The 4 Best Retiring LEGO Sets to Invest in: 2023
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, LEGO Affiliate and eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases... Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to us at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.
The sets in this article have now retired (with the exception of 'The White House', which is 'sold out' on LEGO.com and officially retiring very soon). There are still places to buy them (see below), but bear in mind that any product listings will now be by resellers only. Be prepared to potentially pay over RRP (by an amount that will steadily increase the longer a set has been retired), unless you find a bargain.
LEGO sets have captured the hearts and imaginations of people around the world for over 90 years, but they can also be a great collectible investment.
Since launching in 1932, certain LEGO sets and pieces have appreciated significantly in value, with a modern study even citing LEGO as 'a better investment than gold' (HSE University in 2021). This makes those little bricks more than just a source of creative joy to be enjoyed by just children and adults alike, but also a potential avenue for financial growth, which can also be admired on the side!
In this article, we'll delve into our 4 top picks of the best currently available LEGO sets to invest in in 2023, all of which will be retiring at some point this year. We'll consider factors like exclusivity, theme, rarity and individual pieces included.
Note: LEGO's list of retiring sets is also subject to change, so retirements in the given time-frames are not guaranteed.
1. Winnie the Pooh - LEGO Ideas 21326 (RRP £89.99 / $99.99USD / $139.99CAD)
Set Details
Theme: LEGO Ideas
Released: Apr 2021
Pieces: 1265
Minifigures: 5
Build Age Rating: 18+
Is the Winnie the Pooh LEGO Ideas Set a Good Collectible Investment?
The Winnie the Pooh LEGO Ideas Set is the only LEGO set based on the timeless classic, aside from DUPLO versions. This exclusivity, coupled with the popularity of the books, show and movies, suggests that the set is likely to hold its value, especially as it's expected to be retired by the end of this year.
The set is unique in featuring 5 of the most popular characters Winnie the Pooh characters (Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, and Eeyore) as exclusive minifigures. These characters are not available in any other LEGO sets or in blind-bag minifigure collections.
Furthermore, these 5 exclusive minifigures are already listed for around £75 on resale platforms like Bricklink.com and eBay. While this price is optimistic at present with the set still available, it is likely to serve as a minimum value once the set is retired. Given these factors, it seems that this LEGO set could be a solid investment for collectors
For more on the investment potential of this set visit our article: 'Why This Winnie the Pooh LEGO Set is a Great Investment 2023'.
Interested? You can still purchase your own Disney Winnie the Pooh LEGO Ideas set from eBay (UK here, US here) and Amazon (here). Due to the set's retirement in December 2023, it's no longer available from directly from LEGO.
2. The White House - LEGO Architecture 21054 (RRP £89.99 / $99.99USD / $149.99CAD)
Set Details
Theme: LEGO Architecture
Released: May 2020
Pieces: 1483
Minifigures: 0
Build Age Rating: 18+
Is the Whitehouse LEGO Architecture Set a Good Collectible Investment?
The White House LEGO Architecture Set is currently sold out on the official LEGO UK website, indicating its scarcity and potential appeal to collectors.
It's noteworthy that this is the only LEGO Architecture set expected to be retired this year, making it even more sought-after. The set has the added advantage of appealing to a broad audience. For one, it taps into a patriotic market; any future collector of American-themed LEGO Architecture would likely consider this set a must-have.
Additionally, due to the historical significance of the White House, the set could attract buyers who aren't usually interested in LEGO or architecture, further increasing its potential value. Given these considerations, the White House LEGO Architecture set seems like it could be a promising investment for collectors.
For more on the investment potential of this set visit our article: 'Why 'The White House' LEGO Set is a Good Investment in 2023'.
Interested? Due to the 'The White House' set's 'sold out' status and imminent retirement in Q1 or Q2 2024, it is no longer available from directly from LEGO. It can still be found (via resellers) on eBay eBay (UK here, US here) and Amazon (here).
3. Medieval Blacksmith - LEGO Ideas 21325 (RRP £159.99 / $179.99USD / $229.99CAD)
Set Details
Theme: LEGO Ideas
Released: Jan 2020
Pieces: 21644
Build Age Rating: 18+
Is the Medieval Blacksmith LEGO Ideas Set a Good Collectible Investment?
The Medieval Blacksmith LEGO Ideas Set evokes nostalgia, resembling castle sets from the 1980s and 1990s that have always been popular. This set has even motivated on-forum collectors who haven't purchased LEGO sets in over two decades to make a purchase.
For context, it's worth comparing this set to the LEGO Ideas Old Fishing Store (Set 21310). Both sets have/had a similar retail price (RRP£139.99 vs £159.99), number of minifigures (4), and piece count (2049 vs 2164). The Old Fishing Store, which released in September 2017 and retired in October 2018, now sells for more than £260 on Bricklink, almost doubling its original price 5 years later.
Although the Medieval Blacksmith set has had stronger sales, making the market more saturated when it retires, the success of the Old Fishing Store suggests that the Medieval Blacksmith set could also appreciate greatly in value over time.
For more on the investment potential of this set visit our article: 'Why The Medieval Blacksmith LEGO Set is a Great Investment 2023'.
Interested? You can still purchase your own LEGO Ideas Medieval Blacksmith set on eBay (UK here, US here) and Amazon (here). Due to the set's retirement in December 2023, it is no longer available from directly from LEGO.
4. Ahsoka Tano - LEGO BrickHeadz - Star Wars 40539 (RRP £9.99 / $9.99USD / $12.99CAD)
Set Details
Theme: LEGO BrickHeadz
Released: Jan 2022
Pieces: 164
Minifigures: N/A
Build Age Rating: 10+
Is the Ahsoka Tano LEGO BrickHeadz Set a Good Collectible Investment?
The recent launch of the new Ahsoka series on Disney+ ensures there's renewed interest in Ahsoka Tano, adding to her popularity in the realm of pop-culture collectibles.
This set is part of LEGO's BrickHeadz line, which serves as LEGO's answer to Funko POP! collectibles, meaning it has the advantage of being compact size and making it easy to store when not on display. Additionally, its affordable price allows collectors the option to potentially buy two sets; one to display and another to keep in mint sealed condition.
The set is expected to be discontinued by the end of 2023, after only releasing in 2022, indicating future scarcity for what is already a popular character in the enduring Star Wars fandom and Star Wars LEGO theme. This is especially likely when considering its 'LEGO Exclusive' status, meaning the variety of stores which usually stock LEGO won't have leftover stock. These factors make this set a relatively low-risk investment, even if the retirement date was to be postponed.
For more on the investment potential of this set visit our article: 'Why This Ahsoka Tano LEGO Star Wars Set is a Great Investment in 2023'.
Interested? You can still purchase your own retired LEGO BrickHeadz Ahsoka Tano set from eBay (UK here, US here) and Amazon (here).
Final Thoughts
Investing in LEGO sets can be a fun and potentially profitable endeavour for collectors and enthusiasts alike. While past set performances doesn't guarantee future results, historical trends suggest that certain sets with rarity, iconic themes, and high-quality designs tend to appreciate well.
Remember, patience is key, as it might take years for a set to increase significantly in value. Whether you're a LEGO lover, an investor seeking unique opportunities, or both, these sets could offer both creative satisfaction and a chance for your investment to grow over time.
Always remember to clean, maintain and store your LEGO properly if collecting it as an investment (or otherwise for that matter!). For a full guide see our article here.
Disclaimer: This article should not be considered as financial advice. Do your own research (that's part of the fun) and make informed decisions.
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Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, LEGO Affiliate and eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases... Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to us at no cost to you if you decide to purchase.