The Most Valuable Retail LEGO Sets in The World

LEGO are more than just stunning brick models of our favourite starships, buildings, vehicles and characters. They are valuable investments due to their inherent collectable nature and long-term durability (when stored correctly).

Many LEGO sets cost a high amount at the point of purchase or were only available for a short period. LEGO do not always make it obvious to collectors that a set will be available for a limited run, and once the stock sells out, that can sometimes be it – you’ll have to head over to resale sites such as eBay to pick it up.

But it’s not always the case that the most expensive models end up becoming the most valuable as the years go by. Exclusivity, age and quality all play a part. Join us as we take a look at some of the most valuable and highly collectable LEGO sets in the world today, including classic sets from the early days of LEGO.

All set values are estimates taken from online sources and recent sales at the blog publication date. It is also assumed that all LEGO sets are in very good or sealed/new condition, and the models were originally available to purchase by the public (event and insider exclusive giveaways are excluded).

Castle 375-2

Year – 1978

Also known as ‘Yellow Castle’, this legendary fortress partly inspired the recent LEGO Icons Lion Knight’s Castle 10305 in honour of 90 years of LEGO history. The original set comprised 767 LEGO pieces and included 14 medieval-themed minifigures. The iconic yellow bricks and sense of nostalgia associated with this set make it one of the holy grails of LEGO collecting.

We can’t find this one sealed, but we’ve spotted listings for up to $800 in used/very good condition.

Airport Shuttle 6399-1

Year – 1990

Also known as the ‘international shuttle’, this LEGO set was expensive to buy when first released and was not around for long before LEGO retired it, along with other monorail sets. This fun model featured two stations connected by a moving carriage and track. There’s even a burger stall for hungry minifigures!

We found this set listed on Brick Link in new condition for $5,200.00 – we bet a few adults regret tearing this open at Christmas when they were a kid…

Darth Maul 10018

Year – 2001

Here’s one for Star Wars fans, and it’s not what you might think. This menacing model was one of the only LEGO busts released for the theme from the galaxy far, far away and contains realistic details such as Darth Maul’s glowing eyes and Zabrak horns. This is a highly sought model due to the iconic design of this fan-favourite character.

This UCS model is listed for US $3,200.00 on Brick Link in new/boxed condition.

Steam Engine with Tender 7750

Year – 1980

This was the only LEGO train set to have red wheels, and it was also equipped with lights on the front of the engine – a neat feature for such a vintage set. The model’s smart black and red design and the eye-catching minifigures make this a popular set. We’ve also seen it included in a few working electric LEGO railways constructed by serious collectors.

We found this model in good used condition for $669.99 on Brick Link.

Command Centre 926-1

Year – 1978

This model from the beloved LEGO Space theme contained a lunar surface station, two moon rovers, and four astronaut minifigures. There is something of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey in the design of the space suits and equipment, and this space set continues to be popular with collectors due to its vintage style. The recent LEGO Icons Galaxy Explorer 10497 was made to pay tribute to these classic sets.

This is currently difficult to find in very good/collectable condition, though it is estimated on Brick Economy that a sealed set’s value could potentially exceed $5,614 due to its rarity.

Death Star II 10143

Year – 2005

The Second Death Star from 1983’s Return of the Jedi is one of the most iconic designs from the Original Trilogy, with the exposed, city-like innards of the battle station on show as the fearsome weapon approached completion. The LEGO model is less than twenty years old but has already seen a sharp value increase due to the model’s intricate detailing and popularity with Star Wars fans.

This one sold on eBay (in very good condition with the original box) in August 2023 for $3,399.

Cloud City 10123

Year – 2003

This Star Wars set is increasingly valuable because it includes rare minifigures such as Boba Fett (with unique markings). It also contains scene-specific depictions of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Princess Leia and Lando Calrissian. This, combined with the detailed scenery, makes this the perfect stand-out set for any Star Wars collection.

This one regularly sells for high amounts on eBay, and we found one UK listing for £9,800. May the force be with whoever splashes out their galactic credits on that…