Finding a missing brick while building an expensive Lego® set can bring the whole project to a halt. The right solution depends on why the part is missing: a packing error in a new set is different from a piece lost during play or an incomplete second-hand purchase.
You might also want additional bricks to extend a building or make a MOC, short for My Own Creation. In that case, you are buying building materials rather than requesting a free replacement.
Completeness also matters when selling a set. A careful inventory helps you decide whether replacing the missing elements is worthwhile.
This guide explains the official replacement service, direct parts purchases and specialist marketplaces, with a checklist for choosing the correct pieces and comparing the full cost.
Order Lego® spare parts
Before reporting a missing part in a new Lego® set, check the opened bags, your building area and recent steps in the instructions. A tiny element may be caught in a packaging corner or already used in the wrong place. Small spare pieces are common, but they cannot replace every missing component. Identify the problem before choosing a service.
Replace Lego® spare parts for new sets
Use the Lego replacement-parts service for pieces that were missing or faulty in a new set. The service separates three situations:
- Missing pieces: a required element was absent from the new package.
- Broken pieces: an element arrived cracked, damaged or faulty.
- Buy pieces: you lost a part yourself or want extra bricks.
Legitimate missing or damaged-piece claims are free; they are not a way to obtain free stock for a project. If a part develops a fault later, explain the circumstances to customer service rather than assuming automatic eligibility. The online form guides you through the request. Submit a separate request for each set when more than one is affected.
Step 1 → Identify the set and element
Enter the set number from the box or instructions. The element ID in the inventory at the back of the instructions helps identify the precise version. Check both color and shape. These illustrations show an older interface; follow the fields in the current form when submitting your request.
Step 2 → Select missing Lego® parts
Select the genuinely missing or damaged pieces and their quantities. Describe the fault for a damaged element and keep it for now: customer service may ask to inspect it. If you cannot select the required part, contact the team with its description, element ID and set number.
Step 3 → Confirm details
Review the list and enter your contact and delivery details. This is a replacement request, not an ordinary Pick a Brick purchase with unit prices and service fees. Lego emails you when the replacements are on their way; do not assume the delivery estimate for a purchased set applies.
If an entire bag or many pieces are missing, call customer service for help identifying them. Note a few distinctive missing elements and have your receipt available. Depending on the case, Lego may request proof of purchase or further information.
Order Lego® spare parts: Third-party supplier
You do not need to have bought the new set directly from Lego. Missing or faulty pieces in a new set purchased from another retailer can also be reported through the service. That does not make an incomplete used collection eligible for free replacements. Describe the actual purchase and problem rather than reporting every absent brick as a packaging error.
Order Lego® spare parts: Used sets
You can buy parts directly from Lego for older or used sets. What matters is whether the exact shape, color and version are still offered by Pick a Brick, not whether the original set has retired. Many ordinary elements remain available, while particular prints, colors and molds disappear.
Pieces you lost yourself are purchases, not free missing-piece claims. Compare Pick a Brick with marketplace offers for your required list. Our Pick a Brick guide explains the current US and UK fees and delivery differences. Specialist sellers are especially useful for rare versions and used bricks.
BrickLink
BrickLink is a specialist marketplace for Lego® elements, minifigures and sets. It belongs to the Lego Group, but purchases are made from the individual sellers, not from the free replacement desk. You can look up a set and use its inventory to identify the required parts. Our selling guide also covers ways to sell on BrickLink.
Add the correct colors, condition and quantities to a Wanted List to find stores with suitable stock. Review any suggested shopping baskets yourself: minimum spends, shipping charges and short quantities determine whether combining several sellers is economical.
The catalog takes some practice, but it is useful for distinguishing mold variants and decorated versions. With collectible parts, a similar-looking thumbnail is not enough to confirm that you have found the correct element.
BrickScout
BrickScout offers another way to search individual pieces, sets and minifigures from different sellers. Its multilingual interface provides an alternative route into parts shopping. Compare condition, available quantity, minimum spend and shipping as well as the unit price. Whether it costs more or less than another marketplace depends on your particular list and the sellers you choose.
Brick Owl
Brick Owl is another marketplace for new and used Lego® elements. Listings come from individual stores with their own stock and delivery terms. Check the exact color and quantity before comparing an offer with one on another platform.
Comparing online marketplaces
BrickLink, BrickScout and Brick Owl complement direct purchases from Lego. A seller may stock an older variant absent from the manufacturer's current catalog, but your order also comes with that seller's conditions.
None of these platforms is always cheapest. Compare the same complete list including all additional costs. For a small repair, a store with slightly higher piece prices can still be cheaper if it sends everything in one parcel.
Lego® spare parts: Checklist
You want to buy Lego® spare parts to complete used sets or to build your own creations? In the following checklist, we have summarised the most important points that should be considered when buying individual parts.
Commercial suppliers
Check whether you are buying from a business or a private individual and read the terms that apply to your location. Business status alone does not guarantee brick condition or a trouble-free transaction. Review return information and recent feedback, use the platform's intended payment channels and keep the order confirmation and description for any follow-up.
Buy new or used spare parts
New and used elements differ in more than price. Scratches, discoloration, weakened connections and worn printing can matter on used parts. Read the condition description and request photographs for valuable pieces. Used does not automatically mean damaged, but a low price does not guarantee a flawless surface either.
Clean ordinary used plastic bricks gently by hand. Electronics, motors, stickers and delicate decoration need different care and should not automatically go into a water bath. Dry cleaned elements fully before storing or rebuilding with them, and set aside damaged pieces rather than using them in load-bearing connections.
There is no fixed percentage saving for used parts. Rare colors and prints can cost substantially more than common building bricks. Judge the premium for a new example against the exact condition and purpose of the part you need.
Shipping costs
Do not confuse a seller's minimum order value with a free-shipping threshold. The shop may charge postage even above its minimum spend. Add delivery, any stated handling charges and possible import costs to the piece prices. Buying extra bricks only helps when they are useful or genuinely reduce the final amount you pay.
Origin
Check where the parcel actually ships from, not just the language of the store. A domestic seller can simplify delivery for US or UK buyers. Cross-border purchases may involve import taxes, carrier handling and longer transit times. An EU seller is not automatically a customs-free choice for an English-speaking reader outside the EU.
Order all spare parts you need
Make a complete list of parts, colors and quantities before ordering. Check your own stock, then look for stores that can supply as much of the list as possible. A combined shipment may cost less than several separate purchases, but compare the final total. Keep the list so you can check the delivery.
Check the compatibility
Especially with older or rarer sets, it is important to check the compatibility of the spare parts with the existing Lego® sets. Some parts may have been modified or reworked, which can lead to problems when assembling. Make sure that the spare parts correspond exactly to the specifications of the original parts to ensure optimum fit and functionality.
Ratings and reviews
Before buying, carefully read the ratings and reviews of other buyers on the respective online marketplaces. This feedback can provide valuable information about the quality of the spare parts, reliability and customer service of the dealer. Pay attention to recurring comments on topics such as the condition of the parts, the accuracy of the product descriptions and customer satisfaction. This information will help you make informed decisions and minimize risks.
Lego® MOC parts
Parts for Lego® MOCs are normal purchases, just like bricks for extending a set. Check what you already own before making a list. Hidden supports can often use existing colors, while visible surfaces usually benefit from a more consistent selection.
Lego® MOC building instructions
Before buying instructions, establish whether the offer contains only a digital file or also physical bricks. A photograph of the finished model does not answer that question. Check its parts list: rare colors and special prints can make an apparently affordable project expensive. Both free and paid instructions are available from different creators.
In addition, there are many other providers where MOC instructions are available for download:
When buying instructions on eBay, check the file format, included items and whether the seller is authorized to offer the design. Budget for the instructions and the required bricks separately.
BrickLink Studio
BrickLink Studio is a free program for designing digital models and preparing parts lists. You can create instructions from a design and collect the required elements for purchase. Check color availability before ordering: a combination selectable in software is not necessarily available as a physical part. A small test build also helps reveal whether the structure works as intended.
Ordering Lego® parts made easy
Missing or damaged elements from a new set belong with the replacement service. Lost pieces, incomplete second-hand purchases and additional MOC bricks are bought through Pick a Brick or marketplace sellers. An old set does not rule out buying its parts directly from Lego.
Compare shape, color, condition and quantity before judging price. On marketplaces, identify the actual seller and calculate the full cost of your list. Several shipping charges can quickly consume the savings from cheap individual bricks.
Keep your inventory until delivery and check off the pieces received. If something is absent or the wrong version arrives, contact the relevant seller or Lego customer service with your order details and the specific discrepancy.
Are you interested in new Lego sets? The Brickfact app notifies you as soon as there are Lego deals at the best prices. The Brickfact app is free and available for iOS and Android.
