LEGO® Pick a Brick Wall vs. Online
How I Got £77.28 Worth of Bricks for £16.99
The Ultimate LEGO® Hack Every AFOL Needs to Know
As an Adult Fan of LEGO® (AFOL), I’m always looking for ways to build my collection without breaking the bank. Recently, I discovered a shocking price difference between LEGO® Pick a Brick wall in-store and ordering the exact same pieces online. My experiment? Buying a large box from the wall versus pricing those pieces online. The result was mind-blowing: I paid just £16.99 for 908 pieces that would have cost me £94.27 online—a staggering saving of £77.28!
In this post, I’ll break down exactly how this is possible, what you need to know to replicate these savings, and when it actually makes sense to order online instead.
My Pick a Brick Wall Haul: By the Numbers
Let’s start with the hard facts from my recent LEGO® store visit:
· What I bought: 1 large Pick a Brick box
· Price paid: £16.99 (standard price for a large box in UK LEGO stores)
· Number of pieces: 908 mixed elements
· Online equivalent value: £94.27
· Total savings: £77.28
· Savings percentage: 81.8%
The pieces weren’t rare or exotic—they were practical, useful elements: plates, tiles, slopes, clips, and brackets in various colors. Exactly the kind of pieces every LEGO builder needs in bulk.
Why Is the Pick a Brick Wall So Much Cheaper?
Understanding this massive price difference comes down to LEGO® business model:
1. Flat-Rate Pricing: The wall operates on a volume-based system—you pay for the box size, not the pieces inside. Online, you pay per piece, with prices varying dramatically based on element type, color, and demand.
2. Bulk Production: Pieces on the wall are typically those LEGO® produces in massive quantities for current sets, making them cheaper for the company to supply.
3. Promotional Purpose: The Pick a Brick wall serves as a store attraction—LEGO® is willing to take a smaller margin to get people into physical stores where they might buy full-priced sets.
4. No Individual Packaging: Wall pieces come loose in bins, saving LEGO® the costs associated with bagging, labeling, and shipping individual elements.
How to Maximize Your Pick a Brick Wall Savings
1. The Art of box Packing
Fitting 908 pieces in one box doesn’t happen by accident. Here’s my proven method:
· Start with flats: Lay larger flat pieces (plates, tiles) at the bottom
· Build vertically: Stack compatible pieces (like 1x2 bricks on 2x4 plates)
· Fill gaps: Use tiny elements (1x1 rounds, cheese slopes) in every available space
· Lock it in: Top with small pieces that prevent everything from shifting
2. Strategic Piece Selection
Focus on elements that offer the best value:
· Small, dense pieces (1x1 plates and tiles)
· High online-value elements (clips, brackets, modified plates)
· Versatile basics (standard bricks and plates in common colors)
· Current “wall favorites” (check LEGO forums for what’s recently stocked)
3. Timing Your Visit
· Weekday mornings often mean freshly filled walls
· After major set releases when new elements might appear
· Avoid weekends when walls get picked over quickly
When Online Pick a Brick Still Makes Sense
Despite the incredible wall savings, there are times when ordering online is the better choice:
1. Specific Projects: When you need exact quantities of specific pieces for a MOC (My Own Creation)
2. Rare Elements: Pieces that never appear on physical walls
3. Large Quantities: Need 200 of the same piece? Online is your only option
4. Convenience: No LEGO® store nearby? Online delivery beats a long drive
5. Color Matching: Need exact colors for a project
The Real Cost Comparison: Wall vs. Online
Let’s break down what you’re really paying for:
Pick a Brick Wall (£16.99 large box):
· Cost per piece (908 pieces): £0.0187
· You’re paying for volume/space
· Element selection limited to current wall stock
· Immediate gratification
Online Pick a Brick (£94.27 for same 908 pieces):
· Average cost per piece: £0.103
· You’re paying per element
· Access to almost every current LEGO piece
· 10-15 business day wait for delivery
The verdict? For building a general parts inventory, the wall is 5.5 times cheaper per piece!
Tips for Your First Pick a Brick Wall Adventure
1. Bring a friend: Some stores allow “team packing” for even better efficiency
2. Check recently: LEGO fan communities often share what’s currently on walls
3. Ask employees: They might know what’s coming in future restocks
4. Plan your build: Know what pieces you use most frequently
5. Weigh your box: Some experienced builders bring small scales to maximize before checkout
The Environmental Angle
There’s another benefit to the Pick a Brick wall that often goes unmentioned: reduced packaging waste. Online orders arrive in multiple plastic bags inside a box. Wall pieces go straight from bin to your box to your storage system. For eco-conscious builders, this is a significant advantage.
My Personal Strategy Going Forward
After this eye-opening experience, here’s my new LEGO acquisition strategy:
1. Monthly wall visits to build my basic parts library
2. Online orders only for specific project needs
3. Bricklink for truly rare or discontinued elements
4. Full sets only when I want the instructions, minifigures, or special elements
The Bottom Line
The LEGO Pick a Brick wall represents one of the best value propositions in the hobby today. While it requires more effort than clicking “add to cart” online, the financial savings are undeniable. My £77.28 saving isn’t just theoretical—it’s real money that can now go toward my next LEGO purchase.
Whether you’re a seasoned AFOL or a parent building a collection for your children, mastering the Pick a Brick wall can transform your LEGO building from an expensive hobby to a sustainable creative pursuit.
Have you had similar experiences with the Pick a Brick wall? What’s your record number of pieces in one box? Share your tips and hauls in the comments below!
The B.R.I.C.K
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LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this content. Prices and piece availability vary by location and time. All calculations based on author’s actual experience at UK LEGO stores and LEGO.com Pick a Brick prices at time of writing.
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