If you have a few LEGO sets, keeping track is easy: they're in your cabinet and you know exactly which ones you have. But once your collection grows to 20, 50, 100+ sets, it gets complicated. Which ones do you have? What's the value? Which parts are you missing?
In this guide I walk through all the ways collectors track their collection, from old-school spreadsheets to modern apps. I explain the pros and cons so you can choose what suits you.
1. Pen and paper (or a spreadsheet)
The classic method. Open Excel or Numbers, make columns for set number, name, year, condition and purchase price, and type everything in.
Pros:
- Full control over what you track
- No subscription or internet needed
- Works for any collection
Cons:
- Lots of manual work — every set has to be looked up
- No live value or price comparison
- Not easy to share with others
- You have to upload images yourself
2. BrickStock or Rebrickable
Two well-known names among LEGO collectors. Both have extensive databases of sets and parts, and you can record your own collection.
3. A collecting app like Collecty
A newer generation of apps focuses on making tracking visual and fast. You scan a barcode and everything is automatically filled in: title, photo, market value, prices at various stores.
What suits you best depends on the size of your collection and how active you are with managing it. The best system is the one you actually use. Want to try Collecty? It's free to use for the basics. You can start right away at collecty.nl.