I’ve come to a point in my LEGO career that after collecting sets for the past 3 years, I’ve ran into a small dilemma. During that time, I’ve amassed quite a number of different sets and have built many of them which leaves the boxes laying around in various places. You guys may or may not know about this but I have a habit of keeping a lot of things that take up space, maybe a little too much. Some may even call this hoarding.
The problem now lies with the LEGO boxes that I have. I have two large LEGO Store bags full of them as you can see from the images. Some are quite large while some are pretty small. The question I have for you guys is and I’m pretty sure many of you have run into the same problem. Do you keep the boxes, toss them out, or do you recycle them? If you do keep the boxes, do you also flatten them or keep them intact to keep their integrity for sentimental reasons? Since there are many older sets that will never be produced again, this is probably the last and only chance you can have that particular box in your hands when they are retired from shelves.
Let me know in the comments below or on our Facebook Page of what you do with your LEGO boxes.
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I have the same dilemma, but I found that I just took the 2 biggest sets I have (Arkham Asylum and The Town Hall) and I break down all other boxes and put them inside. Each year or so I tend to get a large set so I plan to continue on this way. At least until I have a whole storage unit filled with Lego boxes 🙂
I wish there was some sort of “Time Capsule Storage” system where you can dump Lego boxes, Apple boxes, Happy Meal toys, Theme Park souvenirs and other “garbage collectibles” for a decade. You know deep inside that its junk but you kinda want to keep them.
But in a magic Time Capsule Storage pod then you can open it up in 10 years and decide whether or not you actually want to keep it. I’d say in the end then 95% of it would be worthless both in monetary and sentimental value.
That would be an awesome invention. I’m pretty sure some stuff in 10 years would increase in value including LEGO.
I own 495 sets. Yes I know, and I have every box, and instructions. I generally full the big boxes of a theme with smaller boxes from that same theme. I have about 20-40 big garbage bags full of boxes.
Wow that’s a huge collection!
I don’t even keep the instruction books anymore. I have lack of space for the sets themselves. I like how I can download the instructions now from Lego.
I use to toss them, but now that I’ve started collecting. I break them down and store them.
Ive always kept them, and still have like 95% of the boxes from some 90s sets. I still keep them and I use them to store others to put away.
I am an adult collector that wishes I had saved all the boxes from my childhood – so now I do save all out boxes (my 2 sons and I). I cut the seals on both sides and lay the boxes flat (the small ones without seals are harder but you can still tear away the glue on the inner flaps if you’re careful). Then I slide the boxes into the XXXL ziploc storage bags that are made to store clothing and large items. All boxes have fit so far except for the Sea Cow (even modulars). I can fit a large number of different sized boxes in each bag. I store the bags in the garage, so while they do still take up space, the impact is minimal.
The ziploc bags are interesting. How many boxes can you fit in the XXXL size?
Long time lurker, first time I’ve commenter. I actually keep my boxes as a sorting system for my sets. I have every box for every set I own and keep each respective set in it’s original box. My minifigs are all kept seperate in bead sorting trays and modular tackle boxes and I keep the instructions in accordion folders. It’s pretty anal, I know, but I only display 2 or 3 sets at a time for about 2-3 weeks, which helps keep them free of dust, and then I disassemble them, put them in baggies in their boxes and put together 2 or 3 other sets. And if any of you guys are planning on tossing out your boxes, like I said, I have all of my original set boxes except the Batcopter vs Scareplane set. If anybody has it and wants to get rid of it, I’d gladly pay you.
Glad to see you comment! Interesting idea of using the boxes as a sorting system.
I’m doing same. I thought of putting together a collage in the bedroom, covering the walls. It looks great in my head but I’m not certain how it will turn out in reality. One of my other future Lego projects.
I’ve also thought of that idea but it would look weird in my room. It might be different if I had a dedicated LEGO room though.
but do u keep the plastic bags too?
I was keeping them, but had to toss when I decided to nest boxes inside boxes to reduce the space they ate up.
I have large rubbermaid totes full of boxes in the top of my barn. I don’t know why I keep them, but I do. They all get flattened and stored. At some point I need to start discarding, but I’m not out of space yet.
I keep all my boxes and I just break them down and keep them in a rubbermaid tub. I just couldn’t throw them out.
I have kept every box too. They were just stacked up till that got too much, so also have nested smaller boxes inside larger ones, some are 3-4 inside each other, and doing that reduced the bulk down about half. I am at the full point again though, and may have to resort to flattening them too.
I want to keep the boxes, because to me, thats a big part of collecting. Some day the bricks may end up back in the box, to sell or whatever..who knows.
I was keeping all the bags too, but then when I nested the boxes, I got rid of all the bags. I keep all the instruction books in accordion files too, I need to sort them again, they have gotten a little mixed up when I have gone back to look something up.
People do sell the boxes only on BrickLink, so maybe consider that before throwing them out.
I seen people sell them on BrickLink too but it seems more of a hassle.
First time commenter as well…
I’ve been collecting for a solid 2 years, and started saving boxes after the first time I turned to Ebay to aquire a retired set. Though at this point I have no intention to sell any in my collection, used sets with boxes included tend to cost more, and sometimes the difference is substantial. I cut the seals on both ends, flatten and store in cheap portfolios from an art store. I recycle the plastic bags immediately.
-GeekRadio
Welcome GeekRadio! Good to hear your thoughts on it. Hope you come back and comment more in the future.
I keep all boxes intact. I have a cupboard full of boxes, which are full of boxes, which are full of boxes and so on. Also, I like to keep all bags in which pieces come in (still don’t know why) and have them inside the smallest boxes, that are so small that I can’t keep other boxes inside.
I used to keep the bags with the extra pieces too because of my OCD. I’ve since done away from the bags altogether.
I did keep all the boxes for awhile, but eventually had to make the decision to start getting rid of them. I did the boxes in bags, the boxes in boxes, but eventually I have a lot of cardboard taking up prime lego storage space. I will say though that it is hard to get rid of them with each new purchase. I tried having them displayed on my wall for awhile, but the different sizes and sheer number soon made that not the best idea.
I have sets from the 90’s that are worth hundreds but if I still had the boxes they would be worth hundreds more.
I save all my boxes, The 90’s ones I lost in a flood. They are now kept in sealed containers
I say keep keep keep especially the limited sets
I think it all depends on the intention. If you think one day they are going to be sold then its a must to keep them, and in good condition. If, like me, you have 0 intention of ever selling a set I think at a certain point it gets very difficult. I actually use my boxes to empty out bags and build out of them so they almost immediately lose any value to the scissors. I, like others, keep anything that is not on display in stackable tubs along with separated bins for different “extra pieces” so there simply isn’t any extra room for the amount of boxes I’d have. For any set that I think I could POSSIBLY end up selling (or more likely trading) I just buy two.
My boyfriend had about 95% of all the boxes from his Lego sets going back to the 80s. When the sets are not on display, he stores them unassembled in zip bags inside the original boxes (nesting when possible), and then stores a bunch of the Lego boxes in cardboard boxes.
I am a relatively recent Lego convert, so all the sets I own are still out on display, with the boxes stored in the attic. I’ve been collecting Star Wars figures, Transformers, and other stuff since the 90s, and I have a ridiculous amount of flattened and non-flattened packaging taking up much space in the attic. I just can’t throw them out.
i flatten all the boxes too, then place the manuals in their own stack, sorted in themes. i wish lego would have a more uniform box size. its just a pain in the ass.
I RECYCLE (not throw) most of the city boxes. but things like super heroes and starwars i keep .
I keep all of them. I did get rid some of them back when I was a kid, but I really regret it now. I have amount of 80’s Lego collection (c.a. 300 sets) and most of them (98%) came with the original box. And oh yeah, the Lego set packaging back then are much compact than nowadays, today even the small sets came with a bigger box. All of my 300 80’s set (except some big 12 V sets) fits into four 60x50x32 cm boxes. I still try to find a replacement for my lost boxes.
I keep all of them. I did get rid some of them back when I was a kid, but I really regret it now. I have amount of 80’s Lego collection (c.a. 300 sets) and most of them (98%) came with the original box. And oh yeah, the Lego set packaging back then are much compact than nowadays, today even the small sets came with a bigger box. All of my 300 80’s set (except some big 12 V sets) fits into four 60x50x32 cm cardboard boxes. I still try to find a replacement for my lost boxes. This is one of my storage box.