Article Summary

How to sort a LEGO collection by color, by part type or both, which storage suits each stage, how to label it, how to handle a bulk lot, and how to clean used bricks the way LEGO recommends.

Sort a small LEGO collection by color, a growing one by part type, and a large one by part type first and color second. Whatever the method, clear containers and a label on every one are what keep it sorted. This guide covers each method, the storage that suits it, how to work through a bulk lot, and how to clean used bricks without damaging them.

Quick answer: small collection, sort by color into a few clear boxes. Growing collection, sort by part type (bricks, plates, tiles, slopes, Technic, minifigure parts) into drawers. Large collection, sort by part type and then by color inside the busiest types. Label everything. Need a starting plan? Our Sorting Planner sizes bins from the sets your pieces came from.

A mixed pile of LEGO bricks beside the same bricks sorted into clear containers by color

Why sort at all

A sorted collection is quicker to build from, because you look in one place for a part instead of combing a pile. You also see what you own, which is often where ideas for your own models start, and small or unusual parts stop disappearing into the bottom of a tub.

Method 1: sort by color

Best for: a small collection, children, and anyone who wants a quick first result.

Split the pile into the main colors: red, blue, yellow, green, black, white, light grey and dark grey, then the smaller groups such as tan, brown, orange and purple, with transparent pieces in a group of their own.

Good: fast, intuitive and easy to keep tidy. Less good: as the collection grows, each color box becomes its own pile to search.

Color sorting also works as a first pass on a big pile even if you plan to sort by type later, because it breaks the job into smaller heaps.

Method 2: sort by part type

Best for: builders who know which part they need before they know its color.

Group pieces by what they do:

  • Bricks: 1x1 up to 2x4 and longer
  • Plates: the thin pieces, a third of a brick tall
  • Tiles: plates with smooth tops
  • Slopes and curves
  • Connectors: hinges, clips, brackets and bars
  • Technic: beams, pins, axles and gears
  • Printed and special pieces
  • Minifigure parts and accessories

Good: much faster to build from once you know the categories. Less good: it takes longer to learn, and a busy category can still mix many colors.

Method 3: type first, then color

Best for: large collections and people who build their own models.

  1. Sort by part type as above.
  2. Inside the categories you use most, such as plates and bricks, split by color.

For example: black plates in one drawer, white plates in another, light grey plates in a third. Only split the categories that are big enough to need it; small categories can stay mixed.

Part numbers for the most organized collections

If you sell parts or keep an inventory, LEGO's own numbers help. The design ID identifies the shape, for example 3001 is the 2x4 brick. The element ID identifies a shape in one color, for example 300121 is the bright red 2x4 brick. Label drawers with the design ID and a plain name, and use a free inventory tool such as BrickStore to track quantities. BrickLink's free Studio software lists the parts a design needs.

Storage that suits each stage

Choose clear containers where you can: parts you cannot see tend not to get used. Avoid cardboard for long-term storage, because it takes on moisture.

Working through a bulk lot

  1. Clear out what is not LEGO: other brands, rubbish, stickers and paper.
  2. First pass: broad groups only, such as bricks, plates, Technic, minifigures and everything else.
  3. Second pass: split each group by color or by finer type, depending on your method.
  4. Set aside the special pieces: complete minifigures, printed parts and anything you want to look up.
  5. Label and record: label every container and note where each category lives.

Sorting trays with several compartments make the first pass much quicker, because you drop pieces into groups as you go. Shop sorting trays

Cleaning used bricks, the way LEGO recommends

  • Wash by hand in water no hotter than 40°C (104°F), with a soft cloth or sponge.
  • Add a mild detergent if needed, then rinse well with clear water.
  • Do not use a washing machine or dishwasher.
  • Air dry, out of direct sunlight; never use an oven, a microwave or a hair dryer. Hot bricks can change shape and stop fitting.
  • Keep electronic parts, printed pieces and stickers out of the water; wipe them with a cloth moistened with water and a mild detergent without perfume or oil.

Keeping it sorted

  • Put parts back after each build, before the next one starts.
  • Keep minifigures complete and store loose minifigure parts separately.
  • Start simple: a coarse system you keep up is better than a fine one you abandon. Split a category only when it gets hard to search.

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