I know the big boxes are part of the marketing to make them appealing, with nice big artwork on them, but the boxes are too big! They could easily fit the bigger sets into smaller boxes, and thus, I could fit more boxes into my storage area. As it is, I've virtually run out of room, and may even need to (gulp) get rid of some sets. Anyone agree?

Good news for you then, because Lego is shrinking their boxes!

Good news for you then, because Lego is shrinking their boxes!

Well, thats good then! I bought the power boat transporter set earlier today and the box is rather large, it could fit into something half that size. It seems a bit wasteful.

It's a bit strange they were/are using such large boxes. TLG prides themselves on being green. At least they are recyclable... as if we even toss them out

But they've already been shrunken...

But they've already been shrunken...

Interesting. Was that just a tester though, it doesnt seem like they have shrunk across the board.

But they've already been shrunken...

I don't think that wave of changes affected all boxes. I think every size of box will be smaller by the end of 2012.

It's an ongoing process, then?

Yes, seems to be a gradual process. I think they're currently aiming to bring box sizes down by 10-20%, seemingly by reducing the depth of a lot of the boxes at the moment. Ironically though, instruction booklets are 3x are long as ever plus we're getting that cardboard insert as protection in more and more sets.

Actually the big boxes bother me too! This is good news!

Good news for you then, because Lego is shrinking their boxes!

Indeed there are but they are still way too big for what comes inside.

I concur about them being too large. It can be difficult to store them all, even when flattened. I have noticed everytime we order from S@H, the shipping box is really oversized as well. They don't even put much, if any, packing material, so a smaller box that fits the inner boxes perfectly would make more sense to me instead of wasting even more cardboard. Oh well, maybe they will shrink that down too in the coming years.

Yes, seems to be a gradual process. I think they're currently aiming to bring box sizes down by 10-20%, seemingly by reducing the depth of a lot of the boxes at the moment. Ironically though, instruction booklets are 3x are long as ever plus we're getting that cardboard insert as protection in more and more sets.

For most sets though, the cardboard insert takes up less cardboard than is removed by box shrinkage, so there is still a bit of reduction. And also the insert keeps the instructions from being folded and difficult to read, so it still is good.

I actually like the big boxes -- Makes it more appealing to buy.

I like the bigger boxes. They are easier to see for the older AFOLs with declining vision like me.

I recycle the boxes that aren't important to me.

I know the big boxes are part of the marketing to make them appealing, with nice big artwork on them, but the boxes are too big! They could easily fit the bigger sets into smaller boxes, and thus, I could fit more boxes into my storage area.

Yes, this has been a shared concern since quite many years by AFOLs. Good to know they've decided to reduce it a little at least, TLG has been asking about this topic in several polls in the last few years...

As it is, I've virtually run out of room, and may even need to (gulp) get rid of some sets. Anyone agree?

Don't be ridiculous. Just open them

Personally I welcome smaller boxes but having the big boxes to make them stand out on the shelves and be more exciting for kids makes sense.

I wonder how much difference the money saved on cardboard and distribution will make to the price of the sets.

Don't be ridiculous. Just open them

Agreed... I know you probably meant to build them, but I've been re-boxing.

My supermarket recently had a sale on plastic shoeboxes (these are perfect for LEGO, IMO). I bought 10 of them (should have gotten more). I've been using them for other things, but I've been re-boxing. Sorry collectors, the boxes just aren't important to me, but you can always fold them flat after re-boxing if you want to save them.

Kingdoms Prison Tower Rescue, The Battle of Endor, Apple Tree House, and Whitecap Bay all fit into shoe boxes (one each, of course). The Black Pearl even fits into one, minus the instructions (I do have a big box where I keep all the instructions).

London Escape and Cannibal Escape both fit into one box (I bagged Cannibal Escape in a gallon ziploc to keep it separate).

I label the boxes with set number and name, and they take up MUCH less space now. If I can find more plastic shoe boxes at such a good price (they were $10 for 10 at the supermarket), I'll definitely be getting more.

I wonder how much difference the money saved on cardboard and distribution will make to the price of the sets.

None. Really. None.

Edited January 2, 201213 yr by fred67

The rattle copter box is about two times smaller than it would be if it was released last year.

So the Box's are definitively shrinking.

Now if only they would bring back the flip up box side to see contents inside.

Edited January 2, 201213 yr by DashCobra

The rattle copter box is about two times smaller than it would be if it was released last year.

So the Box's are definitively shrinking.

Now if only they would bring back the flip up box side to see contents inside.

The other side of this side of this is the size of box used for the Dino Raptor Chase. Ridiculous sized box for what is inside, the Dino(Raptor in this case) doesnt need that much protection

The bigger sized box was produced in 2010. The smaller sized box was produced in 2011. Please ignore the black patch.

I was in my local lego shop today, and they had the mini modulars set. It was in quite a small (but deeper than usual) box, which seems a more sensible option.

With regard to keeping boxes, I suppose in the back of my mind if I do decide to let some go in the future, I know it would help the sale to have the box.

My mom was going to kill me as I kept a lot of MISB in my home, where I am not at home country right now lol

I was in my local lego shop today, and they had the mini modulars set. It was in quite a small (but deeper than usual) box, which seems a more sensible option.

With regard to keeping boxes, I suppose in the back of my mind if I do decide to let some go in the future, I know it would help the sale to have the box.

Did you get the modular set yet?

I am still waiting for it to come to UK.

Yea...I did see some of the photos online and the box seems "mini" compare to the other sets!....at least not huge

I'm fond of the larger boxes myself due to how often I have to take my sets to and from college. With the larger boxes it's easy to fit the entire set-- and possibly additional sets-- into one box with minimal disassembly. The boxes with the tab for closing them securely are even better for this purpose.

Of course, I recognize TLG is trying to cut down on their box sizes, and so I anticipate that before too long I'll have to make my LEGO transportation habits different. Ziploc bags seem to be a trusted method of transporting partially-disassembled sets and MOCs, so I may end up transitioning to that. In the meantime, though, re-packaging sets in their original boxes (sometimes more than one set to a box) hasn't failed me. And boxes I don't need for transporting sets can easily be flattened to conserve space.

Some boxes, such as that to the Brick Calendar and Robie House, seem specially-designed for fitting the whole set in the box, so I think oversized boxes will still be with us for quite a while when it comes to these types of "specialty" products.

...With the larger boxes it's easy to fit the entire set-- and possibly additional sets-- into one box with minimal disassembly. The boxes with the tab for closing them securely are even better for this purpose...

Same here. I typically prefer to keep sets either intact or partially disassembled if possible. I like to put everything back in the original box even the extra pieces. I suppose it's because I'm not much of a MOC'er at the moment.

I think if I wanted to really save space I would break the set completely down, bag it in durable zip-loc bags, and put them in a plastic container. At which point I would flatten the box and store all the boxes together. Instructions could be filed away in a drawer or filing cabinet.