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40 Best LEGO Sets for Adults and Collectors

Because kids shouldn't get to have all the fun!

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the lego tranquil garden and lego avengers tower
LEGO

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What we've learned in our many, many years of testing toys at the Good Housekeeping Institute — and we've been running our Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards program for more than 15 years now, so we have a lot of experience — is that LEGO knows no age. "Kidults" are a growing segment of the toy audience in general, and LEGO is especially aware of the Adult Fans of LEGO, putting out bigger and bigger and better and better sets for those ages 18+.

But if you have a LEGO fan in your life, what kit will really wow them? These are the best LEGO sets for adults in 2023. While we haven't been able to test them all, many of these were evaluated during our yearly toy tests and scored stellar marks. And some have even earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, which means they've gone through an even more rigorous testing process. (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.) To those top-tested items, we added impressive mega-sets sets, best-sellers and sets we think will delight fans of different movies, TV shows and comic books.

Our Top Picks for the Best LEGO Sets for Adults in 2023

No matter what they're into, there's bound to be a LEGO set here that matches their interest.

Looking for more great gifts? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:

The Best Gifts for Boyfriends | The Best Gifts for Kids | The Best Gifts for Anime Fans

Tester and Expert Approved!

Thor’s Hammer

GH Seal
Thor’s Hammer
Credit: LEGO

This Seal-holding set is perfect for any Marvel fan who wants a big display piece for their desk or shelves. The hammer — or Mjölnir for those in the know — clocks in at nearly 1,000 pieces. It also comes with a Thor minifigure, and a secret compartment opens up where fans can store three smaller builds: the Infinity Gauntlet, the Tesseract and Odin's Fire. But who is mighty enough to lift it?

Just a Little Something

Nutcracker

Nutcracker
Credit: LEGO

While not specifically for adults, what LEGO fan wouldn't want a pair of these nutcrackers standing guard on a mantel? Builders can choose between two faces (all the more reason to get a pair), and it has moving arms and a working mouth. (We wouldn't put a walnut in it, though.)

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Best LEGO Set for Relaxing

Hokusai – The Great Wave

Hokusai – The Great Wave

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.

Adult LEGO Set Under $100

Dried Flower Centerpiece

On Sale
Dried Flower Centerpiece

Whether on a mantel, a wall or right in the center of the table, this floral set will be the star of any holiday gathering. The bouquet is flexible and can be arranged in different ways: It can be round like a wreath on one day, for example, and then straight like a table runner the next.

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Best LEGO Set for "The Office" Fans

The Office

The Office

They can unwind after a long day at the office by building the set of the Dunder Mifflin's office. It includes 15 The Office LEGO minifigures, 12 of which have two different facial expressions on either side of their heads. Testers noted how impressed they were with the classic details like Jim's teapot and Pam's engagement ring and an authentic reception, desk area and conference room. Plus, they can even display Michael Scott's office all on its own, since it's easy to slide out and remove from the rest of the set. And for the truly TV obsessed, there are also LEGO sets to re-create the apartment from Friends or the set of Seinfeld.

Ultimate LEGO Set for Marvel Fans

Avengers Tower

Avengers Tower
Credit: LEGO

If there is a Marvel fan in your life, this is the set against which all other Marvel sets will be judged. This LEGO Avengers Tower, when built, stands nearly three feet tall (90 cm), and comes with a collection of 31 minifigures of Earth's Mighttiest Heroes and their foes. Set your alarms: It goes on sale 11/24 at 12 am EST.

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Amazon Reviewers Say It's the "Perfect Gift"

Tranquil Garden

GH Seal
Tranquil Garden

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.

Best Stocking Stuffer for Adult LEGO Fans

Minifigures Marvel Series 2

Minifigures Marvel Series 2
Credit: LEGO

These Marvel minifigs come in blind packs, so they won't know which character they're going to get. There are 12 to collect in all, featuring famous faces old (X-Men circa 1997) and new (like Echo or Moon Knight). They're perfect for when you need just-a-little-something for a LEGO fan.

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No Army member is complete without this LEGO re-creation of the "Dynamite," video, complete with the disco, record store, donut shop, ice-cream truck and basketball hoop. It also comes with seven BTS minifigures, which almost makes it worth the price alone.

Best LEGO Set for Indiana Jones Fans

Escape from The Lost Tomb

On Sale
Escape from The Lost Tomb

This set, which pays homage to Raiders of the Lost Ark, has fun interactive features: Builders can make the statue of Anubis topple so it breaks through the wall, and also lots of cracks where snakes can slither through. It comes with minifigures of Indy, Marion Ravenwood, Sallah, and a mummy, along with plenty of LEGO snakes. (Why did it have to be snakes?) For the Indy fan in your life, there's also a bigger LEGO set featuring the famous Temple of the Golden Idol boulder scene ($150), and also a smaller one that depicts the iconic fighter plane chase ($28).

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Best LEGO Set for World Travelers

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

World travelers will love this mini-Taj Mahal. This collectible set includes authentic details of the real Taj Mahal, including the main dome and four minarets. It also features a removable central chamber that lets you view the crypt below with tombs of Mumtaz and Shah Jahan. The step-by-step directions are easy enough to follow that even beginners can join in on the fun. Rachel Rothman, former Chief Technologist for the Good Housekeeping Institute, noted having seen the real thing, she was blown away by the tremendous detail of the set.

Best LEGO Set for Nintendo Fans

Super Mario Piranha Plant

Super Mario Piranha Plant

Piranha Plant have been the scourge of the Super Mario universe since the game franchise's inception — but they sure do look nice sitting on a desk. When it's built, the head, mouth, stalk and leaves can be posed to make it look just so. And, if there's a Mario fan in your life, you might want to consider the LEGO Question Mark Block or the LEGO Mighty Bowser to go with it.

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A Good One to Do With Kids

Hogwarts: Room of Requirement

GH Seal
Hogwarts: Room of Requirement

For Harry Potter fans who don't want to take on the challenge of building the entire Hogwarts castle, there's this Seal-holding set, which focuses in on the Room of Requirement. One tester reported loving the play features of the tower, including an upper-level room for the Gray Lady. It also comes with 5 minifigures, and other creatures like a fire serpent and a Cornish pixie.

New for 2023

Tiny Plants

On Sale
Tiny Plants

Cacti and LEGO succulents and carniverous plants — oh my! With this set, builders and plant-lovers can build nine different arid and tropical plants, each in its own LEGO pot. Species include jade plant, false shamrock, lace leaf, Venus flytrap, sundew, pitcher plant, prickly pear cactus, prickly pear cactus and succulents. The set will be released on December 1.

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Best LEGO Set for Architectural Details

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty

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.

Ultimate LEGO Set for 'Lord of the Rings' Fans

Rivendell

Rivendell

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).

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Best LEGO Set for Plant Lovers

Bonsai Tree

On Sale
Bonsai Tree

If the LEGO fan in your life doesn't quite have the touch for maintaining actual plants, this LEGO version of a gorgeous Bonsai tree might be the best way to add a little greenery to their home. The set comes with both green leaves and pink blossoms so they can switch up the blooms depending on the season. No sunlight or water required.

A Near-Perfect Rating on Amazon

TIE Bomber

GH Seal
TIE Bomber

Star Wars fans can take a walk on the Dark Side with a trip in this Seal-holding TIE bomber from The Empire Strikes Back. (And yes, it really shoots torpedoes.) Big Star Wars fans will appreciate that it comes with minifigures of characters that aren't included in a lot of other sets, including Admiral Sloane and a Gonk droid.

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For 'Jurassic Park' Fans

Brachiosaurus Discovery

Brachiosaurus Discovery

This set is for anyone who remembers the first time they (and Ellie Satyler) caught a glimpse of the realistic-looking dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. LEGO fans can re-build that moment, complete with a jeep, a tall tree for dinos to munch on, and the star of the show — a LEGO Brachiosaurus (the tallest LEGO dino to date). It also comes with minifigures of Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler and John Hammond.

Holiday-Themed Set

Alpine Lodge

Alpine Lodge
Credit: LEGO

For LEGO experts looking to get into the festive spirit, this set will make them feel like they're on a snowy winter retreat. The walls of the chalet really look like a log cabin, and it also comes with an outdoor skating rink, a snowmobile, a Christmas tree, a fireplace — even an outhouse! To make a complete winter village, add on the Holiday Main Street and Santa's Visit sets which are all builds for LEGO fans ages 18+.

Headshot of Marisa LaScala
Marisa LaScala
Senior Parenting & Relationships Editor

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. 

Headshot of Jamie Spain

Jamie (she/her) is the former parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has also worked a BuzzFeed and People. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.

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lego avengers tower
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