Review: IKEA BYGGLEK boxes
Posted by Huw,
LEGO announced its collaboration with IKEA in 2018 and now, two years later, the first products are about to hit the shelves in the Swedish furniture retailer's stores.
They are being marketed as a means to harmonise a child's desire to build and display their LEGO creations with their parents' aspirations for a neat and tidy house.
There's no doubt that they will be successful at helping to achieve that, but let's take a look at them from an AFOL's perspective.
The products will be available in IKEA stores in Europe and the USA from 1st October. There are three packs available which contain 4 sizes of box.
The largest two are sold separately while the two smallest sizes are packed together as a set of three.
Although they will be sold and marketed by IKEA it appears that they are manufactured by LEGO in the Czech Republic. They are made from ABS and are the same shade of white as regular LEGO parts.
The boxes and our database entries provide dimensions in centimetres but more useful for us are their dimensions in studs. They are:
- Large: 32x44, 12 bricks high
- Medium: 22x32, 12 bricks high
- Small: 16x22, 6 bricks high
- Extra-small: 11x16, 6 bricks high
The boxes bear both LEGO's and IKEA's logos and are attractive and colourful. Unfortunately, to open them you need to lift three glued flaps so you can't do so without damaging them.
The two smallest sizes of box do not require any assembly. They consist of three pieces of plastic: the lid, the sides, and a base which is clipped onto the sides. Interestingly, they -- and the parts of the other boxes -- have design numbers moulded into them. They are
- 35014 11x16 base
- 35015 11x16 sides
- 35016 11x16 lid
- 35017 16x22 base
- 35018 16x22 sides
- 35019 16x22 lid
The side walls are exactly 2 studs wide so the internal dimensions are 4 smaller than the external ones. That doesn't leave a lot of volume in the smallest one!
The sides of the smallest pair are exactly 5 bricks high and the lid exactly one brick high. All the boxes have an inset section in their sides: in the smaller boxes there's a 1x4x3 recess on the longer sides, in the larger ones it's 1x6x6 on all four sides.
The bottom of the lids provides no means to affix parts, but they do fit very snugly onto the box and once in place won't fall off.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the larger two sizes of box come flat-packed in six pieces so require some assembly. An IKEA instruction sheet is provided!
The sides have connectors on each corner: tongues on the larger sides of the medium box that mate with slots on the smaller sides.
The base is then clipped on and once in place the box is very rigid and difficult to disassemble, but not impossible.
The sides of the large and medium boxes are 10 bricks high and the lids are two bricks high.
As you've probably gathered from the stud dimensions above, the boxes are sized like metric paper: the large box is double the surface area of the medium one, which is double that of the small, which is double that of the smallest. They therefore stack neatly.
However, they do not connect when stacked like this: that would make separating them difficult, but they do not slide about thanks to ridges on the bottoms which fit between the studs of the box below.
As I said above, the internal dimensions are exactly four studs smaller than the external ones so bricks fit snugly between the sides.
For the record, the design IDs of the components of the larger boxes are as follows:
- 35199 22x32 lid
- 35020 22x32 base
- ????? 22-long side
- ????? 32-long side
- ????? 44-long side
- 35011 32x44 lid
- 34993 32x44 base
Unfortunately I did not discover the design IDs until I'd built them and as noted it's difficult to take them apart once assembled, so I can't see the sides' numbers now!
These pictures should give you an idea of their relative sizes. If you have no use for the actual boxes the lids make excellent baseplates, either 1 or 2 bricks high.
Verdict
When these were revealed inadvertently a month or so ago as the outcome of LEGO's collaboration with the Swedish homeware giant, my first thought was 'storage boxes? Is that it?' I, like many, was expecting play tables or display solutions or some other furniture, so I was initially disappointed.
However, now I have my hands on them I can see that they are extremely well-designed and manufactured and a lot of thought has gone into them. They are 'only' storage boxes, but boxes that fit in the LEGO system perfectly: boxes that double as LEGO bricks.
Price-wise, in the UK they'll cost £10, £12 and £15 and in the USA $10, $13 and $15 which seems reasonable for a high quality product if you require just a few of them, but as a storage solution for AFOLs with extensive collections the cost of buying enough to house it all is likely to be prohibitive.
They would nevertheless do an excellent job of storing parts you have in bulk, particularly if you don't stack them too high. The side recess would be useful for attaching part(s) to, to indicate what's inside.
Also, because they fit in the LEGO system so well they could also be useful for bulking out mountains or landscapes, buried beneath bricks, in dioramas.
Overall, then, they have exceeded my expectations. For what they are designed -- for kids to store, build and display their LEGO -- they are perfect. They are not likely to be suitable as a sole storage solution for AFOLs, but they will have their uses. They'd be perfect for taking and storing a subset of your parts in your caravan or RV, for example.
I will take a look at the BYGGLEK box of bricks, 40357, in the next few days.
Thanks to LEGO for providing the products for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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76 comments on this article
2 years.., and this is what they came up with..
Consider these sold, so it's safe to say that they don't clip on baseplates (they look wonderful as buildings) but are prevented from sliding due to their clips. I will be getting one of each to try them in my world and then I'll determine if I get more. It's a shame that these don't appear so far in multiple colors.
I'd like to see a photo of the underneath of them. I realise from the review that there are no anti-studs, but the stacking feature looks out of system. I'd like to know more.
Personally, I am hoping they come out with a Lego-compatible build table eventually :)
Thanks for the review. In Singapore these don't arrive until 2021 according to our local IKEA, and more annoyingly, there's no mention of them at all in the just-released 2021 catalogue.
I hope they'll be affordable enough that I can get at least one of each set, if not two. I still don't have any use cases in mind, but exploring is part of the fun — and I can always play with them, just like how the press photos show!
I really like how the lids can double as modern versions of the 8x8, 8x16 and 12x24 bricks of the 80s-00s that I grew up with. Apparently the former two continued to be made well into the late noughties!
Is there any support across the middle of the medium and large lids? If not, are they rigid enough to make good baseplates?
I was in IKEA just a few days ago. Not only these boxes weren't being sold yet (I didn't know they were only going to hit the stores in October at the earliest), but I also couldn't find a few other items I was looking for, the wardrobe we wanted to order wasn't in stock, and most importantly... the cafeteria was closed. The cafeteria! Sure, I bought a bag of meatballs to cook at home, but still!
Suffice to say, this was my worst IKEA experience.
@LegoSonicBoy said:
"In Singapore these don't arrive until 2021 according to our local IKEA, and more annoyingly, there's no mention of them at all in the just-released 2021 catalogue."
I don't think you'll be missing much.
I can see JANG (the YouTuber) using these as bulk filler for mountains instead of Duplo bricks...
Wait. Shouldn’t the extra small boxes be 10x16 studs, not 11x16?
@omnium , you can see the underside of the smallest one in the second photo down.
Has to be a day one purchase as I live so close to an IKEA. 50km away. IKEA has always had a place in my heart, no matter how cringe it sounds. And the same for Lego
@Chilis_no said:
"2 years.., and this is what they came up with.."
EXACTLY my thought.
The price is actually better than I expected. I am sure at some point I will own a couple of these. I wish the large one was wide enough to put a baseplate on the bottom of the inside.
I’d like to see if they can be used in MOCs to raise landscape elevation?
@LegoAthos said:
"I’d like to see if they can be used in MOCs to raise landscape elevation?"
Yes, as mentioned in the review.
@Astrobricks said:
"Wait. Shouldn’t the extra small boxes be 10x16 studs, not 11x16? "
The article is correct, they're 11x16, although your confusion is understandable since baseplate-type products like this are almost always made with even numbers of studs. I'm not sure why they decided on these dimensions instead of them being 12x16, and all the other boxes being slightly larger to match.
Definitely going to be using these as a way to put some elevation into my Lego city layout.
I think I’d like to see them in the flesh before buying. They would probably make a good display for something, I’m sure. Maybe IKEA will see how well these perform before moving on to other Lego related items such as building tables. After all, they’re not doing great in terms of general sales at the moment.
i know folks have been waiting patiently for 2 years and some are disappointed at this result but we all should remember that both of these companies typically utilize long development and manufacturing lead times in the best of times... 2020 has not fallen in that category. these were almost certainly conceived of and designed quickly, in the first few weeks/months of the partnership.
if that’s all that comes of this, it’s still so perfectly representative of both brands and inline with the intention announced back in 2018 that i can’t be that disappointed.
I like the look of these. I think I will display my winter village sets on them when in season and then I can use them for storage in the off season.
Great review, Huw!
They will be great for storing/showcasing snow themed sets, but I hope there will be black editions too, for space themes, tan or dark orange for mars, etc.
To quote True Stories "It’s a major public relations effort. They are calling it a celebration of specialness. It’s cool, it’s a multi-purpose shape; a box."
From a pure parts perspective, these are good value.
The large box, which includes a 32x44-stud, 2-brick high baseplate, is the same price as a "normal" 48x48 baseplate. While the surface area is smaller, the box lid has more ABS than the baseplate. Add in the storage and play value, and our family will actually be purchasing several of these.
I was also underwhelmed and skeptical at first, but once again, Brickset has sold us on some LEGO!
EDIT: And I just imagined using large boxes as baseplates for Modular Buildings with basements! With 12 studs left over for streetscapes.
I think many people want their storage box to be clear/transparent, so this is no go for me.
Each corner of the boxes should have had a 1x1 or 1x2 anti-stud so it would connect better to other boxes when you stack them. 4x 1x1 or 1x2 studs is strong enough to prevent them from moving too much and you can still lift the boxes.
Hopefully there is more to come...
These are not planned as primarily AFOL product, the cost would be too prohibitive to get many (there is lack or is it läck ? of periodic rebates in IKEA shops) , they are not big/high enough to store bigger creations or don't have dividers to act like part sorter.
The main target is a parent of a kid that has just enough LEGO and needs to store some at hand, they fit into the IKEA brand shelves. I can say it works there, the IKEA parts pack and 3-4 normal sized JW sets can be packed in the 2 big boxes where the lids can be used as a base later. The ribs on the underside of the lids were also a nice sorter for building.
As for travel, too bad it does not come with some securing mechanism, but as IKEA goes there is often place for some DIY hacks, 2 leftover rubber bands from a yoga mat and boxes are secured (also using bricks in the indentation can be used to secure the bands in place).
What, no Allen wrench needed for assembly? Are you sure this is IKEA?
A child has a lot of Lego. Time for a storage box thinks the parent. Parent thinks "those IKEA things look cool" and buys one and puts the child's bricks inside. Next day child wants to build. Tips the pile of bricks on the floor then uses the box to create a beautiful studio apartment for Emmet and Lucy to live in. Very nice. Although not all the bricks are used so lots still on the floor. "Time to tidy up" says the parent "put the bricks away". "But" says the child "I've made a compact apartment with mini Billy bookcases and all. I can't just dump the the rest of the bricks in there" "But" says parent "it's a storage box"
A 3 hour stand off begins. No one wins.
Next day the parent goes and buys a normal plastic storage box from Wilkos. "Stupid IKEA" says the parent.
(This is not a true story but I can see it happening in many homes)
I actual might genuinely get this. The tops and the boxes them selves seems like it could be very helpful to a Hoth Moc
I really wish they had also offered some product that would be better for AFOLs storing parts. I very much need a storage solution for all my pieces that'd make building easier, whereas these being non-transparent and kind of bland to look at is quite disappointing for that purpose
I think these are interesting and may pickup some if I ever can get to my not local Ikea before they sell out. It bothers me that there is so much wasted storage space with the thick walls. I'm also not thrilled with the white color. I've got so much other mismatched storage already that I don't intend to get too many of these.
@Brickmasterboy said:
"Has to be a day one purchase as I live so close to an IKEA. 50km away. "
50km?? You mean there ISN'T an IKEA on the corner of every block in Sweden...?
@Huw said:
" @LegoAthos said:
"I’d like to see if they can be used in MOCs to raise landscape elevation?"
Yes, as mentioned in the review."
Yes, just like that. :)
Will IKEA now be selling peroxide to deal with the inevitable yellowing of white LEGO?
@bananaworld said:
"
@Brickmasterboy said:
"Has to be a day one purchase as I live so close to an IKEA. 50km away. "
50km?? You mean there ISN'T an IKEA on the corner of every block in Sweden...?
"
Like Starbucks here in the US lol
@huw can you provide a photo of the bottom of the base of one of the boxes please?
^ I already have, second one down.
Even at just around 12,000 pieces (and oh, 1000 or so knockoff parts I haven't binned yet), my collection by the standards of here is pretty tiny, but not a one of these boxes is really big enough to actually be LEGO storage for my uses. And, for smaller stuff, I have a pile of those rather neat plastic containers KFC puts their sides in, and those are rather sturdy (some around here are nearly ten years old!). And then there's the issue of durability. These aren't one solid molded piece of plastic with a lid--they are assembled from flat pieces. Even cheap Sterlite totes are one-piece. And, no studs on the bottoms of the boxes.
Will I buy them--probably, but probably not for use as LEGO storage. One (as suggested by the box art) is supplementing the traditional set we're getting alongside this theme, while the others will mostly end up being trinket boxes (ala Dots), or as the basis for "shoebox" dioramas
I was among the many that hoped IKEA would be doing LEGO centric storage. Yes, this is sort of it, but not on as large a scale as needed. Display and storage options for the huge collections of today's AFOL is what's really needed. As in, a building table that looks like regular furniture--not something loaded in primary colors that looks like you lifted it from a doctor's office waiting room or a kindergarten. You know, like those coffee tables that reveal chess sets and the like, with a hidden baseplate.
To all the people complaining, this is still miles ahead of the storage "system", Lego is currently selling. Probably unfair to call it a system though, because those boxes don't fit together whatsoever.
I wasn't very interested in these but I like that all the dimensions are based on Lego pieces. That compatibility is very appealing to me. I might get one or two to use as project boxes for specific builds.
@SeekerBear said:
" @bananaworld said:
"
@Brickmasterboy said:
"Has to be a day one purchase as I live so close to an IKEA. 50km away. "
50km?? You mean there ISN'T an IKEA on the corner of every block in Sweden...?
"
Like Starbucks here in the US lol"
Surprisingly there aren't that many IKEAs here. 20 of them in whole sweden which I think is too little. I think there's one in the progress of being built right now, but still, there aren't really a lot
I'm not sure why some AFOLs are that disappointed. Both companies never said this would just be a bulk storage collaboration. They've both said from the get go that this would be a play and store product. Sure a play table might have been an option but if you've read the marketing material it pointed to a more "store under the child's bed" type of product. This would've ruled out a traditional play table. I would probably pick one up but I don't have an IKEA anywhere near me.
I really don't get why people are getting so thrilled by these boxes. They have no appeal or whatsoever. They look like what I usually get when ordering take-out food.
It's a box that you put together but is very difficult to dismantle and it's endorsed by Lego. Hmm something not quite right there. What is next Lego glue?
@PunSlinger said:
" @Astrobricks said:
"Wait. Shouldn’t the extra small boxes be 10x16 studs, not 11x16? "
The article is correct, they're 11x16, although your confusion is understandable since baseplate-type products like this are almost always made with even numbers of studs. I'm not sure why they decided on these dimensions instead of them being 12x16, and all the other boxes being slightly larger to match. "
If the smallest one would be 12x16, the largest one needs to be 32x48. (since each box is exactly twice the size of its smaller brother, just like A3-A4-A5 paper sizes). The 48 studs might be too large to fit in regular IKEA furniture. It's only 3,2cm (1.3 inches) difference but this might be an explanation? Sure seems odd at first glance though.
This just looks stupid. Do they really needed 2 years to design something like this?
Those that are familiar with Ikea storage system knows that they made already quite many nice boxes and shelfs. I'm using several of the Trofast system for my family: https://www.ikea.com/at/de/cat/aufbewahrung-fuer-spielzeug-20474/
But I really don't see how I could make use of this new offering from Ikea and Lego (unless using it as a fast and easy way to build-up a landscape for a MOC).
Because it doesn't look to be a systematic storage solution based on it's current design. The 'innovation' here seems only evidenced to a certain extent from the marketing perspective, as it looks like a Lego brick and it is also a nice storage Ikea box with some play value combined. But nothing more.
Buying lots of it seems prohibitive both in terms of money and more importantly, it is kind of wasteful as it adds unnecessary ABS to the house and environment. For people with small collections and limited amount of parted Lego pieces at home, this might come useful as a storage box (only if one doesn't already have their own storage methods).
@Synthia1980 said:
"BYGGLEK? Really? Doesn’t trip of the tongue that smoothly. I wonder how it’s pronounced? BIG GLEK ( as in fleck?). Maybe it has three syllables- ‘by ‘g’ lek ’. Shall we just call them ‘those LEGO IKEA boxes’ instead? "
Up to you; it's a Swedish word, and IKEA themselves have explicitly said they don't care how you pronounce it or what you call the boxes.
On an interesting side note, I'm on a bus that just happens to be passing by our local IKEA as I write this comment.
I'm just going to wait and see what people come up with for these, the fact that they work with the system perfectly inside and out opens a lot of opportunities for custom builds.
As far as a using them just for storage goes there are way better options especially for people who prefer to sort by specific parts.
I can see them being used as art, e.g. the refrigerator shown on the review by https://www.stonewars.net/review/ikea-x-lego-bygglek-boxes-review/ unboxing-and-assembly
or overhead baseplates when creating tunnels etc, especially as the large Lego 32x32 ones are so flimsy. The lack of anti-studs on the lid or box is disappointing though as makes this more difficult to use Lego supports underneath.
I thinks it's is great to make realy big BIG MOC
I would buy at least 2 bigpacks...If they were anything but white!
Looking at today bricks quality this will yellow in 2 years...
@Huw said:
" @omnium , you can see the underside of the smallest one in the second photo down."
Thanks! I didn't spot that was the underside. Not sure what I thought it was when I saw it the first time, mind you :D
I'll try out the medium size one. And getting at least one of 40357 is a given.
For those expressing bafflement at the product's name: "BYGGLEK" simply means "build-play", and it's pronounced something like "bieg-lehk". "Att leka" (to play) is cognate with the Danish verb "at lege", from which we supposedly get "LEGO" — "leg god" (good play).
Definitely using these as filler for large MOCs!
Thank you for this review. I initially wasn't really going to consider these, but you've changed my mind. The price point is much better than I expected, and the fact that the dimensions align with bricks is huge. My daughter and I want to build a large diorama that includes a mountain. We can use the boxes to not only bulk up the mountain, but make it functional to store minidolls and accessories rather than leaving them out.
@Synthia1980 said:
"BYGGLEK? Really? Doesn’t trip of the tongue that smoothly. I wonder how it’s pronounced? BIG GLEK ( as in fleck?). Maybe it has three syllables- ‘by ‘g’ lek ’. Shall we just call them ‘those LEGO IKEA boxes’ instead? "
Two syllables. First syllable is the same as that of the ‘bug’ in ‘bugle’; rhymes with ‘fugue’. The second syllable is like ‘lec’ in ‘lecture’ or ‘electric’.
@Huw , As I haven’t read your review and can’t be bothered to plough through all the comments, can you please post a picture of the bottom of a box? (I’m kidding!)
Seriously, I need to elevate a Hidden Side mod and the set of the smallest boxes will do nicely. So I will be getting that set if I can.
I somehow hoped for opposite solution - sturdy base you can build on and "lid" you can put on for easy storage/stacking.
@560heliport said:
"Is there any support across the middle of the medium and large lids? If not, are they rigid enough to make good baseplates? "
Yes, the lids are reinforced, they do flex a little, but far less than a baseplate does.
@Lordmoral said:
"Consider these sold, so it's safe to say that they don't clip on baseplates (they look wonderful as buildings) but are prevented from sliding due to their clips. I will be getting one of each to try them in my world and then I'll determine if I get more. It's a shame that these don't appear so far in multiple colors."
They sit very snugly on a baseplate with minimal movement, they align nicely so you can anchor build up and attach to the lid.
As for storage, even the big boxe's volume is pretty small, and they weigh a lot.
That's just a cover story ;)
If all else, you got yourself a nice empty canvas for your Mosaic creations...BAM!
Almost LEGO. Almost Ikea. Seems they are desperate to come up with something that fits both brands but sadly they do neither. A bit like a forced marriage if you will.
@Nivst: Thank you!
Suppose the idea is for the kids to be given this while the parents buy the real furniture.
Lego seems to be stretching itself too thin.
These will be handy to store winter village/advent calendar pieces, and then at Christmastime they can be the snowy base for the display.
But how many of them fit into my Billy shelf? ;)
I am gonna get the medium ones or the large one, because they look like a good storage solution as well as being useful for builds
@Baldarek said:
"I was in IKEA just a few days ago. Not only these boxes weren't being sold yet (I didn't know they were only going to hit the stores in October at the earliest), but I also couldn't find a few other items I was looking for, the wardrobe we wanted to order wasn't in stock, and most importantly... the cafeteria was closed. The cafeteria! Sure, I bought a bag of meatballs to cook at home, but still!
Suffice to say, this was my worst IKEA experience."
Seriously. It's not a proper IKEA experience without a stop at the café.
I am intrigued.
I'm in the process of a complete rebuild of the collection I had as a child. a lot of things I don't know what I had, and other things I'm guessing as I buy. But these things whilst they are a singular color, make it so that they could have an infinite use.
Back when I was younger I was big on grand bases and big war game scenarios. these make me excited that I can pull that again.
@Bricks_Unbound said:
"I like the look of these. I think I will display my winter village sets on them when in season and then I can use them for storage in the off season."
Excellent idea! Thanks for that.
@vader11 said:
"I think many people want their storage box to be clear/transparent, so this is no go for me."
Same here.
@Veyniac:
There have been a few, but not by Ikea.
@vader11:
Clear is going to get scuffed up something fierce.
@fulcrumbop:
Better not fill it with meatballs, either. ABS is hygroscopic, and not rated as a food-grade plastic. The sauce would soak into the material, stain it, and be impossible to clean.
@PjtorXmos:
Ah, but look at the dimensions:
11x16
22x16
22x32
44x32
Heights are 6 or 12 bricks. Notice anything about how those numbers work together? The idea here was clearly not to design boxes that could be nested within each other, but a system of boxes that could be swapped around to fill a defined space. In the space that the Large occupies, you can fit two Mediums, or eight Smalls, or 16 Extra-Smalls without any leftover gaps.
@RaygunGoth:
Oh, that...didn't really help much at all, unfortunately. English borrowed so many words from so many unrelated languages, that what you wrote could still be pronounced several different ways.
@legoborn87:
You had some of these as a child?