LEGO is a great way to exercise the brain and get fine motor skills working, but have you ever wondered what the hardest LEGO® sets to build were? I will take a look into the biggest and most challenging sets released to date, I have even completed a social media survey to take a different look at what sets people to find a challenge.
Scroll down to get to the list of the hardest LEGO® Sets to build
Key Takeaways
- The hardest LEGO® sets to build are typically those with lots of small, fiddly pieces; those that take a long time to build; or those that are repetitive.
- The results of a social media survey showed the top 10 hardest LEGO® sets to build, as voted by fans.
- The sets on the list include the LEGO Creator Expert VW Camper Van (10279), Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle (71043), Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters (75827), Star Wars Millennium Falcon (75192), and UCS Imperial Star Destroyer (75252).
- To make the building process easier for challenging LEGO® sets, it is recommended that builders thoroughly read through the instruction manual before starting; take note of any difficult steps and plan ahead for them; sort and organize all pieces by color and shape before beginning; start with smaller sections first; assemble each section fully before moving on; double-check each section for correctness before connecting them together; try to follow any specific guidelines in the instruction
What Makes a LEGO® Set Hard to Build?
There are a few factors that can make a LEGO® set hard to build but don’t let this put you off. LEGO® are expert designers and if the build is a challenge then it will be worth it once you are finished.
So back to the question, what makes a LEGO® set hard to build…
- Lots of small fiddly pieces. This can result in you dropping them frequently and they can be hard to place.
- Length of time to build. Imagine a 10,000-piece set and you only have a small amount of spare time.
- Repetitiveness. Sets such as the World Map are amazing but very repetitive which can make it hard to keep enthused.
- Cost. This doesn’t constitute a hard build as such but it’s worth mentioning because a large LEGO® set will cost several hundreds of $.
Social Media Survey Results
I reached out to our fans on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to find out from their experience what have been the hardest LEGO® sets they have owned and built.
The results of this survey can be seen below.
Top 10 of the Hardest LEGO® Sets to Build
15. LEGO® World Map (31203)
Set Number: 31203
Theme: Art
Year Released: 2021
No. Pieces: 11695
RRP: $249.99
If you are looking for a creative way to learn about the world then the LEGO® World Map (31203) is the perfect solution!
The LEGO® World Map features all seven continents, each continent is represented by a different color. It is a tricky set to build which requires a lot of patience but well worth it in the end.
14. LEGO® Roller Coaster (10261)
Set Number: 10261
Theme: Creator Expert
Year Released: 2018
No. Pieces: 4124
RRP: $379.99
Looking for a LEGO® challenge? Look no further than the LEGO® Roller Coaster set! This incredible set is on the list of the hardest LEGO® sets to build for a reason!
13. LEGO® Typewriter (21327)
Set Number: 21327
Theme: Ideas
Year Released: 2021
No. Pieces: 2079
RRP: $249.99
The LEGO® Typewriter is perfect for anyone who loves a challenge, with 2,079 pieces this intricate set will take you hours to complete. When you’re finished, you’ll have a working typewriter that looks just like the real thing!
The LEGO® Typewriter is a must-have for any LEGO® fan or collector. It’s a complex and detailed set that will take your building skills to the next level.
12. LEGO® R2-D2 (75308)
Set Number: 75308
Theme: Star Wars
Year Released: 2021
No. Pieces: 2314
RRP: $239.99
This is an absolute must-have LEGO® set for any Star Wars fans out there! It may not look tricky to build but according to our social survey, it proved a challenging build!
The question is though, is it worth building… give it a go and see what you think!
11. LEGO® The Upside Down (75810)
Set Number: 75810
Theme: Stranger Things
Year Released: 2019
No. Pieces: 2287
RRP: $199.99
This incredible set is based on the popular Netflix show Stranger Things, it features 2287 pieces and 8 LEGO® Minifigures too! It’s perfect for fans of the show or anyone who loves a challenge.
Once this set is built it looks amazing and we mustn’t forget that it also just cries out for you to move things around to set your very own Stranger Things scene!
10. LEGO® Volkswagen T2 Camper Van (10279)
Set Number: 10279
Theme: Creator Expert
Year Released: 2021
No. Pieces: 2207
RRP: $179.99
This set was included on our list because of the social media survey.
The LEGO® Creator Expert sets are commonly put under the “Hardest LEGO® Set” umbrella, perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising… they have put the word expert in the theme name after all!
9. LEGO® Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle (71043)
Set Number: 71043
Theme: Harry Potter
Year Released: 2018
No. Pieces: 6020
RRP: $399.99
Recognize this magical school? It is none other than Hogwarts of course! This LEGO® set is a must-have for any Harry Potter fan.
The set is great fun to build but be prepared to sink some time into it. The perfect set to binge-watch the Harry Potter series perhaps?
One challenge with this set is the 70 stickers that need to be placed, it may be fiddly to do but doing this is prevented custom-printed pieces from being required which helps keep the overall cost down.
8. LEGO® Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters (75827)
Set Number: 75827
Theme: Ghostbusters
Year Released: 2016
No. Pieces: 4634
RRP: $349.99
Ghostbuster fans cannot get enough of this LEGO® set, it’s packed full of detail inside and out.
If you enjoy sets that have a high playability factor then this is going to be for you, they have carefully thought about what would be in each room of the Headquarters.
7. LEGO® Star Wars Millennium Falcon (75192)
Set Number: 75192
Theme: Star Wars
Year Released: 2017
No. Pieces: 7541
RRP: $799.99
Some might say this is the perfect gift for any Star Wars fan.
With 7541 pieces for a while, this was the largest set LEGO® had produced and with plentiful Minifigures too there was a lot to love about this set.
This set may be tricky to build but it’s been said to be very enjoyable and surprisingly not too repetitive.
6. LEGO® UCS Imperial Star Destroyer (75252)
Set Number: 75252
Theme: Star Wars
Year Released: 2019
No. Pieces: 4784
RRP: $699.99
LEGO Star Wars fans dream of having their own Imperial Star Destroyer sitting on display (and quite rightly too).
This set uses a lot of plates to get that “arrowhead” shape which sometimes proves tricky when you are putting a plate upon a plate.
However amazing this set looks it is very fragile so if you make it to the end without knocking pieces off I really advise that you put it on display away from anything that can potentially touch or knock it.
5. LEGO® Bugatti Chiron (42083)
Set Number: 42083
Theme: Technic
Year Released: 2018
No. Pieces: 3599
RRP: $349.99
The LEGO® Bugatti Chiron is a very popular set among the LEGO® community, particularly adults who have an interest in cars.
This set isn’t huge in comparison to others on this list but with 3599 pieces it’s still a good-sized set.
You will find this set fun to build as you quickly see the shape of the Bugatti Chiron come together however as it can be with Technic sets at times this set will challenge your patience.
This beautiful car sits nicely on our hardest LEGO® set-to-build list!
4. LEGO® Taj Mahal (10256)
Set Number: 10256
Theme: Creator Expert
Year Released: 2017
No. Pieces: 5923
RRP: $369.99
This set is perfect for any LEGO® enthusiast, the final result of the LEGO® Taj Mahal is outstanding.
It has been said that this set can be very tedious to build and on certain parts of the build if the pieces are not perfectly aligned it will be visible after you have completed the set.
However, the set has received great feedback and is one of the most popular LEGO® Creator Expert sets so if you are up for a challenge this set is for you.
3. LEGO® Land Rover Defender (42110)
Set Number: 42110
Theme: Technic
Year Released: 2019
No. Pieces: 2573
RRP: $199.99
This is a really popular set amongst the LEGO® Technic community but it comes with a challenge.
Sitting at position 1 on our social media survey this set has caused a number of people a lot of frustration whilst building it, particularly when it comes to joining the two assemblies to complete the chassis.
This set is fiddly to build and at times you will wish you had a second pair of hands but if you can persevere you will enjoy the end result.
2. LEGO® Colosseum (10276)
Set Number: 10276
Theme: Creator Expert
Year Released: 2020
No. Pieces: 9036
RRP: $549.99
Wanted to visit the Roman Colosseum but have never been able to? Well look no further, why not build your own?
The LEGO® Colosseum is another big set, with 9036 pieces made up mostly of small pieces it has found its place on this list not because of the technique or skill required but simply because it’s incredibly repetitive.
The build looks stunning once completed but when building this one just remind yourself, Rome was not built in a day and the same applies to your LEGO® Colosseum!
1. LEGO® Titanic (10294)
LEGO Titanic Details
Set Number: 10294
Theme: Creator Expert
Year Released: 2021
No. Pieces: 9090
Dimensions: 18″ / 44cm (H) | 54″ / 135cm” (L)
RRP: $629.99
If you are a fan of LEGO® but also love history this set will be perfect for you.
Just looking at the picture of this set you can see why it sits at number 1 on the list of hardest LEGO® sets to build.
The set is made up of 9090 pieces which means you will need dedication, determination, and a lot of patience whilst building the set, however, you have to trust me when I say it is worth it. The set is a work of art but does be warned it is huge!
If You Want to Be Original and Have a Real Challenge
Belle-ve Bricks has a team of designers that are ready to make a custom LEGO® model for you. if you more information check out our
5 More Hard LEGO® Sets to Build Video
How to Make Building Easier for Challenging LEGO® Sets
- Make sure to thoroughly read through the instruction manual before starting the build.
- Take note of any difficult or intricate steps, and plan ahead for those sections.
- Sort and organize all of the LEGO® pieces by color and shape before beginning the build.
- Start with the smaller, simpler sections of the build before moving on to larger or more complex sections.
- Assemble each section fully before moving on to the next.
- Double-check that each section is correctly built before moving on to connecting them together.
- Follow any specific guidelines or tips provided in the instruction manual for connecting sections together smoothly.
- Take breaks during the build as needed to prevent frustration and exhaustion.
Conclusion
If you really enjoy LEGO® you shouldn’t ever be put off by how challenging a set may be to build.
At the end of the day LEGO® is designed by master designers so if it is tricky it’s probably because the overall build benefits from it.
I actually recommend that you find sets that are challenging for you, it’s part of the fun and only adds to the satisfaction you get when you look back at your work of art.
So what set from our list of hardest LEGO® sets to build will you get next?
