If you’re looking for the best LEGO sets for boys, you’re in the right place! Here are some of the most popular sets for boys, with links to where you can buy or find out more information.
Let’s be honest: Searching for the best LEGO sets for boys can sometimes be a frustrating experience.
Sure, your young one loves LEGO, but they may also love so many other things that it seems impossible to pick out the one perfect set of bricks to buy for their birthday, Christmas, or simply as a treat or reward.
If that’s a familiar problem to you, this guide is here to help.
Recently, we put dozens of the best LEGO sets for boys through their paces to find the ten options considered to be the very best of the best.
You’ll find our detailed reviews of each of those sets below, along with a thorough buyer’s guide to help you determine which one of those top 10 is going to prove to be the ideal gift for your child.
2021’s Top 10 Best LEGO Sets for Boys
1. LEGO City Space Mars Research Shuttle 60226 Toy Building Kit
Recommended Age: 5+
One of LEGO’s all-around bestsellers, the LEGO City Space Mars Research Shuttle 60226 Toy Building Kit is a must for the budding astronaut in your life.
Suitable for children five and above, this 273 piece kit is relatively simple to put together and should take boys of all ages somewhere under two hours to put together.
Not that the fun ends there.
Once constructed, the special little man in your life will have his own 3″ x 9″ LEGO space shuttle, which opens up to reveal a detailed interior where two of the three included Mars astronaut figures can sit as they take off for an epic adventure through your child’s imagination.
This value for money kit also includes a detailed replica of the Mars Rover, complete with a working grappling arm, a helidrone, and a storage drone.
Put together; all this ensures that they’ll have everything they need to enjoy endless hours of imaginative, creative play.
2. LEGO Creator 3in1 Pirate Ship 31109 Building Playset
Recommended Age: 9+
If your little one loves nothing more than imagining themselves as a valiant pirate setting sail on the high seas in search of adventure, then there’s no doubt they’ll love the LEGO Creator 3in1 Pirate Ship 31109 Building Playset.
Although it’s the most expensive LEGO set on our list, it’s also one of the biggest, featuring an impressive 1,260 pieces, which give them all they need to create any one of three distinct models.
First up, there’s a classic pirate ship measuring 14″ x 18″ x 7″ decorated in intricate detail to look as close as they’re going to get to a real pirate ship.
Then there’s the ability to build an exciting Skull Island playset where their three pirate Minifigures can hunt for that all-important treasure.
Finally, your little Long John Silver can also put together their very own Pirates’ Inn, the perfect spot to give those Minifigures a bit of a break after traversing the oceans of your kid’s playroom!
3. LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs 31058 Build It Yourself Dinosaur Set
Recommended Age: 7 – 12
Next, we go from the most expensive to the least as the LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs 31058 Build It Yourself Dinosaur Set earns itself the title of one of the best budget LEGO sets for boys you can buy this year.
Another 3-in-1 set, the 174 LEGO pieces ensure your little man is well equipped to build a Triceratops, a Pterodactyl, and, of course, the mighty T-Rex.
While it’s a perfect STEM toy to include in your list of awesome dinosaur activities for kids, it’s also a pretty fun toy in its own right, with each prehistoric creature featuring fully movable joints, claws, and mouths, ensuring lots of creative play for hours to come.
4. LEGO NINJAGO Jungle Dragon 71746 Building Kit
Recommended Age: 8+
If your children are fans of LEGO’s massively popular NINJAGO TV series and related kits, then the LEGO NINJAGO Jungle Dragon 71746 Building Kit is undoubtedly an essential addition to their collection.
The highlight of this 506 piece set is the beautifully detailed Jungle Dragon which comes complete with poseable wings, moveable legs and tail, and a jaw that can open and close as it sails through the air on a NINJAGO adventure.
The dragon also comes with his very own removable saddle so that one of four characters from the TV series (land Lloyd, Island Zane, PoulErik, and Thunder Keeper) can ride upon him carrying their own weapons.
This exciting kit also includes a surfboard and sail with shooting functionality and other fun accessories, which will no doubt enhance the enjoyment of their next big ninja battle.
5. LEGO Minecraft The Pillager Outpost 21159 Action Figure Brick Building Playset
Recommended Age: 8+
If NINJAGO isn’t your young man’s thing, but the smash-hit game Minecraft certainly is, look no further than the LEGO Minecraft The Pillager Outpost 21159 Action Figure Brick Building Playset when it’s time to buy them the perfect gift.
A popular addition to our list of the best Minecraft gifts for kids, this 303 piece set encourages creative thinking and improves motor skills as they create their very own Minecraft rescue adventure.
Bringing the game’s Iron Golem and Pillagers to life in an easy-to-build three-piece set, this one comes with its own ready-made story in which players duke it out with the dastardly pillagers before rescuing the Iron Golem from the cage and celebrating their victory.
Afterward, the pieces can be reused any way they like as they put their imagination to use in coming up with a Minecraft story of their own.
6. LEGO Technic Monster Jam Grave Digger 42118 Model Building Kit
Recommended Age: 7+
Big, bold, and boisterous, the LEGO Technic Monster Jam Grave Digger 42118 Model Building Kit is everything boys love and then some.
The 212 pieces let your child build their very own Grave Digger Monster Truck, complete with huge, moving tires, stickers for decoration, a pirate flag, and other accessories.
Once built, the truck’s onboard, pull-back motor can be used to send it racing along as they enjoy recreating a whole host of real-world Monster Truck Stunts.
When they’re done with that, the whole kit can be reassembled as an off-road buggy complete with a pull-back motor of its own, meaning they’ll never get tired of the excitement.
7. LEGO Speed Champions 1974 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.0 75895 Building Kit
Recommended Age: 7+
From one type of vehicle to another, the LEGO Speed Champions 1974 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.0 75895 Building Kit comes with 180 pieces that kids can use to create a replica of this classic sports car.
Earning rave reviews in our guide to the best LEGO toys under $25, this affordable little kit may be low on cost, but it’s certainly high on enjoyment thanks to the number of thoughtful details.
The classic Porsche 911 driver Minifigure that comes included has his own racing helmet and can fit easily inside the cockpit after removing (and later replacing) the windshield, while the three-cone elements help to enhance their racing car role-play adventures.
8. LEGO Speed Champions Chevrolet Corvette Racing Car Kit
Recommended Age: 8+
Sticking with the same series for a moment, the LEGO Speed Champions Chevrolet Corvette Racing Car Kit may cost a little more than the Porsche Option, but the 512 pieces do provide twice the fun.
Kids can use those pieces to create both a modern 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R Race Car and the classic 1968 Chevrolet Corvette, providing them with a winning combination of excitement and classic car history.
Speaking of winning, each car comes with its own racing driver Minifigure complete with a helmet, race suit, and a wrench.
What we really like, though, is that each model is built to truly replicate their real-life counterparts, ensuring plenty of educational value for kids who love cars.
9. LEGO Star Wars Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Fighter 75301 Awesome Toy Building Kit
Recommended Age: 9+
If you’re looking for the best LEGO set for boys who love Star Wars, the LEGO Star Wars Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Fighter 75301 Awesome Toy Building Kit is well worth a look.
Ranking high in our list of the best LEGO Star Wars sets, this 412 piece kit takes kids back to the classic battle between the Rebel Alliance and The Galactic Empire from George Lucas’ original trilogy.
The kit lets them recreate the iconic X-Wing Fighter used by Luke Skywalker, while the young Jedi himself is featured in Minifigure form, complete with the obligatory lightsaber.
Not that he’s alone, Princess Leia and General Dodonna are also present in Minifig form, while an R2-D2 figure ensures they can really recreate those famous scenes as accurately as possible.
Suitable for ages 9+, this LEGO set may be a little trickier to put together than some of the sets we’ve looked at, but it still provides countless hours of intergalactic adventures for your young Padawan.
10. LEGO Marvel Avengers Helicarrier
Recommended Age: 9+
Last but not least, if your kids are more fascinated with the adventures of Iron Man, Captain America, Nick Fury, and their allies, then the LEGO Marvel Avengers Helicarrier will certainly make an ideal gift.
This one came out on top in our guide to the best LEGO Marvel Sets currently on the market, partly due to its enormous size (1,244 pieces) but mostly due to the sheer number of ways it can spark young Marvel fans’ imaginations.
Along with the three heroes above, Captain Marvel, Thor, Black Widow, and War Machine are all accounted for in Minifig form along with their trademark weapons and accessories.
That said, the highlight has got to be the large, fully-working Helicarrier and collection of vehicles and other pieces that kids can use to create their own battles between the heroic Avengers and the dastardly MODOK, the latter of whom is also here in figure form.
How to Choose the Best LEGO Sets for Boys: A Buyer’s Guide
As you’ll no doubt have gathered by now, there’s an infinite number of options out there when it comes to choosing the best LEGO sets for boys, and while we’ve been able to whittle them down to the top 10 best of the best, whittling those 10 down to just one set to buy is all going to come down to you and your little guy.
With that in mind, the following buyer’s guide outlines the most important things to consider to help you determine the absolute best LEGO set to buy for the boy in your life.
Theme and Interests
Did you know that LEGO currently produces sets in an impressive 43 different themes, with 107 other themes still on the market despite ending production?
In other words, no matter what your child is into, there’s bound to be a perfect theme to suit them.
If they’re into popular entertainment franchises like Star Wars, Minecraft, Ninjago, or Marvel, for example, then you’ll score huge Mom points by picking up a set based on that franchise.
If they’re fascinated by dinosaurs, space, pirates, or cars, then again, it’ll help to look for a kit based on their interests.
Age Appropriateness
We say this all the time, but only because it’s so important:
The reason we’ve listed the recommended age for each of our top 10 LEGO sets is that it helps you determine whether or not it’s suitable for your child.
In many cases, you may find that sets designed for older children are too complicated and time-consuming to keep their younger siblings engaged, while sets designed for pre-teens are likely to provide little in the way of a stimulating challenge for their teenage brothers.
LEGO Experience
Serving almost as a counter-argument to our last point, your child’s familiarity with LEGO and experience using it may prove to be an even more important factor than the recommended age limit.
If this is their first-ever LEGO set, then they’ll no doubt appreciate you keeping it simple until they start to master those bricks. If they’ve been playing with LEGO for years and are well adept at putting together larger models, then they’ll no doubt find a more intricate and detailed set more rewarding regardless of their age.
What is the Best LEGO Set for Boys to Buy? Final Recommendations
With all that being said, you could argue that any one of our top 10 options could be considered the very best LEGO set for boys, depending on their age and interests and, of course, your budget.
If you’re looking to keep a close eye on your wallet, for example, then the LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs 31058 Build It Yourself Dinosaur Set is our recommendation of the best budget option out there, providing plenty of value at a low cost.
If the only time they prize themselves away from their LEGO is to get into a game of Minecraft, then we recommend the LEGO Minecraft The Pillager Outpost 21159 Action Figure Brick Building Playset as the perfect gift idea.
Having said all that, if you simply want our recommendation for the all-round best LEGO set for boys that money can buy this year, then look no further than the LEGO City Space Mars Research Shuttle 60226 Toy Building Kit, an affordable option that ensures they’ll have just as much fun building as they will soaring through their imagination on an intergalactic adventure of a lifetime.