In recent years it's become clear that LEGO sets aren't just for kids. The Danish brick-building company has been putting out loads of sets with an 18+ age recommendation for years now. These are typically sets based on things adults might be into, including geek culture and nostalgic properties, and they often come with a placard and/or stand so you can display them as decorations on a shelf or desk. Let’s take a look at some of the best LEGO sets for adults in 2023.
LEGO Sets for Adults
LEGO The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell This set comes at a premium price, but it’s also a huge, gorgeously detailed set perfect for any adult fan of The Lord of the Rings.$499.99
- LEGO Indiana Jones – Temple of the Golden Idol – $149.99
- LEGO Titanic – $679.99
- LEGO Optimus Prime – $179.99
- LEGO Vincent Van Gogh – The Starry Night – $169.95
- LEGO Boutique Hotel – $229.95
Lots of LEGO sets for adults are easily catagorizable (see the categories below). Others are one-off sets that are very cool, but harder to drop in a list with other similar sets. That's what we're looking at here. The LEGO Optimus Prime set actually transforms, which is an incredible feat of engineering. That Titanic set is among the biggest and most impressive LEGO sets ever released. As for the Lord of the Rings one, check out our feature on building the LEGO Rivendell set. It's a remarkable build and a display piece you'll want to put somewhere prominent.
Star Wars LEGO Sets
Available nowLEGO Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter Set #75355, includes 1,949 pieces.$239.99
- LEGO Emperor’s Throne Room Diorama – $99.94
- LEGO Endor Speeder Chase Diorama – $79.94
- LEGO Death Star Trench Run Diorama – $55.99
- LEGO Death Star Trash Compactor Diorama – $72.00
- LEGO Dagobah Jedi Training Diorama – $79.99
- LEGO Star Wars AT-AT (UCS) – $849.99
- LEGO Millennium Falcon (UCS) – $829.99
- LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 – $239.95
- LEGO Mos Eisley Cantina – $399.99
- LEGO Republic Gunship – $399.99
- LEGO The Mandalorian Helmet – $55.99
- LEGO Luke Skywalker (Red Five) Helmet – $69.99
- LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet – $63.99
- LEGO Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder – $239.95
Of all the LEGO sets for adults, no theme is better served than Star Wars. LEGO has been pumping out all kinds of sets, ranging from a line of iconic buildable helmets to dioramas of memorable scenes from the films. And if you have a big enough budget, you can get some truly massive and impressive sets in the premium Ultimate Collector Series, like the X-Wing above and an enormous AT-AT. Check out our feature on building the LEGO X-Wing Starfighter.
See our larger list of the best Star Wars LEGO sets for more Star Wars gift ideas.
LEGO Plant Sets
LEGO Icons Flower Bouquet This buildable bouquet is perfect for gifting to yourself or your favorite person. It’s filled with a wide variety of flowers as well, including roses, snapdragons, poppies, and more.20% off $59.99$47.99
- LEGO Flower Bouquet – $47.99
- LEGO Succulents – $39.99
- LEGO Bonsai Tree – $39.99
- LEGO Orchid – $39.99
- LEGO Wildflower Bouquet – $59.99
- LEGO Dried Flower Centerpiece – $49.99
Nothing projects the idea that you're a grown adult like owning a plant. These LEGO plants and flowers are fun to build, and they look downright elegant. Better yet, you don't need to water them to keep them alive. Because they're not.
Comic Book LEGO Sets
LEGO Marvel Spider-Man Daily Bugle 76178 3,772-Piece Building Kit This towering build of Spidey’s hometown paper is impressive on its own, plus it includes a jaw-dropping 25 minifigures of recognizable heroes and villains.$349.95
- LEGO Marvel Spider-Man: Daily Bugle – $349.95
- LEGO Technic Batmobile – $90.84
- LEGO Hulkbuster – $445.99
- LEGO Marvel Thor's Hammer – $99.99
- LEGO Marvel Spider-Man: Venom – $55.99
- LEGO I Am Groot – $43.99
- LEGO Technic Batcycle – $49.97
- LEGO Marvel Infinity Gauntlet – $63.99
LEGO has a whole lot of Marvel and DC sets for kids, but there are also some killer sets for adults. My favorite among them is the LEGO Spider-Man Daily Bugle, but it's on the expensive (and big) side. Other options include a LEGO Technic Batmobile.
See our larger list of the best Marvel LEGO sets for more Marvel gift ideas.
Video Game LEGO Sets
LEGO Super Mario The Might Bowser $269.95
- LEGO Horizon: Forbidden West Tallneck – $71.99
- LEGO Sonic The Hedgehog – Green Hill Zone – $69.99
- LEGO Mario 64 Question Mark Block – $199.99
- LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System – $269.99
- LEGO Star Wars BD-1 – $99.95
You can find video game-based LEGO sets for adults that encompass everything from nostalic plays like the LEGO NES to more modern sets like the LEGO Tallneck from Horizon: Forbidden West. One of our LEGO critic's favorite recent builds was the impressive LEGO Mighty Bowser set. I also love BD-1, the droid from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor.
See our list of the best Nintendo LEGO Sets for more ideas.
Harry Potter LEGO Sets
LEGOHogwarts Express – Collector's Edition Build the model steam train, the engine, coal tender and a 3-room passenger carriage with lights that reveal 3 classic scenes from the movies!$499.95
- LEGO Hogwarts Castle – $469.95
- LEGO Art Hogwarts Crests – $119.99
- LEGO Hogwarts Great Hall – $156.99
- LEGO Hogwarts Clock Tower – $113.00
- LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Icons – Collectors' Edition – $299.95
Not all of these LEGO Harry Potter sets are in the 18+ category, but they're among the larger builds in the Wizarding World universe, and they're all pretty awesome for fans of the books and movies.
See our larger list of the best Harry Potter LEGO sets for more Harry Potter gift ideas.
LEGO Architecture Sets
LEGO Architecture Landmark Collection Great Pyramid of Giza $129.99
- LEGO The White House – $94.91
- LEGO New York City – $52.99
- LEGO Statue of Liberty – $96.17
- LEGO London – $39.95
- LEGO Paris – $49.99
- LEGO Taj Mahal – $119.99
The LEGO Architecture line is great. It lets you build famous buildings, monuments, and cities, and display them anywhere you want. They're fun to build and no one would mistake them for sets intended for kids.
Car LEGO Sets
LEGO Technic Peugeot 9X8 24H Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar Set #42156, contains 1,775 pieces.$199.99
- LEGO Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 – $449.99
- LEGO Porsche 911 – $169.99
- LEGO Ferrari Daytona SP3 – $449.99
- LEGO Pickup Truck – $129.99
- LEGO Ghostbusters ECTO-1 – $239.95
- LEGO Technic Ferrari 488 GTE “AF Corse #51” – $168.50
- LEGO James Bond Aston Martin DB5 – $219.99
- LEGO Back to The Future Time Machine – $170.85
LEGO has been making car sets for adults for a while. If you love an iconic sports car, there's a chance you can find a LEGO set based on it. You can also pick up some awesome geek culture vehicles, like the Ghostbusters' ECTO-1 and the Back to the Future time machine.
For more ideas, you can check out all the LEGO sets on the IGN Store.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.