Should I Keep LEGO Boxes?

Ever found yourself staring at a pile of empty LEGO boxes, wondering what to do with them? 

You’re not alone. It’s a common question that pops up for pretty much everyone who loves building LEGO sets.

Those boxes look great and bring back memories, but boy, do they take up space!

In this post, I’ll go over the pros and cons of hanging onto those LEGO boxes.

I’ll look at it from different angles and throw some practical ideas your way to help you figure out if you should keep LEGO boxes.

Reasons To Keep LEGO Boxes

Here are the main why some people hang on to their LEGO boxes:

Potential Resale Value

Most people keep boxes because it might make their sets worth more if they ever decide to sell. 

For sets that are still sealed and unopened, having the original box can really bump up the price. But for sets you’ve already opened and built, the box doesn’t usually add much value.

That said, the LEGO market can be pretty unpredictable.

Some rare or limited edition sets might be worth more with the box!

Great For Storing The LEGO

LEGO boxes can be really handy for storage and keeping things organized.

Also Read: What to do with LEGOs after they are built

If you like to take your sets apart and build them again later, keeping the original box gives you an easy way to keep all the pieces together. 

This is great for sets you only build at certain times of the year or if you like to switch displays.

Plus, it’s easier to find specific sets in your collection when they’re in their original boxes.

Collector’s Perspective 

If you’re really into collecting, keeping the boxes is often part of having a complete collection. 

Many collectors feel like the box is just as important as the instructions or the bricks themselves. For them, a set just isn’t complete without its original packaging.

Boxes can also be a source of pride for collectors, especially if they’re from rare or old sets. 

Plus, the boxes have cool artwork or designs that you won’t find anywhere else, which makes them collectible on their own.

Nostalgia

For a lot of LEGO fans, the boxes have sentimental value. 

They might remind you of getting a special gift or how excited you were when you bought a set you’d been wanting for ages. 

The artwork on LEGO boxes is really impressive too, with detailed scenes or character designs that really bring out the theme of the set.

Reasons To Toss Out LEGO Boxes

Now, let’s look at why you might want to say goodbye to those boxes:

Also Read: Can you bring LEGOs on a plane

Space

The biggest reason people get rid of LEGO boxes is simple: they take up too much space. 

As you get more and more sets, the amount of room taken up by empty boxes can get out of hand pretty quickly. This is especially true for big sets with huge boxes that can fill up your closets or storage areas in no time.

For many LEGO fans, the space used to store empty boxes could be put to better use. 

You could display more built sets, store more LEGO bricks, or use it for something else entirely. 

It’s a practical issue that often outweighs any reasons for keeping the boxes.

Limited Value For Opened Sets

Most of the time, opened LEGO boxes don’t usually add much to the resale value.

Once you’ve built a set, what really matters is the condition of the bricks and whether all the pieces are there.

And, if you’re thinking about selling sets, shipping them in their original boxes can cost more because of the extra size and weight.

This extra cost often cancels out any small increase in value from having the box.

Recycling And The Environment

There’s also the environment to think about. 

Most LEGO boxes are cardboard, which is easy to recycle. By getting rid of them responsibly, you’re doing a little bit for the planet.

So, Should I Keep LEGO Boxes?

First, consider how rare and valuable your sets are. It might be worth keeping boxes for limited edition or highly sought-after sets, but boxes for common sets probably aren’t as important.

Your available storage space is another big factor. 

If you’ve got plenty of room, keeping boxes might not be a problem. But if space is tight, you might need to be more selective.

Think about your long-term plans for your collection, too. 

If you think you might sell sets in the future, keeping boxes could be a good idea. 

But if you’re building a collection you plan to keep forever, boxes might not matter as much. 

Don’t forget to consider how you feel about the boxes personally. If having them as part of your collection makes you happy, then YOU SHOULD.

A Good Compromise

Can’t decide? No worries! There are some middle-ground options.

You could keep boxes only for your most valuable or favorite sets. That way, you’re not overwhelmed with boxes, but you still get to keep some.

Another option is to flatten boxes so they take up less room. 

If you carefully take the boxes apart along their glue lines, you can store them flat. This saves a ton of space and you still get to keep them.

Some collectors just cut out their favorite parts of the box art and frame them!

Or you could always take photos of your boxes before recycling them.

Tips For Storing LEGO Boxes

If you decide to keep your LEGO boxes, make sure to store them properly.

Keep them somewhere cool and dry, away from sunlight, and you might want to use plastic bags or containers to protect the boxes from dust and moisture.

Also Read: Can LEGOs melt in the sun

It’s also a good idea to organize your boxes somehow. Maybe make a list or use an app to keep track of what you have.

If you’re short on space, get creative with storage.

Look for unused spaces like under the bed, on top of wardrobes, or even in the garage.

Wrapping Up

At the end of the day, deciding if you should keep LEGO boxes is a personal choice that depends on your own situation and what matters to you. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer that works for everyone. 

Think about how much space you have, what your goals are for your collection, and how much you value the boxes themselves.

Remember, the most important thing is to enjoy your LEGO collection in whatever way makes you happiest. The real joy of LEGO comes from building, creating, and playing.