Looking for a new hobby? Or tired of the same old building sets? Discover with us the top 10 building toy brands for adults that offer more than just plastic pieces, but metal, wooden, and even pottery. You can choose your preference based on brand awareness, featured themes, or price range.
What is Building Toys?
Building toys, from a structural perspective, are designed as modular and inter-connectable components that users can assemble, disassemble, and reassemble in countless configurations.
The core structure of building toys often includes a variety of shapes, sizes, and connection types, such as snaps, magnets, or interlocking bricks. This diversity in components encourages users to think spatially and geometrically, challenging them to visualize and plan their creations before bringing them to life. The tactile nature of assembling these pieces also enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
From an adult perspective, building toys offers a sophisticated level of complexity and precision, appealing to those interested in engineering, architecture, and design.
LEGO
About Brand
Lego, founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen in Billund, Denmark, initially started with wooden toys and moved to the iconic interlocking plastic bricks in 1949. Lego has evolved to become the largest toy manufacturer in the world by sales, offering a wide range of products including toys, digital games, and theme parks designed for all ages, emphasizing creativity and learning through play.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – ABS Plastic
- Features – known for its highly precise interlocking brick system.
- Community – Lego has a strong community presence with clubs, online forums, and events like the Lego Ideas platform where fans can submit and vote on new set ideas.
Themes and Price
Offers diverse themes like City, Technic, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and many more to cater to various interests. Prices range from small, affordable sets to large, intricate models costing hundreds of dollars.
Cobi
About Brand
Cobi, headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, is a Polish toy company established in 1987. Initially focused on board games and puzzles, the company expanded its product line in 1992 to include building blocks featuring an interlocking stud and tube system.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – ABS Plastic
- Features – the building block sets are perfectly compatible with LEGO.
- Community – the Facebook group shares new creations, tips, and tricks on building.
Themes and Price
Covers mainly the themes of historical and military, a niche that some feel LEGO has relinquished involvement in. Prices vary from $20 to hundreds of dollars.
Metal Earth
About Brand
Metal Earth kits are constructed from superior-quality steel sheets. Each set showcases incredible detail, with components precut from one or more 4” square steel sheets. Kits include user-friendly instructions, and there’s no need for glue or solder! Just trim out the parts and fold the tabs through the matching connection points.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – high-quality steel
- Features – intricate detail and precision engineering, made possible by high-quality steel sheets and assembly without the need for glue or solder.
- Community – the Facebook group shares new creations, tips, and tricks, and connects with like-minded individuals who appreciate Metal Earth models.
Themes and Price
Explore Metal Earth’s diverse themes, spanning from Animal Kingdom, Architecture, Armor Series, Aviation, Butterflies, Construction, Gift Box Sets, Miscellaneous, Musical, Ships, Space, Tanks, Vehicles, and Wild West. You can get a detailed metal model for just a few tens of dollars.
Piececool
About Brand
In 2006, Mr. Ye Zufeng, a Chinese toy engineer with over 20 years of experience, envisioned the global appeal of metal model toys and began creating them. After four years of development, the first metal assembly model toy was launched in 2009. In 2012, the team introduced metal assembly model toys with diverse themes, unique designs, and innovative gameplay, successfully entering and popularizing in markets worldwide.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – metal
- Features – specialize in lifelike design using 3D cross-sections and metal assembly techniques, and excel in commercializing products from film, animation, and gaming content through collaboration.
- Community – in Piececool forum, you could engage in discussions, seek advice from seasoned pros, and showcase your own metal model creations for feedback and admiration.
Themes and Price
Piececool boasts a wide collection of Metal Building Bricks, Thousand Cranes, Architecture, Military, Chinese Style, Star Wars, National Treasure, Marvel, and beyond. All offer prices on a budget from $5-$50.
Timberkits
About Brand
Timberkits is a family-owned company that has been in operation since 1993, nestled in the picturesque landscape of Mid Wales. They specialize in the design, prototyping, and manufacturing of new models annually, catering to customers worldwide.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – wooden
- Features – the products feature unique designs and are handcrafted, combining wood with mechanical devices to achieve dynamic effects through manual cranking or spring power.
- Community – the Facebook group shares new creations, tips, and tricks.
Themes and Price
Timberkits products are divided into different levels from Beginner, Intermediate, Confident, Advanced, typically ranging from £9-£50.
Ugears
About Brand
Established in 2014, UGEARS is a Ukrainian startup that has swiftly gained global recognition for its innovative range of self-propelled, wooden mechanical DIY models, puzzle boxes, and educational toys. With their engaging designs and intricate craftsmanship, UGEARS models have captivated hobbyists and learners alike, becoming a beloved pastime in 85 countries spanning 5 continents.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – wooden
- Features – Each UGEARS model features intricate self-powered movement using rubber band motors and intricate gear systems, offering a fascinating display without the need for batteries or cords.
- Community – UGEARS Facebook community, where enthusiasts from across the globe come together to celebrate the captivating world of mechanical modeling.
Themes and Price
Covers themes from 3D Puzzles of Harry Potter™, Classic, Smart, Mini and u-Fidgets, Stem Lab, 2.5D Puzzles, Coloring Models, and Board Game Accessories. Price varies from £2-£180.
Rolife
About Brand
Established in 2017, Rolife® is a leading cultural and DIY creative brand dedicated to crafting handmade toys for adults, merging global trends with distinctive “China design” aesthetics.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – ABS and PVC Plastic
- Features – emphasize creativity and hands-on engagement and provide adults with DIY handmade toys that blend cultural trends with unique “China design” aesthetics.
- Community – the Facebook community is a vibrant hub of inspiration and collaboration.
Themes and Price
Spans from DIY Minature Crafts, Book Nook & Wonderland, Super Creator Miniatures, Music Dreamer, Creation Sets, and Nanci with a price range of $8-$170.
K’nex
About Brand
K’NEX, founded in 1992 and headquartered in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA, is a leading brand in construction toys known for inspiring creativity and innovation. With a diverse range of sets and a focus on STEM learning, K’NEX empowers builders of all ages to imagine and create.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – plastic
- Features – the basic building elements consist of rods and connectors in various lengths, shapes, and colors.
- Community – the Facebook community shares tips, tricks, and ideas for building amazing creations with K’NEX sets.
Themes and Price
K’NEX offers a wide variety of themed sets, including roller coasters, vehicles, animals, robots, architectural structures and so much more. Prices depend on the size and complexity.
Cuit
About Brand
CUIT, from Spain, has 70 years of experience producing ceramic building kits with high-quality components.
- Visit online – the purchase link.
- Materials – pottery
- Features – build your favorite structure with oven-fired and pre-painted ceramic tiles and bricks.
- Community – not found yet
Themes and Price
Mainly focus on architectures from $49-$79.
Laser Pegs
About Brand
Established in 2009 and based in Sarasota, Florida, Laser Pegs® is the innovator behind the original lighted construction set, merging the beloved play patterns of lights and building to inspire forward-thinking, multi-dimensional play for children.
- Visit online – the official website.
- Materials – plastic
- Features – enhances the construction play of other leading brick products, including LEGO.
- Community – the Facebook community shares tips, tricks, and ideas for building amazing creations with Laser Pegs sets.
Themes and Price
Including Animals, Space, vehicles, and so much more, with the price from $9-29$.
24 Responses
Thank you for teaching us so much about a slew of different brands and sets! I appreciate all your dedication to educating us.
Thanks a ton! We’re all about sharing cool finds with you guys.
Nope, none of it, lack of space and low financess
Space and money can be tricky, for sure.
they can get pretty pricy
Unfortunately, haven’t tried any other brand than LEGO yet, but I’m real curious ’bout anything else. Wanna steer clear of LEGO’s monopoly and dominance vibe, you know? Competition’s cool, gotta support that.
Diving into these alternatives not only supports competition but can also enrich your building journey.
JM Bricklayer is a great company to buy from!
These do take up so much room!
My sons love wooden toys, Knex and of course lego or any compatible brick! Knex can make HUGE sets but they sometimes break. Lego seems to be the most sturdy.
Sure, Lego withstands the test of time.
The Ugears one because its impressive how such a small brand makes so many next level toys!!
Ugears stands out for its innovative approach to wooden mechanical models.
They are super impressive
Definitely have never tried Ugears, but love the fact that they incorporate gears and wood.
They offer a tactile and engaging building experience.
I love that too!
This is very interesting. I am enjoying the different companies that are good quality brick building companies, and different toy companies. I have been a lego brand exclusive builder, until my kids where born. The quality of their bricks have gone down hill. They crack and break.
When your kid brings you their brand new, hard effort build and they pick it up to show you and it falls apart. This is so frustrating and devastating as a parent. So finding new companies who offer good quality and all the people is what I am looking for. The vehicle line on Cobi is very neat, the Metal Works is also very neat and the Rolife interests me as well.
You’re right! Finding brands that offer both quality and cool designs is key.
I have never noticed Lego breaking but I am using old sets. I love all the new competition out there.
I have noticed when it comes to wooden sets that some of the pieces can be so thin they break. I really have to make sure the company has quality products!
Sure, consider twice when choosing wooden set brand.
Haven’t tried Ugears, seems great to try it out!
Absolutely!