How Long Does It Take to Create a Custom Corporate LEGO Set?

If you're considering a custom LEGO set for your business, one of the first things you'll need to figure out is your timeline. So, how long does it take to create a custom LEGO set?

The answer depends on the project. The complexity of the model, number of sets, custom packaging, revisions, production requirements, and shipping can all affect how long the process takes.

Creating custom LEGO sets for businesses involves more than designing the model itself. The project needs to move through design, review, production, packaging, and delivery before the finished sets are ready to hand out.

If you need your sets for a trade show, product launch, company event, or another specific date, the best approach is to start planning early.

What Is the Typical Timeline for a Custom LEGO Set?

There isn't one timeline that applies to every project. A smaller, straightforward model may move through the process faster than a detailed set with hundreds of pieces, custom graphics, premium packaging, and a large production run.

The overall process typically includes:

1. Project planning
2. Model design
3. Review and revisions
4. Finalizing the set
5. Creating building instructions and packaging
6. Sourcing and production
7. Packing and shipping

Each of these steps is important. Moving too quickly through the early stages can create problems later, especially once a project enters production. You can see an overview of our process on our How It Works page.

Step 1: Planning Your Custom LEGO Set

The process starts with understanding what you want to create. You don't need to have everything figured out before contacting us. A basic idea is enough to get started.

It helps if you can provide information such as:

• What you want to recreate
• Approximately how many sets you need
• How the sets will be used
• Your target budget
• Your deadline
• Photos or reference materials
• Company logos or brand guidelines

This information helps us understand the scope of the project before design begins. For example, a company looking for 200 detailed corporate gifts will have different needs than a company ordering 2,000 smaller sets for an upcoming trade show.

Knowing the purpose, quantity, budget, and deadline early makes it easier to recommend the right approach.

Step 2: Designing the LEGO Model

Once the project is defined, the design process can begin. This is where your product, vehicle, building, equipment, mascot, or other idea is turned into a buildable brick model. Design time can vary considerably depending on what we're creating.

A relatively simple product may be straightforward to recreate. A complicated vehicle or piece of machinery may require more work to capture its shape and important features while still making the model practical to build.

During this stage, the designer considers:

• Overall size
• Piece count
• Colors
• Recognizable features
• Branding
• Structural stability
• Building experience
• Project budget

The goal isn't necessarily to recreate every tiny detail. It's to create a model that looks like your product or brand while also working well as a LEGO build. If you're interested in turning an actual product into a set, read our guide on creating a custom LEGO set of your product.

Step 3: Reviewing and Revising the Design

Once the initial design is ready, it needs to be reviewed. This is an important part of the process because you know your product and brand better than anyone. You may notice that a certain feature needs to be more noticeable, a color should be adjusted, or a particular part of the model doesn't quite look right.

Those changes can be addressed before the project moves into production.The amount of time needed for revisions depends partly on how much needs to change and how quickly feedback is provided.

One of the easiest ways to keep a project moving is to have the right people involved in the approval process from the beginning. If several departments or decision-makers need to approve the set, it's helpful to know that early.

Step 4: Finalizing the Set and Building Instructions

Once the model is approved, the project moves toward production. The set needs to be more than something that looks good in a digital rendering. It needs to provide a clear building experience for the person receiving it.

Building instructions need to show how the model comes together in a logical order. This stage may also include finalizing:

• Piece selection
• Custom stickers or graphics
• Branding
• Building instructions
• Packaging artwork
• Other printed materials

A more complicated set will generally require more work than a simple model, especially if the project includes detailed packaging or several custom elements.

Step 5: Production and Packaging

After the design and other materials are finalized, the sets can move into production. This part of the timeline can be affected by the number of sets being produced, the pieces required, packaging, custom graphics, and other project details.

A run of a few hundred sets is different from producing several thousand. Production may involve sourcing the pieces, organizing them into individual sets, preparing instructions, applying the appropriate packaging, and getting everything ready for delivery.

This is also why making major design changes late in the project can create delays. Once production has started, changing a piece, color, graphic, or packaging element can affect several other parts of the project.

Step 6: Shipping and Delivery

The final step is getting the finished sets where they need to go. Shipping time depends on the quantity, destination, delivery method, and overall size of the order.

If the sets are being created for an event, we recommend planning for them to arrive before the last possible day you need them.

For example, if you have a trade show on Monday, you don't want the sets scheduled to arrive Monday morning. Building some extra time into the schedule gives you room for unexpected shipping or logistics issues.

What Can Make a Custom LEGO Set Take Longer?

Some projects naturally require more time than others. Here are some of the most common factors that can affect the timeline.

A More Complicated Model

Detailed machinery, vehicles, buildings, or products with unusual shapes may require more design work than a simple model.

More Design Revisions

Revisions are a normal part of creating a custom set. However, major changes to the concept after design has started can add time to the project.

Multiple Approvals

If marketing, leadership, legal, product teams, and other departments all need to review the set, approvals can become one of the biggest parts of the timeline.

Custom Packaging

More detailed packaging may require additional design, proofing, approval, and production time.

Custom Graphics

Logos, stickers, printed elements, signs, and other branded details may add additional steps before production.

Larger Quantities

Producing thousands of sets takes more planning and production time than producing a smaller quantity.

Shipping Requirements

Where the sets need to go and how quickly they need to arrive can also affect the overall schedule.

How Can You Help Keep Your Project on Schedule?

There are a few simple things you can do to make the process smoother.

Start Early

If you know you have an event or launch coming up, don't wait until the last minute to start discussing the set. More time gives everyone greater flexibility during design and production.

Know Your Deadline

Tell us the actual date you need the sets, not just the month you're hoping to receive them. This is especially important if the project is tied to a trade show, conference, launch, anniversary, or company event.

Provide Good Reference Materials

Clear product photos, dimensions, logos, brand guidelines, drawings, and other reference materials can help the design process move faster.

Know Who Needs to Approve the Design

Determine who needs to sign off on the project before design begins. If five people need to approve the model, getting their feedback together is usually faster than sending the design through five separate rounds of review.

Give Clear Feedback

Specific feedback makes revisions easier. Instead of saying that something doesn't look quite right, explain which feature needs to change and, when possible, provide a photo or example showing what you're looking for.

Avoid Major Changes Late in the Process

The best time to make changes is during the design stage. Once the model, instructions, packaging, and pieces have been finalized, major changes can affect several parts of the project.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to create a custom LEGO set?

The timeline depends on the complexity of the model, number of sets, revisions, packaging, production requirements, and shipping. Every project is different, so it's best to discuss your deadline when you first request a quote.

What part of the process takes the longest?

It depends on the project. Complex designs may require more design and revision time, while larger orders or projects with custom packaging may require more production time.

Can you create custom LEGO sets for a specific event date?

Projects can be planned around specific deadlines when the timeline allows. If your sets are for a trade show, conference, product launch, or company event, provide the event date as early as possible.

Can a custom LEGO set be rushed?

What's possible depends on the project and deadline. A simpler set may be easier to complete on a shorter timeline than a large, complicated project. The best approach is to share your deadline before the design process begins.

What can I do to speed up the design process?

Providing clear reference photos, logos, dimensions, brand guidelines, quantity, budget, and deadline can help. Quick and specific feedback during the review stage can also keep the project moving.

How many revisions are needed?

That varies by project. Some designs may need only minor adjustments, while others require more changes. Providing clear reference materials and feedback can help reduce unnecessary revision rounds.

When should I start if I have a trade show coming up?

As early as possible. Your sets should ideally arrive with enough time to check the order and prepare everything before the event rather than arriving at the last minute.

Start Planning Your Custom LEGO Set

The biggest takeaway is simple: don't wait until the last minute to start your custom LEGO set project.

The right timeline depends on what you're creating, how detailed the model is, how many sets you need, and what type of packaging and customization the project requires.

If you already have a deadline, that's one of the first things you should share with us.

At Brand A Brick Studio, we create custom LEGO sets for businesses based on products, vehicles, equipment, buildings, mascots, and other recognizable parts of a brand.

Take a look at our Gallery to see examples of custom sets, learn more about How It Works, or Request a Quote and tell us what you'd like to create and when you need it.