How Many LEGO Element Colors Are There?


How Many LEGO Element Colors Are There?

LEGO bricks are made from a plastic material that can be molded into any color. The most common colors of LEGO bricks are those that can be easily seen and distinguished from each other. However, there are some speciality colors that are not as easy to see, such as metallic colors or transparent bricks. These specialty colors are usually only used in small quantities in a LEGO set.

According to the official LEGO color palette of 2016, there are a total of 57 colors, including 39 solid colors, 3 metallic colors, 1 glowing color and 14 transparent colors.   Bricklink lists over 200 LEGO colors from the past and present.  This number is always changing, as new colors are introduced and some are discontinued.

LEGO bricks are made from a plastic material that can be molded into any color. The most common colors of LEGO bricks are those that can be easily seen and distinguished from each other. However, there are some specialty colors that are not as easy to see, such as metallic colors or transparent bricks. These specialty colors are usually only used in small quantities in a LEGO set.

The number of different LEGO colors has increased over the years as the company has introduced new shades and hues. Some of the newer colors include lime green, bright yellow, and fluorescent pink. LEGO has also released specialty colors such as metallic silver and gold, transparent bricks, and glow-in-the-dark bricks.

The official LEGO color palette that was published in 2016, shows that there are 41 colors, 

Below are listed all the different colored LEGO elements.  The colors are listed all together but you will notice there are different categories of colors.  The 10 different categories of color are solid, transparent, chrome, pearl, satin, metallic, milky, glitter, speckle and modulex.

The above list was provided by Bricklink.

Modulex Colors

In the early 1960s, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen – son of LEGO founder Ole Kirk Kristiansen and known to history as “the Father of LEGO”- pioneered a revolutionary new building system. Enter Modulex: an innovative approach to professional architectural modelling consisting of small bricks with unusual shapes, sizes and colours which were not compatible with regular System pieces from The LEGO Group.

From 1963-1965 these packs of parts could be purchased directly rather than sold in sets like their larger counterparts yet they still bore the iconic ‘M’ on each brick instead of ‘LEGO’ come 1965 when it became its own separate company within the LEGO family.

Speckle Colors

Speckle colors are truly remarkable – combining a vibrant solid color and a shimmery pearl hue, these distinctive Lego pieces give the effect of weathered metal. Alternatively known as ‘glitter’ in some circles, speckle is an opaque alternative to traditional glitter-clear shades that offers its own unique vibrancy!

Which Color Was The First LEGO?

Fifty years ago, the first LEGO sets were created with just seven colors: white, gray, black, red, blue, yellow and occasionally green.

These limited but vibrant colors have been a staple in the LEGO building experience ever since.

With each passing decade, LEGO has kept up with the times to bring builders an ever-expanding selection of colors to choose from and create their own colorful stories.

In the early 1980s, LEGO introduced 16 new shades to choose from. This added a great depth of color variation allowing builders to express themselves in ways never before possible.

By the late 1990s this range had expanded even further and currently stands at over sixty different shades available across all types of LEGO bricks and pieces.

From classic neutrals like brown or sand to cheerful pinks and purples there is something for every builder’s palette!

From its beginnings over five decades ago with just seven carefully chosen colors, LEGO has grown into a multi-colored world full of imaginative possibilities.

So no matter what your preference is – earthy tones, bright hues or something in between you can be sure you will find it in the world of LEGO building!

What Is The Rarest Color Of LEGO?

There are a couple of very rare LEGO colors.  One of these is Sand Green, which is a light olive green hue with distinct yellowish undertones.

First introduced in 2003, it has been used sparingly since then, making it difficult to find.

It is widely featured in sets from the Pharaoh’s Quest, Adventurers and Dino theme lines, as well as for foliage pieces in many castle-themed sets.

Its extreme scarcity has made it sought after by collectors all around the world.

LEGO even created a promotional set released in 2011 which included more than 400 different Sand Green bricks that were not available anywhere else.

Due to this limited availability, the set sold out quickly and created an even greater demand for these pieces.

There are still some Sand Green LEGO pieces available today through certain retailers and online sellers, though they can be expensive due to their rarity and high demand.

The unique color of Sand Green LEGO makes them highly sought after by both amateur and experienced collectors alike who seek out these special pieces for their collections.

Another very rare LEGO color is appears in a limited release polybag that was released in 2009.   

The poly bag contained 7 pieces and one Minifigure – Darth Vader.  The are color appears in Darth Vader’s chrome black helmet.

The Darth Vader minifigure was a promotion for the Star Wars 10th anniversary.

The manufacture of this minifigure was extremely limited and only 10,000 were ever produced.

These poly bags were given out at the 2009 New York toy fair and in some LEGO brand stores.

They were also randomly inserted in the LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter (8017).

What Is The Most Popular LEGO Color?

The most popular LEGO color is a combination of black, light bluish gray, dark bluish gray and white. Together, these four colors make up more than half of all LEGO bricks produced.

This is a testament to the universal appeal and versatility of these hues they can be used to create both classic and modern designs with ease.

Black provides boldness, light bluish gray brings a sense of sophistication, dark bluish gray adds mystery, and white provides sharp contrast.

These shades are also versatile in terms of age groups – kids can use them to create simple structures or detailed designs according to their imaginations and aspirations.

Adults too can construct stunning models for display or for practical uses like creating furniture for homes or offices.

Furthermore, these shades work well as building blocks on their own or when combined with other colors like yellow or red for added vibrancy.

In conclusion, the most popular LEGO color is a combination of black, light bluish gray, dark bluish gray, and white that accounts for more than 50% of all LEGO bricks produced.

Not only is this combination universally loved by builders regardless of age group but it also offers unparalleled versatility in terms of constructing unique projects ranging from simple creations to intricate works-of-art.

Why Are There Fewer Green LEGO Bricks?

Green is often associated with the military, so LEGO has never produced a green brick. Instead, they have chosen to use yellow as the main color for their bricks. Yellow is considered to be a more neutral color, and it doesn’t have the same associations as green does.

While LEGO has never produced a green brick, they have introduced a number of other colors over the years. Some of these colors include pink, purple, and orange. Each new color that LEGO introduces is carefully chosen to make sure that it doesn’t have any negative associations.

To read more on this fascinating subject, I wrote an article entitled “Why Does LEGO Not Make Military Sets?”

What Is The Most Fragile Color?

The most fragile LEGO color is a reddish-brown hue, specifically the one used in many sets released during the 1990s and 2000s.

This particular shade has been found to be more brittle than other colors when exposed to extreme temperatures or even just regular wear and tear.

It can become cracked or chipped over time, making it less durable than the other colors typically used in LEGO sets.

Additionally, this brown color is also vulnerable to fading, especially when exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.

Ultimately, it’s clear that this particular reddish-brown hue is among the most fragile LEGO colors available on the market today.

Do LEGO Brick Colors Fade In The Sun?

Yes, LEGO colors can fade in the sun. This is because many of the traditional materials used to make LEGO pieces can be susceptible to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun.

As a result, prolonged periods of exposure to direct sunlight can cause parts to fade or discolor over time.

In addition, some of the modern plastics used in LEGO have a lower resistance to UV light and thus may suffer greater degradation when exposed to the sun.

This fading not only reduces the vibrancy of LEGO pieces’ original color, but it can also weaken their structure and make them brittle or too weak for play.

Many serious LEGO builders protect their collections from fading by placing them in display cases with special UV-resistant filters that protect against harmful rays from the sun.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, there are a total of 39 solid LEGO element colors available for the creation of amazing and imaginative pieces.

There are a further 10 categories of colors past and present including transparent, Modulex and Speckle colors as described above.

These colors range from classic favorites like red, blue, black, yellow and green to more modern shades like lavender and light aqua.

With this wide array of hues available, builders are able to craft anything from robots to castles with their LEGO sets.

In addition, some special edition sets come in unique metallic or glittery colors that can really make a model stand out.

Whether you’re just starting out or an advanced builder looking for something new, the entire range of LEGO element colors provide plenty of possibilities for creativity and imagination.

References

Recent Posts