LEGO Organization Ideas: Sort by Color, Type or Set

The best LEGO organization ideas match how your child builds: sort by color for young kids, by piece type for kids who build their own creations, and by set for kids who like to rebuild models from instructions. Put the sorted bricks in shallow, labeled drawers or trays so pieces stay visible and kids can put them back without help.

Below you’ll find the three main sorting methods compared, storage options for every space, and a labeling system that keeps building bricks from ending up all over the floor.

First, Decide How Your Child Builds

Before you buy drawers, watch your child play for a few days. Ask:

• Do they follow instruction booklets, or build freely?
• Do they hunt for one specific piece, or grab handfuls?
• How big is the collection: a single bin, or several?
• How old are they, and are there under-3s in the house?

The answers point you to the right sorting method. There’s no single best system; there’s the one your builder will actually keep up.

How to Organize Building Bricks: Three Sorting Methods

Method	Best for	Pros	Cons
By color	Ages 4–6, small to medium collections	Quick to sort, easy to put away, looks tidy	Slow to find specific shapes as collection grows
By type	Free builders, ages 7+, large collections	Fast to find the right piece	Takes longer to sort and clean up
By set	Kids who rebuild models	Every set stays complete	Needs lots of containers; mixing is inevitable

Sorting by color

Every red piece in one drawer, every blue in another. Young children can sort by color on their own, so cleanup is quick and they can do it independently. The downside shows up with bigger collections: finding one small red hinge in a drawer of red pieces takes time.

Sorting by type

Group by shape and function, not color. Common type categories:

• Standard bricks (the rectangular ones)
• Plates (the flat ones)
• Slopes and roof pieces
• Wheels, axles and vehicle parts
• Windows, doors and frames
• Minifigures and accessories
• Technical parts (pins, beams, gears)
• Decorative and specialty pieces
• Baseplates (stored flat, separately)

Kids who build their own designs usually prefer this. They know they need “a wheel” or “a long plate,” and they know exactly where to look.

Sorting by set

Each set stays in its own bag or box with its instructions. This suits kids who love building a model, displaying it for a while, and rebuilding it later. In practice, sets get mixed within months, so many families keep a few favorite sets intact and move everything else into a type or color sort.

A hybrid that works for many families

• Keep one or two favorite sets whole, in labeled bags.
• Sort everything else by type.
• Keep a “mixed” tray for pieces that haven’t been sorted yet, and sort it together weekly.

Building Brick Storage Ideas

Once you know your sort, choose storage that fits both the method and the room.

Shallow drawers

The favorite option for sorted collections. Shallow drawer units let kids see every piece without dumping anything out. Label each drawer front with a picture of the piece type or a color swatch.

Stackable lidded bins

Good for color sorting or storing sets. Choose shallow ones; deep bins hide small pieces.

Tackle boxes and craft organizers

Divided compartments are ideal for tiny pieces like minifigure accessories, studs and technical pins.

Under-bed rolling bins

Great for small spaces. A wide, shallow bin slides out for building and back under the bed when it’s done. See more toy storage ideas for small spaces.

Play mats with drawstrings

A round mat that pulls up into a bag makes cleanup fast for young kids. It doesn’t sort anything, so it’s best for a small, unsorted collection.

Baseplates and instructions

Store baseplates flat, standing upright in a magazine file or slid under a shelf. Keep instruction booklets in a binder with clear sheet protectors, grouped by theme.

Labeled Drawers Kids Can Use

Labels are what make a sort last. Without them, pieces end up in whichever drawer is open.

1. Use pictures for piece types. A drawing or photo of a slope piece is clearer than the word “slopes,” especially for kids who don’t read yet.
2. Use a color swatch for color sorts. A solid square of the color on the front of the drawer is all a young child needs.
3. Label the front, not the top. Drawers get stacked, so tops disappear.
4. Laminate or cover with clear tape. Building areas see a lot of handling.

Our printable toy bin labels include picture-and-word labels for common toy categories, useful for the main building brick bin alongside your other toy bins. For attaching labels to plastic drawers, see how to attach labels to bins.

Safety With Small Pieces

Building bricks and minifigure parts are choking hazards for children under 3.

• Store brick drawers on higher shelves or in a room younger siblings can’t access.
• Build at a table with a lip or on a tray, so pieces don’t scatter onto the floor.
• Do a floor sweep after every building session if there’s a baby or toddler at home.
• Anchor any drawer unit or shelf holding brick storage to the wall. Drawer units get heavy, and kids pull out top drawers and climb.

For households with toddlers, our guide to toy storage for toddlers covers safe storage by age.

Organizing by Age

• Ages 4–5: one or two shallow bins, or a simple color sort. Big bricks and a few favorite figures are enough.
• Ages 6–8: a color or basic type sort in four to six labeled drawers, plus a bag for each favorite set.
• Ages 9 and up: a detailed type sort, a binder for instructions and a display shelf. Kids this age can usually maintain the system themselves.

Keeping Building Bricks Organized

• Clean up to the tray, then sort. At the end of play, sweep everything into one “to sort” tray. Sort it once a week, together, rather than piece by piece every night.
• Display finished builds on a shelf. A dedicated display spot stops finished models from being broken up to clean the floor. Rotate what’s on display.
• Cut the collection when it outgrows storage. If drawers overflow, pass on duplicate pieces or sets your child no longer rebuilds. Our guide on how to declutter toys helps with what to keep.

A good first step: dump one bin onto a sheet and time how long it takes your child to find a specific piece. Then sort that bin by the method you chose and time it again. The difference usually convinces kids to help keep the system going.