The Cheapest Place to Buy Lego Sets

Cheap lego sets are hard to find. 

Even on sale, lego is expensive. 

But, if you shop on AliExpress, you’ve probably noticed that they have a lot of cheap lego sets. 

But, are they legitimate sets or are just low-quality knock offs?

How do you know if the AliExpress lego is any good?

Last year I took a chance and bought some when I realized that they were the cheapest place to buy lego sets.

Here is my honest AliExpress review of their cheap lego.

Note:  Just to be clear, when I say lego, I am not referring to the brand , but to all small building blocks that are similar and compatible with them.  Just like most people call tissue’s Kleenex, regardless of what brand they are, I have always referred to all small building blocks like that as lego.

In fact, it wasn’t until I passed my old lego down to my kids that I realized my favorite childhood lego set was actually made by Mega Blocks.  

Last year, one of my budgeting goals was to cut down on how much I spent on the kids for Christmas.  Overspending, and buying them too much junk they never used, was a bad habit that I needed to break.

The kids had a whole toy room full of toys they didn’t play with.  In fact, they rarely even went into the toy room because they were always watching YouTube or playing on the Xbox.

In addition to spending less money on their Christmas gifts, I also wanted to buy them more useful gifts.  Ones that would get them away from the screens for a bit.

So, what toys can you buy for kids that will keep them engaged as long as YouTube does?

Lego!

The Husband and I decided that we weren’t just going to buy them some new lego sets, we were going to turn their boring toy room into a lego-themed toy room as one of their gifts too. 

But, to do that we were going to need to buy a lot of new lego sets, and some lego-themed decorations.

With the cost of lego sets, how would I be able to buy enough to fill their new lego toy room while sticking to my budgeting goal?

Why Lego Is Good for Kids

Lego is a toy that promotes so many skills.

When kids build their lego sets, they practice following directions, developing math and problem-solving skills and it helps with fine motor skill development too.  Building their lego sets helps them work on their persistence and the feelings of accomplishment when it’s finished improves their self-esteem.

But the best part is once the set is built, playtime doesn’t end.  Now kids can use their lego sets for pretend play and continue to develop cognitive, communication and social skills. 

Then there are the skills kids develop playing with all the loose legos that don’t come in a set.  Building their own lego creations lets kids use their imagination and creativity and helps them develop planning skills. 

With so many different uses, the best thing about lego is that kids enjoy them and will sit and play with them, alone or with friends, for hours.  And anything that gets them away from a computer screen for a while is worth buying.

Why Is Lego Expensive?

Of course, the problem with lego sets is it’s so expensive.

It’s hard to find a decent-sized lego set for under $50.  Most of the ones that will keep your kids busy building for hours are over $100.  Then there are the huge sets, like this retired Star Wars Death Star, which currently sells on Amazon for over $800.

Yes, it’s expensive, but lego sets are a good investment.

Unlike most other toys, lego retains its value because it never goes out of style. 

So, while you may pay more than you feel it’s worth, when your kids outgrow the lego sets you’ll be able to sell them. Second-hand legos will get you a lot more money back than toys like Hatchimals do.

Finding Cheap Lego Sets

So, where can I find cheap lego?

As a Canadian, I wondered if lego was cheaper in the USA. 

After comparing some prices, I found that it doesn’t work out to be much cheaper. 

Some of the smaller sets may be a few dollars cheaper in the US and the bigger sets might save you $10-$15, but many sets worked out to around the same price with the current exchange rate. 

While buying lego in the US didn’t work out to be much cheaper, buying it from China did. 

If you want to buy super cheap lego sets, AliExpress is the place to shop.

AliExpress sells everything.  Lego figures, bases, bulk bricks, full lego sets, accessories and even decorations.  You can find replica’s of most lego themes and even sets that have been retired.

Is AliExpress Legit?

When you buy “lego” from AliExpress, it’s not the actual brand name lego sets. 

The most noticeable difference between brand name lego and the cheap lego on AliExpress is the lack of the logo on the bricks.

Otherwise, the AliExpress lego bricks themselves are pretty much identical to the real ones and are compatible with them.

Are AliExpress lego sets identical to brand name sets?

While the AliExpress lego sets look nearly identical to brand name sets, there will be small (mostly unnoticeable) differences.  The overall product will look the same, but small changes do have to be made to them to avoid breaking intellectual property laws.

Most sets also do not come with boxes, they are instead just packaged in a clear bag.  They do still come with instructions though.

What is Legoing?

The cheap lego sets on AliExpress go by many different brand names, but the one you will see often is Legoing.

The companies that manufacture these replica lego sets, cannot legally use the brand name on their products, so they find similar names to use so they will still show up in search results on AliExpress.  You will see other substitutes for copy-written brand names too, like Friends, Friend, The Girls or Girls Club. 

Are they counterfeit?

While the lego sets on Aliexpress are knockoffs of the real products, they are not counterfeit products. Read about the difference and legality of knockoff products here.

Does AliExpress Carry Licensed Lego Sets?

If you’re looking for licensed lego set replica’s, AliExpress has those too. 

You will easily find Star Wars, Minecraft, Harry Potter, Disney Princess, and many other popular characters.  And they look just as good as the brand name lego versions. 

Can You Find New Lego Sets on AliExpress?

Most lego sets that are available in retail stores are available on AliExpress too.  However, set’s that have just been released are not always available right away, so you may have to wait a few months to get the latest sets.

How Much Cheaper Is Lego On AliExpress?

Most sets are around half the price, with some being as low as a quarter of the retail store price. 

And if you’re looking for retired sets, the price is significantly lower than other websites that sell them.  Instead of paying $800+ on amazon for the Star Wars Death Star set, you can get it on AliExpress for around $150.

FAQ’s About Shopping on AliExpress

Is it safe to order from AliExpress?

Ordering from AliExpress is just as safe as ordering from Amazon.

Is it safe to use a credit card on AliExpress?

Yes, credit card info is as safe on AliExpress as any other major online retail store. 

Can I use PayPal with AliExpress?

PayPal is only available if the seller has activated PayPal for their store.

Can I pay with Visa debit card on AliExpress?

Yes.

Is AliExpress shipping really free?

Shipping costs are up to the individual seller, and while not all of them offer it for free, many do.  Often sellers who don’t offer free shipping have lower prices, so you will need to check if there are shipping costs when looking for the lowest price.

How long does it take to get an order from AliExpress?

Shipping from AliExpress is not fast.  It can take a month or two to receive your items, so it is best to plan ahead if your shopping for a specific holiday or occasion.

What happens when you open a dispute on AliExpress?

If your item does not arrive within the guaranteed time (or at all) you can open a dispute on AliExpress.  Sometimes the seller will just issue you a refund and sometimes they will fight it and AliExpress will get involved and order them to refund you.

My AliExpress Lego Review 2019

While I had ordered a lot of little things from AliExpress in the past, last year was the first time that I took the chance of ordering some bigger items, like lego sets. 

When I realized that they were the cheapest place to buy lego, I decided it was worth a try. 

I was able to find everything I needed from the retired lego friends amusement park series for Big Sis.  I got Lil Sis a lot of pet-themed sets, most of which were still available in stores. 

Last year I worried that I might end up having to pay customs, since the packages would be significantly bigger than my past orders.  But even the biggest set I ordered (for $50) came without any customs fees due.

I also worried that they might not all arrive on time.

But, despite the Canada Post strike, all the lego sets came before Christmas.  While I did end up not getting one of the other items I ordered (just a stocking stuffer), I opened a dispute and got a refund right away.

I think it’s pretty safe to rely on bigger packages showing up, it’s the smaller ones that could get lost between here and China. 

I still make sure that I place my order 2-3 months ahead of time, and I have a backup plan if something doesn’t arrive in time.

Last year I paid $300 and got each kid 6 lego Sets.  While it’s hard to know the exact price I would have paid buying them from a retail store, since many of the sets were retired, I estimated they would have cost me at least $700.

My experience buying AliExpress’s cheap lego sets was so good, I ended up buying each kid another set for Easter and for their birthday.  I have already placed my Christmas order for this year too.

While I love that I can find older sets that lego has discontinued, this year I realized that it’s not so easy to find the brand-new sets. 

I had noticed the newly released Heartlake City Amusement Pier set, that would go great with all the amusement park sets Big Sis has, but I have not been able to find it on AliExpress yet. (Update: It is now available on AliExpress for $55).

With the set selling on Amazon for $150, I’m willing to wait and get it for her birthday instead. 

For this Christmas, Big Sis is getting some more amusement park themed sets, that aren’t replicas of real lego Products but original designs that still look like real Lego’s. 

Lil Sis is getting everything for the now-retired Snow Resort series. The whole set would have retailed for over $200 and I only paid $90.

Each of the kids is getting 5 new lego sets, and a lego watch, and I only spent $200.

My kids have been playing with their new lego sets for almost a year now, and the quality of the sets is indistinguishable from the real lego sets.  We haven’t had any missing pieces and nothing has broken.

In my opinion, the cheap lego sets on AliExpress are worth the money.

The lego toy room was a hit last year, and all the new lego’s have kept the kids busy.  I love that we were able to spend time together building their sets and that they are playing with something that doesn’t have a screen.

I’m glad that I took the chance and purchased the cheap lego sets from AliExpress, since I was able to get the kids so much more than if I had bought them at a local retail store.

In my opinion, if you are looking for the cheapest place to buy lego, AliExpress is the best place to shop. 

Do you know of anywhere else to buy cheap lego sets? Have you bought any lego from AliExpress?  Do you know of any other great deals you can get on AliExpress?

Let me know on my Facebook post and follow me on Facebook to see what else I learn on my journey to live a healthier and happier life.