Chapter 8: LEGO Minifigure Storage

Do you have a lot of LEGO minifigures from sets you purchased? Maybe you are trying to get all of the figures in the Collectible Minfigure Series? Let’s look at how to store and protect your minifigures.

Minifigure Storage Requirements

Consider your storage needs before picking a minifigure storage solution:

  • Do you need to be able to access your minifigures quickly?
  • Do you want to store accessories with the minifigure?
  • Do you want to store the black 3×4 Plate (Part 88646), or a LEGO Dimensions tag with the minifigure?
  • Do you have limited space or a limited budget?

If you would rather disassemble your LEGO minifigures and sort the parts by type (heads, torsos, legs, accessories, etc…), please look for ideas in Chapter 5: LEGO Storage for Large Collections.

Storage Solutions

The following storage solutions are recommended for protecting your LEGO minifigures.

Tackle Boxes

Tackle Boxes come in many sizes, and are divided into smaller compartments with fixed or removable dividers. You will need to pick a tackle box with compartments that are appropriately sized for your LEGO minifigures.

I also recommended Tackle Boxes for storing LEGO Bricks in Chapter 5: LEGO Storage for Large Collections. It’s a cost effective storage solution for both minifigures and small LEGO elements.

Minifigures-Storage.com case is an expensive but convenient option. (Photo from Brickset)

Minifigures-Storage.com case is an expensive but convenient option. (Photo from Brickset)

Best for:

  • Easy access
  • Portability

Also good for:

  • Storing minifigure accessories

While you might think that every minfigure is the same size, there is more variety in physical dimensions that you might think, especially for unusual figures in the Collectible Minfigures Series. For example, Shark Suit Guy (Season 15) has a tail sticking out the back, or Wizard (Season 12) which is taller than most figures because he has a dress, beard and tall hat. Worse still is Garmadon, the villain in the LEGO Ninjago Movie — he has a two-story torso with four arms!

You also need to decide if you will keep the 3×4 plate attached to minifigures from the Collectible Minfigures Series (32mm x 24mm x 3mm) , or the round clear plastic tag for minifigures from the LEGO Dimensions game (32mm x 32mm x 6mm)

A compartment that is at least 32mm x 32mm x 62mm should fit most minifigures, including minifigures with tall hats and baseplates or LEGO Dimensions tags. (This might not be tall enough for Garmadon, but he is a weirdo.)

Recommended Products:
  • Plano 3600 – 11″ x 7.25″ x 1.75″ with 16 compartments. This is a low cost storage option, with compartments that are large enough for almost any minifigure.
    • Plano 23701 – 14″ x 9″ x 2″ and up to 24 compartments. It should be able to store 24 minfigures easily.
    • Plano 23705 – 9″ x 7″ x 2″ with up to 16 compartments. The compartments are smaller than our top pick, so you might need to remove the base or hat from each minifigure.
  • Minifigures-Storage.com Boxes – Each case stores 16 LEGO Minifigures, with a custom label designed for each series of Collectible Minifigures. Unfortunately, at £8 per case without including shipping, they are really expensive compared to similar plastic tackle boxes.
  • Storables 24-Compartment Clear Box – With 24 compartments measuring about 2.1″ x 2.1″, this should fit most LEGO Minifigures, although I haven’t tried it with LEGO minifigures to be sure.

Plastic Bags

In Chapter 5: LEGO Storage for Large Collections, I explained why plastic bags are one of the most practical and cost effective LEGO Storage solutions. Only the smallest bags make sense for storing individual LEGO minfigures. (If you want to store multiple minifigures, minifig parts, or accessories in bags, you might need a larger bag.)

2" x 3" or 3" x 5" bags are perfect for Minifigures.

2″ x 3″ or 3″ x 5″ bags are perfect for Minifigures.

Best for:

  • Low cost
  • High storage density
  • Overflow storage

Also good for:

  • Sending minifigures in the mail
  • Storing minifigure accessories

Even if you store most of your minifigures in one of the other containers suggested on this page, or display most of your minifigures in one of the products suggested in Chapter 7: Displaying LEGO Minifigures, I recommend that every LEGO minfigure fan has a stack of 3″ x 5″ bags for overflow storage.

Recommended Products:
  • 3″ x 5″ bags – If you want to store minifigures along with their accessories, the only option which will work every time are the larger 3″ x 5″ bags. The wider opening makes it easier to insert or remove the minifigure, and there is enough space to include a piece of paper describing the specific minifigure.
  • 2″ x 3″ bags – These smaller bags can hold most single minifigures, although it can be difficult to include their accessories in the same bag. These are only recommended of you have a lot of the same figure and want to store accessories separately.
How do you store your minifigures? I’d love to know if you have found another approach that I should include in this guide — email me or leave a comment!

14 Responses

  1. Curtis Collins says:

    Hobby Lobby sells the exact same product as Minifigures-Storage.com Boxes for $2 (or $1.20 with their 40% off coupon). A far more affordable option for those in the United States. By the way, when I say exact, I do mean they are literally the same container, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are buying from the same distributor. HL’s is the Gadgets And Gizmos Craft Organizer (SKU: 255752).

    • Nathan says:

      Those have gone up to $4 ($3.99) in the last few months. They also have a LARGE variation in quality, with some dividers being warped, or some outside parts of the box being scuffed or stained. It takes a bit of effort to find them in excellent condition.

      Hobby Lobby also sells the smaller bags, though I’ve found that where they measure the height and width from can vary from other stores.

    • Nat says:

      Yeah, but then I’d have to go to Hobby Lobby. Between how they treat their employees and their buying/smuggling of stolen antiquities, I’ll pay more or do without before I’ll shop there.

  2. Joyce says:

    I’m a newbie to Lego, and trying to sort through and label my minifigs. Which code do I use to most accurately label a Minifigure? For example, “Moaning Myrtle” in the Harry Potter collection: Is it HP36 or COLHP36 or 71028-14?

    • Tom Alphin says:

      If it is “just” the minifig with no accessories whatsoever, then it is generally best to use the ID for the minifig only (ex: colhp36). If it’s a complete Collectible Minifig with stand and accessories, “colhp2-14” is more appropriate.

      Thanks,
      —Tom

  3. EMMER JACOB M RAMADA says:

    Hi i was able to find this Anti Static Shielding Bags, composed of APET/ CPP (Amorphous Polyethylene Terephthalate/ Cast polypropylene) will this be ok? For long term storage? It has polypropylene which is good,but i don’t know about polyethylene Terephthalate.. Hoping for the reply guys thanks in advance

  4. Joshua says:

    I’ve noticed that my local Wal-Mart sells the same storage boxes that Minifigures-Storage.com uses. They are in the craft section and sell for ~$2.50. Thanks for putting this guide together!

    • Vee says:

      I know this is WAAAAAY late, but thought I’d give it a try. Do you know what they’re called at Walmart? Brand?

  5. Mark Adams says:

    I personally use the Amtech Storage Box Organiser for my Collectable Minifig Series’. My local shop sells them for £6 and they have 16 spaces on view (with 21 actual spaces). Minifigs fit perfectly. If you only want to store the Minifigs these are perfect – not great to display.

  6. Nik says:

    Would you recommend storing the mini figures disassembled to reduce fatigue on the parts?

    • tomalphin says:

      I think removing the head, hair and legs is a good idea for long-term storage, but don’t remove the arms or hands. Brick fatigue is a topic that deserves more attention in a future update to this guide.

  7. Erik says:

    I like to build all kinds of minifigures and don’t have a need to keep them together the way I bought them. That’s why I store them disassembled: heads, bodies, hair, hats and accessories apart from each other. I group all of these in broad categories, like ‘uniformed bodies’ and ‘medieval bodies’, or ‘female heads double sided’ vs ‘male heads single sided with glasses’. The categories are stored in tackle boxes. I stick the heads on&under 1×10 plates, because otherwise they always turn their face away when you grab ‘m from a compartment. Torsos and legs are not separated, I seldom have a reason to change to different legs. One compartment is meant for loose hands, which were swapped for a different color.

  8. Andreas Lederer says:

    …. A challenge could be oversized “Minifigures” for example Marvel Super Heroes 76078 (Hulk vs. Red Hulk).
    This chapter is very clear for me – thumbs up!
    Regards, Andreas

    • tomalphin says:

      Andreas – great suggestion. I added a section called “Types of LEGO Figures” to this page, and a thank-you in the Appendix. Thanks!

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