Why you should trust us
We have enough Lego fans on staff to warrant a dedicated #Lego Slack channel, where we show off new acquisitions, discuss sets we’re pining after, and share cool custom builds (called MOCs) that we find across the internet.
We also have plenty of parents here with kids who love Lego, and we’ve published a couple of guides with various great ideas for toy storage. And now we’ve compiled all of the Lego-appropriate receptacles here, in one easy-to-find spot. Have any great DIY hacks of your own? Let us know in the comments!
For floor play
Top pick
This play mat and storage combo solves organization and storage issues by keeping everything in one convenient package.
Pulling double duty as a play mat and a storage container, a Swoop Bag opens flat to display a Lego collection, and when it’s time to tidy up, all you have to do is pull the drawstrings, and in less than a second the floor is Lego-free.
A single Swoop Bag can store thousands of bricks. Wirecutter senior staff writer Doug Mahoney used a Swoop Bag when his kids were younger and appreciated how it minimized the scattering of Lego during play, which in turn “minimizes the number of Lego being stepped on.” Speedy cleanup is especially useful for homes with toddlers who roam around looking for things to put into their mouths.
Doug also points out an additional, unintended benefit: “The soft cloth somewhat mutes the unique sound of sifting Lego. Plastic bins seem to only amplify that sound, which can become quite grating to even the most even-keeled parents.”
Swoop Bags come in multiple colors and three sizes: large (3 feet wide), medium (just under 2 feet wide), and mini (16 inches wide).
This variant of our top pick for drawer organization offers a great way to sort Lego pieces while you’re building smaller sets.
You have two primary methods of sorting bricks during a build: emptying each bag as you go and pulling from the pile, or separating bricks by color or shape before you begin each step. There’s no wrong way to do it. As Lego Masters finalist Boone Langston told me in a phone interview about how to organize a large adult collection, “The way you sort should support the way your brain works.” Having a few receptacles on hand helps keep your pieces organized regardless of how you like to sort.
The iDesign Linus 4-Section Drawer Organizer is a variant of Wirecutter’s favorite drawer organizer for small kitchens. It has rounded corners and a smooth lip, which makes sliding smaller pieces out easy. Trays like this one also make it simple to set aside your in-progress work in the middle of a build, as the unused pieces won’t get jumbled up or lost.
Budget sorting pick: Anything that works
No need to complicate things, however. If you have bowls and plates, you have Lego sorters. It helps to use lighter colors with no patterns so that the bricks pop out from the jumbles. Shatter-resistant materials such as plastic, paper, and melamine are advisable for kids. Even a baking pan works.