How do you distinguish real from fake LEGO?
We regularly get the question "How do you distinguish real from fake LEGO?"
A few months ago I was sold a bag of Technic parts and even though I've been in the LEGO scene for about 5 years now I couldn't immediately tell that I had had a bunch of fake parts made deliberately to deceive me ! I have since learned that knowing the LEGO system bricks did not prepare me with the skills to identify Technic parts. I was pleased to see that Steve Tan has put together this guide to help distinguish the difference between LEGO and non-LEGO parts.
Fake Lego vs. Real Lego (updated May 5, 2019)
Common parts of LEGO Technic How to tell the difference by checking and comparing the parts in detail
I recently had the chance to compare a batch of fake Lego with real Lego. Comparison is only done for Lego Technic pieces because that's what I have. Conclusions were drawn based on my own limited understanding, as well as the pieces I have, with a lot of help from Sariel's Lego Technic book.
I have a little knowledge of plastic injection molding and will use some terminology to explain the differences.
Gating - Where the mold (hot runner or normal runner) separates from the part.
Cavity - The part of the injection molding tool that is attached to the machine.
Core - The other part of the injection molding tool that corresponds to the cavity.
Slide ā Another part of the tool that moves in a different direction from the core and cavity, to make undercuts.
Parting Line - A visible line where the core/cavity/slide separates from the tooling. Well-designed and well-maintained molds produce very minimal parting line.
Flashing - Excess material caused by incomplete/mismatch of the tool parts.
There will probably be some mistakes, but please let me know so we can all learn from them.
This is not a comprehensive guide and there will be other ways in which fake Lego can differ from the real Lego.
Fake Lego vs. Real Lego: Summary
For most Lego Technic parts, it is possible to distinguish fake from real Lego, as the Lego logo is usually molded onto the real parts.
Some differences (low quality fakes) are very obvious, while others (higher quality fakes) require more research before the differences can be seen.
Axles are the biggest problem, as some real Lego axles do not have the Lego logo molded on them.
For some components the differences can only be seen during a comparison. By themselves, the fake Lego parts won't look fake unless you know the real Lego part very well.
Note that all of these comparisons are based on my own observations, using the parts I have. I'm sure there are other differences from other fake Lego parts as there are many different sources of fake Lego parts from different molds.
The reason I created this comparison guide is to help true Lego fans, to ensure that they are getting genuine Lego parts when purchasing from second-hand sources. It is certainly not intended to promote fake Lego.
-
Rare LEGO sets, view them at 2TToys
READ MORE -
Why LEGO Classic Loose bricks
READ MORE -
LEGO Creator Expert Buildings
READ MORE -
Best educational toys for children aged 2 years and over
READ MORE -
LEGO Cars
READ MORE -
LEGO for adults
READ MORE -
LEGO Harry Potter books
READ MORE -
LEGO Formula 1 sets
READ MORE -
LEGO recall actions
READ MORE
LATEST LEGO SETS
-
LEGO Mateo's Off-Road Car 71471 Dreamzzz
Regular price $9.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$11.00 USDSale price $9.00 USDSale -
LEGO Expansion Set: Bowser's Car 71431 Super Mario
Regular price $27.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$32.00 USDSale price $27.00 USDSale -
LEGO Expansion Set: Yoshi's Peculiar Forest 71428 SuperMario
Regular price $9.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$11.00 USDSale price $9.00 USDSale -
LEGO Space Base and Rocket Launch Pad 60434 City
Regular price $157.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$149.00 USDSale price $157.00 USD -
LEGO Modular Space Station 60433 City
Regular price $90.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$106.00 USDSale price $90.00 USDSale -
LEGO Mining Asteroids in Space 60429 City
Regular price $18.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$22.00 USDSale price $18.00 USDSale -
LEGO Prison Island Police Station 60419 City
Regular price $90.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $90.00 USD -
LEGO Police Car and Muscle Car Chase 60415 City
Regular price $18.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$22.00 USDSale price $18.00 USDSale -
LEGO Fire Station with Aerial Ladder Vehicle 60414 City
Regular price $72.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$85.00 USDSale price $72.00 USDSale -
LEGO Fire Department Helicopter 60411 City
Regular price $9.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$11.00 USDSale price $9.00 USDSale -
LEGO Race Car Transporter 60406 City
Regular price $27.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$32.00 USDSale price $27.00 USDSale -
LEGO Rescue Helicopter 60405 City
Regular price $18.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$22.00 USDSale price $18.00 USDSale -
LEGO Burger Truck 60404 City
Regular price $18.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$22.00 USDSale price $18.00 USDSale -
LEGO Ambulance & Snowboarder 60403 City
Regular price $18.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$22.00 USDSale price $18.00 USDSale -
LEGO Steamroller 60401 City
Regular price $9.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$11.00 USDSale price $9.00 USDSale -
LEGO Green Race Car 60399 City
Regular price $9.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$11.00 USDSale price $9.00 USDSale -
LEGO Princess Market Visit 43246 Disney
Regular price $90.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$106.00 USDSale price $90.00 USDSale -
LEGO Belle's Belle's Horse Carriage 43233 Disney
Regular price $15.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$17.00 USDSale price $15.00 USDSale -
LEGO Horse and pony trailer 42634 Friends
Regular price $18.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$22.00 USDSale price $18.00 USDSale -
LEGO Hot Dog Food Truck 42633 Friends
Regular price $27.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$32.00 USDSale price $27.00 USDSale -
LEGO Farm Vet 42632 Friends
Regular price $27.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$32.00 USDSale price $27.00 USDSale -
LEGO Heartlake City Hospital 42621 Friends
Regular price $90.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$106.00 USDSale price $90.00 USDSale -
LEGO Olly and Paisley's Houses 42620 Friends
Regular price $90.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$106.00 USDSale price $90.00 USDSale -
LEGO Pop star music bus 42619 Friends
Regular price $77.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$90.00 USDSale price $77.00 USDSale -
LEGO Farm Animal Care 42617 Friends
Regular price $50.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$59.00 USDSale price $50.00 USDSale
SELECTED FOR YOU
-
LEGO Statue of Liberty 21042 Architecture
Regular price $90.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$106.00 USDSale price $90.00 USDSale -
LEGO Paris with Eiffel Tower 21044 Architecture
Regular price $45.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$53.00 USDSale price $45.00 USDSale -
LEGO Trafalgar Square London 21045 Architecture
Regular price $106.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO The Singapore Skyline 21057 Architecture
Regular price $53.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$64.00 USDSale price $53.00 USDSale -
LEGO Pyramid of Giza 21058 Architecture
Regular price $126.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$149.00 USDSale price $126.00 USDSale -
LEGO Syndney Opera House 10234 Creator Expert
Regular price $456.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO Tower Bridge from London 10214 Creator Expert
Regular price $477.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO Taj Mahal India 2017 Version 10256 Creator Expert
Regular price $477.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO Las Vegas Skyline 21047 Architecture
Regular price $138.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO Build your own Architecture buildings with this set Studio 21050 Architecture
Regular price $477.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO The White House 21054 Architecture
Regular price $117.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO Washington Lincoln Memorial 21022 Architecture (USED)
Regular price $75.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO The New York Skyline 21028 Architecture (USED)
Regular price $32.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$43.00 USDSale price $32.00 USDSale -
LEGO The Eiffel Tower from LEGO 21019 Architecture (USED)
Regular price $53.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO New York Skyline 21028 Architecture
Regular price $53.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO Paris Postcard 40568 Creator
Regular price $16.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO The LEGOĀ® House 21037 Architecture
Regular price $85.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$0.00 USDSale price $85.00 USD -
LEGO The Flatiron Building 21023 Architecture
Regular price $127.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO The London Skyline 21034 Architecture
Regular price $43.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO The Trafalgar Square London 21045 Architecture
Regular price $106.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO The White House 21054 Architecture
Regular price $106.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO Paris with Eiffel Tower 21044 Architecture
Regular price $53.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO The Singapore Skyline 21057 Architecture
Regular price $54.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per$64.00 USDSale price $54.00 USDSale -
LEGO The Burj Khaliffa 21031 Architecture
Regular price $43.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
LEGO London Postcard with Big Ben 40569 Creator
Regular price $16.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per