[Analysis] LEGO® Ideas Approval Rate Hits Rock Bottom — But Here’s Why You Should Keep Trying

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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)

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.

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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