There have been plenty of wallet-busting LEGO sets released throughout 2023, but these 10 models are easily the most expensive.
The global economy continues to push the cost of consumer goods up across the board and not even the LEGO Group has been immune to the inevitable effects of price rises on its products. However, there’s also a dedicated fanbase out there with deep pockets that not only seems able to swallow some of those retail increases, but can seemingly afford to splash their cash on ever-more expensive LEGO releases.
We’ve seen multiple models launched in 2023 that have regularly clocked in at over £300 / $300 / €300 and higher, with huge builds being accompanied by equally-massive price points. With that in mind, here are the 10 most expensive LEGO sets that were released in 2023. How many have you managed to purchase... if any?
=10 – 21344 The Orient Express
Theme: LEGO Ideas Price: £259.99 / $299.99 / €299.99 Pieces: 2,540 Available:
Fan designer Thomas Lajon’s original creation may have undergone a radical makeover, but the final version of his winning LEGO Ideas submission is still a sight to behold. With a 2,540 piece count, the build manages to pack in plenty of detail, accurately befitting its real-life namesake.
For £259.99 / $299.99 / €299.99 you’re getting a steam engine, a coal tender and two luxury passenger cars, as well as eight unique minifigures. As a bonus, the whole model sits on its own portion of track, making it compatible with other LEGO train sets.
=10 – 10326 Natural History Museum
Theme: LEGO Icons Price: £259.99 / $299.99 / €299.99 Pieces: 4,014 Available:
The LEGO Group surprised fans of its popular Modular Buildings Collection this year by revealing that the latest addition to the ongoing line-up would be arriving slightly earlier than expected. The LEGO Icons set launched December 1, 2023 ahead of the traditional January 1 date, which ultimately proved to be a popular decision with fans of the subtheme.
10326 Natural History Museum manages to squeeze plenty into the build and certainly justifies its high price point. Spread over a 48x32-stud arrangement of baseplates, the two-storey model boasts multiple brick-built exhibits, nods to classic LEGO sets and seven minifigures. It's the same price as 21344 The Orient Express Train, but is rocking a higher piece count.
8 – 71799 NINJAGO City Markets
Theme: LEGO NINJAGO Price: £319.99 / $369.99 / €369.99 Pieces: 6,163 Available:
This year’s largest LEGO NINJAGO set managed to knock it out of the park once again, delivering a stunning model that’s bursting with colour and detail. Fully-compatible with 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens and three other massive builds in the theme, 71799 NINJAGO City Markets definitely put its 6,163 pieces to good use.
Coming in it £319.99 / $369.99 / €369.99, the LEGO NINJAGO set boasts a multi-level build that’s connected by a ‘working’ cable car. Dotted around the model are a Karaoke club, Sushimi’s sushi bar, a wheelchair-friendly lift, bakery and a flushable toilet. What more could you want for your money?
=7 – 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box
Theme: LEGO DC Price: £344.99 / $399.99 / €399.99 Pieces: 3,981 Available:
2024 brought yet another flurry of Bat-based models, with a lack of diversity and characters once again hampering the LEGO DC theme. However, one of the stand-out launches of the last 12 months was 76252 Batcave – Shadow Box, a 3,981-piece build that landed for £344.99 / $399.99 / €399.99 and offers something completely different for fans of the Dark Knight.
Opening up the 51cm wide set reveals a detailed Batcave setting lurking within that features multiple references to Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns movies. The illuminated LEGO DC build also includes a Batmobile, opening roof, changeable computer screens and seven minifigures to round out the superhero experience.
=7 – 43222 Disney Castle
Theme: LEGO Disney Price: £344.99 / $399.99 / €399.99 Pieces: 4,837 Available:
The LEGO Group marked Disney’s 100th anniversary in style this year, with multiple models celebrating the House of the Mouse’s special occasion. The largest of those sets is 43222 Disney Castle, a 4,837-piece build that comes with an equally eye-popping £344.99 / $399.99 / €399.99 price point.
Inside Cinderella’s castle, fans can discover references to 14 classic animated films, as well as eight minifigures from three classic Disney eras, although it might have been more. From the Grand Ballroom and enchanted fireplace to the Magic Mirror and a table setting from Beauty and the Beast, this nostalgic build more than matches its high cost.
5 – 76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank
Collectors’ Edition
Theme: LEGO Harry Potter Price: £369.99 / $429.99 / €429.99 Pieces: 4,803 Available:
The highly-anticipated
In addition to being compatible with 75978 Diagon Alley in more ways than one, the Wizarding World model can also be separated into two distinct sections, offering up multiple displays option and easy accessibility. Throw in an impressive 13 magical minifigures and a GWP expansion set and it’s easy to see why
=4 – 76269 Avengers Tower
Theme: LEGO Marvel Price: £429.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 Pieces: 5,201 Available:
The biggest and tallest LEGO Marvel set released to date, 76269 Avengers Tower is the latest iteration of the iconic MCU location, but one that tops previous versions in terms of scale, piece count, price and character selection.
Standing over 90cm and just trumping 76178 Daily Bugle, the LEGO Marvel set features a number of fan-favourite movie moments within the towering structure, accessible via a removable side section. Boasting a rooftop hanger with Quinjet, a detailed lab, lobby area, a Leviathan, two Chitauri chariots, a staggering 31 figures, and its own GWP set, 76269 Avengers Tower delivers everything we could have hoped for in a LEGO Marvel build.
=4 – 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell
Theme: LEGO Icons Price: £429.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 Pieces: 6,167 Available:
There were more than a few eyebrows raised earlier this year when 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell was released, with the LEGO Icons set being the first time the world of Middle-earth had been revisited in brick form since 2015.
The 18+ build certainly justifies its £429.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 price tag though, offering up a 6,167-piece build that features complex and inventive construction techniques in order to achieve the look of the home of the elves, as well as multiple new elements. The LEGO Icons set crams plenty of detail into its exterior and interior, revisiting many scenes from the LOTR trilogy and tops it off with 15 must-have minifigures.
2 – 75367 Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser
Theme: LEGO Star Wars Price: £559.99 / $649.99 / €649.99 Pieces: 5,374 Available:
While 75367 Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser may have fallen slightly short of topping out 2023’s most expensive sets, the LEGO Star Wars model did at least also manage to make it into our 10 biggest sets of the year list too.
The £559.99 / $649.99 / €649.99 build celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Clone Wars series with a 5,374-piece recreation of the massive craft, one that stands head-and-shoulders over previous versions. Measuring over 109cm in length, the mostly grey and red set features a command bridge, hangar bay with tiny Republic Gunship inside, a printed information plaque and 20th anniversary brick, plus exclusive minifigures of Captain Rex and Admiral Yularen.
1 – 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000
Theme: LEGO Technic Price: £579.99 / $699.99 / €679.99 Pieces: 2,883 Available:
Although 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 has a much lower piece count than almost every other set in this top 10 list, its price tag manages to nudge the LEGO Technic model into first place. Standing an incredible 100cm high, 11cm long and 28cm wide, the colossal construction vehicle also comes packed with plenty of handy functionality.
Thanks to the CONTROL+ app, builders can steer the crane on its detailed tank treads, rotate its turntable and luffing jib, raise and lower the winch, and take advantage of the model’s load-sensing capabilities. With 24 weighted elements providing over 0.9kgs of counterweight, the vehicle can also lift heavy items, matching its real-world counterpart.
While 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 may only appeal to a specific target audience that can afford such a massive model, there’s no denying the set’s staggering price point. It’s too early to say whether or not we’ll see more LEGO builds smashing that figure in 2024, but the ceiling for wallet-draining, high-priced sets has certainly been raised for good.
Check out more reflections on 2023 in LEGO here.
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