 360-degrees of play, so DC fans can build the exterior, then swing it around to see the villain's jail cells. The three floors can be built separately, and it even comes with a buildable van for transporting the inmates. Ages 18+
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
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