Holiday Shopping: Lego Sets Serve as Gifts and Decor

Lego sets have become a standard choice for holiday gifting across the United States.

The appeal extends beyond children. Adults now make up a large share of buyers for building kits. These products serve a dual purpose. They provide hours of assembly time. They also act as finished decorative pieces for homes. The brand offers themes that target specific hobbies and media interests. This variety makes the products suitable for recipients of different ages and personal tastes.

Retail data shows strong performance for these items on major e-commerce platforms. Many sets are frequently discounted. Shoppers can find deals at online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores like Target and Walmart. A former NBC Selected tech reporter and Lego store employee, Harry Rabinowitz, helped identify top sellers for this report. The selection includes collections from Botanicals, Creator, Disney, and Marvel.

The Lego Botanicals line is a top performer for adult buyers. The Orchid set contains approximately 600 pieces. The finished model stands more than 15 inches tall. Buyers report that the instructions are clear and the build is manageable. The set is often displayed on entryways or coffee tables. Another popular option is the Plum Blossom set. It contains a few hundred pieces and fits in a small box. This makes it easy to wrap and transport. It is a low-cost option that serves as a long-term decorative item.

For younger children, Lego Duplo sets dominate the sales charts. These kits use larger blocks that are easier for small hands to handle. A basic box for ages 1.5 and up contains 65 colorful pieces. It includes two figurines and no specific instructions. This encourages free-form building. The box doubles as a storage bin. A train set for this age group features three removable cars. It helps children learn about numbers and colors through play.

Sets for ages 2 and up focus on simple concepts. A construction vehicle set includes a truck and an excavator. It has two figures and imaginative pieces like a shovel. A farm set allows kids to care for animal figurines. It includes a horse, sheep, cat, cow, and chicken. Children can build a farmhouse and coop. They can also attach farmer figures to the horse for pretend riding.

The Lego Ideas series targets adult collectors. One popular set is a tuxedo cat. The model stands about 12.5 inches tall. It features rotating parts for the head, ears, paws, and tail. The cat has two sets of eyes, one yellow and one blue. Another favorite is the Hogwarts castle set. It contains more than 2,500 pieces. The size of the build fits well with holiday movie marathons. Families can assemble the model while watching the films.

Gaming fans have specific options. A Game Boy set includes a classic handheld console figure. It comes with games for Zelda and Super Mario. This set was also popular during Valentine’s Day. An Animal Crossing set features characters Isabelle and Fauna. It includes pieces to build Fauna’s house. A Mario set includes buildable figures of Mario, Bowser Jr., Yoshi, and Goomba. It adds iconic pieces like a pipe and a question mark block.

Complex sets appeal to older kids and adults. A three-in-one dinosaur set allows builders to create a T. rex, triceratops, or pterodactyl. Each model has distinct features like orange eyes or long horns. A Star Wars set includes a Luke Skywalker minifigure and an X-Wing robot. The mech stands about 5.1 inches tall. It has adjustable jetpack pieces and can hold a Lightsaber. A Fortnite set includes a flying battle bus and nine minifigures. An R2-D2 set features a rotating head and wheels for movement.

High-end models offer intricate details. A Lego Technic Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica has a V10 engine. It features opening doors and steering wheels. The finished car measures about 11 inches long and 4.5 inches wide. A Stitch set from Lilo and Stitch stands more than eight inches tall. It has movable ears and a turnable head. An Inside Out 2 set includes buildable cubes and mood plates. These allow users to change the characters' expressions. A jigsaw-style puzzle depicts 78 minifigures. It measures 25 inches by 20 inches.