LEGO part out value (often shortened to POV) is what a set is worth if you break it apart and sell every minifigure, rare piece, and element separately instead of listing the whole set as one lot. In my experience, part out value is almost always higher than the sealed or used price of a set, sometimes by a wide margin, because minifigures and rare parts each carry their own collector demand on top of the set's base value.
I started tracking part out value seriously after I noticed I was leaving money on the table by listing sets as single lots when the minifigures alone were worth more than my asking price. Once you know a set's POV, you can decide whether to keep it whole, sell it used as-is, or break it down and list the pieces individually on BrickLink, eBay, or Whatnot.
Key takeaways:
- Part out value (POV) is the sum of what every individual piece, minifigure, and element in a set would sell for on its own.
- POV is usually higher than sealed or used set value, especially for sets with sought-after minifigures.
- BrickLink is the standard reference for calculating accurate part out value.
- Parting out takes more time and listing work than selling a set whole, so it is not always the right call.
- brick'em's calculators can estimate a set's part out value before you commit hours to breaking it down.
What Is LEGO Part Out Value?
LEGO part out value is the total dollar amount you would get if you sold every minifigure, printed piece, rare element, and instruction booklet from a set individually rather than selling the set as one bundle. It is a sum, not a single price. In my experience, POV is the number serious resellers check before deciding whether a set is worth breaking apart at all.
Part out value only makes sense as an estimate. Prices move with demand, condition, and completeness, so a set's POV today can look different in six months. That is exactly why sellers I know treat it as a decision-making tool, not a guaranteed payout.
What Does "Part Out" Actually Mean in LEGO Reselling?
To "part out" a set means physically disassembling it and selling the pieces, minifigures, and elements as separate listings instead of keeping the build or box intact. Sellers usually part out used sets, incomplete sets, or sets where the minifigures are worth more individually than the whole set would sell for as a lot.
Parting out is different from parting a set for personal use. In reselling, the goal is almost always to convert one slow-moving listing into several faster, higher-total listings. I've seen bulk lots bought for one price turn into ten or more individual sales once separated by minifigure, rare part, and common parts lot.
How Do Sellers Calculate LEGO Part Out Value?
Most sellers calculate part out value by pricing every minifigure and notable piece against recent sold listings, then adding those numbers together and subtracting fees and time cost. BrickLink is the tool most resellers reach for first because its catalog is organized by exact part and color, which makes accurate pricing possible.
I personally price the minifigures first since they usually carry the most value, then move to rare printed pieces, then bulk out the rest as a common-parts lot. BrickLink is often called the Wall Street of LEGO because its sold-listing history is the closest thing the hobby has to a real price feed, so it's worth checking there before you commit to breaking a set apart.
| Step | What You're Pricing | Where to Check |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minifigures (by exact character and print) | BrickLink sold listings |
| 2 | Rare or printed individual pieces | BrickLink sold listings |
| 3 | Instruction booklet and box (if kept) | eBay sold listings |
| 4 | Remaining bulk pieces as a lot | Facebook Marketplace or bulk lot comps |
Is Part Out Value Higher Than Sealed Set Value?
Part out value is often higher than used set value, but it is not automatically higher than sealed set value. Sealed sets carry their own collector premium, especially for retired sets, so a set that is still sealed can sometimes be worth more intact than broken apart, while an opened or incomplete set almost always parts out for more than it would sell for as-is.
From what I've seen, this is where a lot of newer sellers get it backwards. They assume breaking anything apart automatically means more money. Sealed sets can appreciate over time and some sellers I know believe certain retired sealed sets have outperformed more traditional investments over long stretches, though that is not guaranteed and depends heavily on which set, condition, and timing you are talking about.
Heads up: This is not financial or legal advice. We're sharing what we've learned from the LEGO reselling community.
When Should You Part Out a Set Instead of Selling It Whole?
Part out a set when its minifigures or rare pieces are worth noticeably more separately than the set is likely to sell for as a complete lot, or when the set is already incomplete, damaged, or missing the box. Keep a set whole when it is sealed, in strong collector demand intact, or when the time cost of listing dozens of individual pieces outweighs the extra money you would make.
I recommend running the math before you touch a single brick. If parting out only nets you 10 to 15 percent more than selling the set whole, the extra listing time usually is not worth it. If it nets you double or triple, it almost always is.
What About Incomplete or Damaged Sets?
Incomplete and damaged sets are actually some of the best candidates for parting out, because you were never going to sell them as a complete set anyway. In my view this category is underrated. A lot of sellers see a missing-parts set and assume it is worthless, when really the minifigures and undamaged pieces still have full individual value.
For sets missing pieces, BrickLink lets you find stores that carry the exact missing part, which means you can complete a figure or small build cheaply and sell it for more than the sum of what you paid. I use this approach constantly when I sort through bulk lots, since it is common to find one or two figures that just need a single part to be sellable as complete.
Which Categories Give You the Best Part Out Returns?
Minifigures consistently give the best part out returns because they carry story and character value on top of plastic value, not just piece count. Rare printed pieces and exclusive elements come second, and generic bulk pieces come last, usually only worth selling by weight or in large lots.
In my experience, a set with two or three desirable minifigures can part out for meaningfully more than the set's retail price once you add up the figures alone. Rare figures can carry outsized value relative to their size. It's part of why minifigures are the category I pay the most attention to when I'm deciding whether a lot is worth buying in the first place.
- Minifigures: highest per-piece value, driven by character and rarity.
- Rare printed pieces and exclusives: strong value, smaller buyer pool than minifigures.
- Common bulk pieces: lowest per-piece value, best sold in weight-based lots.
- Instructions and boxes: minor value add, occasionally high on very rare retired sets.
What Tools Help You Estimate Part Out Value Faster?
Tools that scan and identify minifigures in bulk save the most time, because manually looking up dozens of figures one by one is the slowest part of estimating POV. Once you know what you have, a pricing calculator can total everything up so you are not adding numbers by hand across multiple browser tabs.
I built brick'em around this exact problem after doing it the slow way for too long, and the app's database now covers more than 18,000 minifigures for fast identification. You can run a set or bulk lot through brick'em's LEGO collection value calculator to get a fast estimate of total value, or use the LEGO investment calculator if you're weighing whether to hold a set sealed versus parting it out now. For lots you're actively buying, the haul calculator helps you figure out a fair purchase price before you commit.
How Do Fees Affect Part Out Value?
Fees matter because a high part out value on paper does not always translate to a high payout after marketplace and payment fees are subtracted. This is one of the most common mistakes I see: sellers add up sold-listing prices without accounting for what they will actually keep after fees and shipping supplies.
BrickLink generally runs around 3 percent plus payment processing, which is part of why it works well even for individual low-dollar pieces. eBay's standard take rate is closer to 13.25 percent, and promoted listings can push the effective total fee close to 25 percent of the sale on competitive items. Mercari sits around 10 percent. I noticed the eBay gap firsthand after selling over $100,000 worth of LEGO there over the years. Whatnot has occasionally run no-seller-fee days, which can be a good window to move parted-out inventory if you sell live.
A Simple LEGO Part Out Checklist
Use this checklist before you decide to part out a set so you are not guessing halfway through disassembly. Running through it takes a few minutes and can save hours of listing work on inventory that was not worth breaking apart.
| Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Is the set already opened, incomplete, or damaged? | Sealed and complete sets may be worth more intact. |
| Do the minifigures have standout characters or rare prints? | Minifigures usually drive most of the part out value. |
| Have you priced against recent BrickLink sold listings? | Avoids overestimating value from asking prices, not sold prices. |
| Have you subtracted fees, packaging, and time cost? | Turns gross POV into a realistic net return. |
| Is the total meaningfully higher than selling it whole? | If it's close, selling whole is usually less work for similar money. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does POV mean in LEGO reselling?
POV stands for part out value, meaning the combined total you would get by selling every minifigure, piece, and element in a set individually. It's a term you'll see used often on BrickLink and in reseller communities when people are deciding whether to break a set apart or sell it as one complete lot.
Is parting out LEGO sets profitable?
Parting out can be profitable, especially on sets with desirable minifigures or rare pieces, but it takes more listing time than selling a set whole. In my experience it pays off best on incomplete, damaged, or bulk lot sets where selling the set as a complete unit was never a realistic option anyway.
Where should I check part out value before buying a lot?
BrickLink is the standard place to check part out value because its catalog and sold-listing history are organized by exact piece and color. Many sellers also cross-check minifigure prices against BrickEconomy for broader market trend context before committing to a purchase.
Do sealed sets have a part out value?
Sealed sets technically have a part out value, but most sellers do not open a sealed set just to part it out, since sealed condition often carries its own collector premium. Parting out is usually reserved for sets that are already opened, incomplete, or unlikely to sell well as a complete unit.
How do I get started pricing minifigures for part out value?
Start by identifying every minifigure in the set accurately, then check recent sold prices for each one rather than current asking prices. I recommend using a scanning tool to speed up identification on bulk lots, then totaling the results with a calculator like the ones available through brick'em or by browsing more reseller breakdowns on the brick'em blog.
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