![[Analysis] LEGO® Ideas Approval Rate Hits Rock Bottom — But Here’s Why You Should Keep Trying](https://stds.jp/wp-content/uploads/lego-ideas-success-rate-2018-2024_title_.webp)
LEGO(R) Ideas is a platform where fan-made LEGO(R) brick creations can become official sets. Originally launched in Japan as “LEGO Cuusoo,” the project was adopted by the LEGO(R) Group as an official program in 2014. There are three product review rounds each year: Round 1 runs from January to April, Round 2 from May to August, and Round 3 from September to December.
Let’s take a closer look at how approval rates have changed since 2018, when swooz.net began covering LEGO(R) Ideas reviews in depth.
2018: A Golden Year with a 24% Approval Rate
Back in 2018, the program was in what many fans consider its “golden age.” In the first review of the year, 2 out of 10 projects were approved: Tree House and The Flintstones. In the second round, Steamboat Willie and Central Perk from *Friends* made the cut, again from a pool of 10 entries. The third round featured 5 entries, with Dinosaur Fossils getting approved. The playable Grand Piano was placed under extended review but eventually got the green light too.
2018 Approval Rate: 24.00% (6 out of 25 projects approved)
LEGO® Ideas Grand Piano 21323
Auto-play with free app
Introducing a LEGO grand piano that you can actually play! Enjoy live performance and automatic playback linked to the LEGO® Powered Up app.
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2019: Another Strong Year with Over 20% Approval
The high approval rates continued into 2019. In the first review, two out of nine entries were approved: the Modular Street Scene and Redbeard’s Pirate Ship. The second round saw two fan favorites—*Winnie the Pooh* and the Medieval Blacksmith—get the green light from a pool of 10 projects. The third round featured 12 submissions, with three sets selected across very different genres: *Home Alone*, a working typewriter, and *Seinfeld*.
2019 Approval Rate: 22.58% (7 out of 31 projects approved)
LEGO® Ideas Home Alone 21330
Numerous movie-inspired mechanisms
Open the house’s walls and roof to see the interior. It’s packed with exciting features including a paint can drop mechanism, an eerie glowing furnace in the basement, and a lever for sliding down the stairs on a sled.
2020: The Pandemic Shifts the Landscape
As the COVID-19 pandemic kept people at home, submissions to LEGO(R) Ideas surged. With that influx came intensified competition—and a steep drop in approval rates.
In the first review of the year, 26 projects made it to the final round, but only two were approved: The Globe and *Sonic the Hedgehog*. The second round saw a record 35 entries, with just one—*Vincent van Gogh: The Starry Night*—making the cut. The third round was just as tough: only the Motorized Lighthouse was approved out of 25 entries.
2020 Approval Rate: 4.65% (4 out of 86 projects approved)
By the end of the year, frustration over the plummeting approval rate had started to spread across the online fan community.
LEGO® Ideas Vincent van Gogh – The Starry Night 21333
Capturing Van Gogh’s unique style
Display the Van Gogh minifigure holding a paintbrush and palette, standing in front of the canvas on an adjustable display arm, showcasing beautiful details
LEGO® Ideas Motorized Lighthouse 21335
Lighthouse with real working light and motor
This display model featuring a detailed lighthouse on a rocky outcrop, complete with pier, stairs, cave, and lighthouse keeper’s cottage, will ignite your creativity
2021: Approval Rates Fall Below 4%
The number of entries kept climbing, and the competition grew even fiercer. In the first review, 57 projects were submitted, with just two selected: *Jazz Quartet* and *The Office*. The second round saw 34 entries, and two more approvals: *BTS Dynamite* and the *A-Frame Cabin*. The third round had 36 submissions, with just one set—*Hocus Pocus*—getting the green light.
2021 Approval Rate: 3.94% (5 out of 127 projects approved)
LEGO® Ideas Disney Hocus Pocus: The Sanderson Sisters’ Cottage 21341
Full of witchy features
Full of fun gimmicks – turn the water wheel to see pink smoke rise from the chimney, a light brick fire flicker under the cauldron, and a magic book open
2022: A Temporary Rebound with Record Approvals
2022 took an unexpected turn. In the first review, 39 submissions led to a historic moment—four projects were approved at once, the most ever in a single round. These included the *Orient Express*, *Insects Collection*, *Polaroid Camera*, and *Tales of the Space Age*. The second round selected two more from 51 entries: *The Nightmare Before Christmas* and a classic red London phone box. In the third review, out of 35 contenders, *Jaws* and a cozy *Cat* model were chosen for production.
2022 Approval Rate: 6.40% (8 out of 125 projects approved)
LEGO(R) Ideas Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 21351
Three iconic locations from the story
Sing on the moonlit Spiral Hill, remove the roof to peek at Jack’s Christmas plan equations, and give a speech at the Town Hall podium
LEGO(R) Ideas Jaws 21350
Jaws vs. Orca: A Thrilling Showdown
Chief Martin Brody, Matt Hooper and Sam Quint, with accessory elements including a revolver, compass, fishing rod, harpoon, spear and camera
2023: Stricter Selection Amid Record Submissions
The first review of 2023 set a new record with 71 submissions—an overwhelming number that pushed even fan sites to their editorial limits. Out of this intense competition, only two sets were approved: the *Botanical Garden* and *The Cullen House* from the *Twilight* series. In the second review, three more were selected from 49 entries: a *Capsule Vending Machine*, a *Steamship*, and *Luxo Jr.* from Pixar. The third round featured 42 entries, with two final picks: *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory* and *The Italian Riviera*.
2023 Approval Rate: 4.32% (7 out of 162 projects approved)
LEGO(R) Minifigure Vending Machine Minifigure Vending Machine 21358
Fully functional and playable
Build minifigures referencing various classic LEGO themes and sub-themes, including Castle, Paradisa, Fabuland® and more
LEGO(R) Ideas The Botanical Garden 21353
Relaxing home decor
Enjoy a stroll through a botanical garden at home with over 35 types of plants planted in a Victorian-style greenhouse and garden
LEGO® Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. 21357
Popular! Irresistibly cute
You can remove the two round plates from both sides of the Pixar ball and position Luxo Jr. to look like he’s squashing the ball.
2024: Tougher Competition Despite Rule Changes
In 2024, LEGO(R) Ideas introduced a major rule change, banning accounts for users under 16 years old. While this led to a wave of account removals, it had only a limited impact on the number of project submissions.
In the first review, 48 entries were submitted, and only one was approved: *LEGO Minerals*. The second review saw 35 submissions, and three projects were chosen—*Otters*, *Snoopy*, and *The Adventures of Tintin* (after extended evaluation). In the third round, out of 54 entries, the *MonsterVerse Godzilla* was selected for production.
※ゴジラ：製品ではなく応募デザイン
There are also two additional projects from 2024 still under extended review. Based on past trends, they’re highly likely to be approved, but the following statistics exclude them.
2024 Approval Rate: 3.65% (5 out of 137 projects approved)
The results for the first review of 2025 have not been announced yet, but 57 projects have already been submitted, showing that the competition remains fierce.
Why It’s Still Worth Trying
With a significant increase in the maximum allowed piece count on LEGO(R) Ideas, creators can now submit larger and more ambitious projects than ever before.
Since commission earnings upon product release are proportional to the sales price, this platform remains an attractive opportunity for skilled creators seeking higher returns.
Looking back at past sales performance, sets like *Winnie the Pooh*, *Botanical Garden*, and *Capsule Vending Machine* have done particularly well, with the latter two still available for purchase today.
LEGO(R) Minifigure Vending Machine Minifigure Vending Machine 21358
Fully functional and playable
Build minifigures referencing various classic LEGO themes and sub-themes, including Castle, Paradisa, Fabuland® and more
Competition has become fiercer than ever before, but the fact remains that getting a project produced can open up significant business opportunities. LEGO(R) Ideas continues to be one of the few official avenues where creativity and profitability coexist, offering countless fans a platform to dream big and take on new challenges.
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