LEGO Brick Labels
About the Labels
LEGO Brick Labels were carefully designed for Brother P-touch label printers, which I selected because the labels are printed on durable plastic tape with a strong adhesive. (You can move them to a different container as your storage system evolves.)
The labels are designed to work with a wide range of storage solutions, including my favorite: The affordable 64-drawer cabinets by Akro-Mils. When printed on ½″ (12 mm) laminated tape, each label is less than 2″ (5 cm) wide.
Each label includes a picture, simplified part name, and the part number to help you find parts quickly! (Custom high-contrast images were created for each part to ensure they look great when printed.)
Download LEGO Brick Labels
The collection has been organized into groups of related LEGO elements, like basic bricks, slopes, hinges, curves, Technic, and more. This makes it easier to quickly find the labels you need!
Download LEGO Brick Labels (Version 40)
- Download Now: LEGO_BRICK_LABELS.zip
Download the ‘zip’ file if you already have a compatible Brother Label Printer. (You will need to install the ‘P-touch Editor’ application on your PC/Mac.) - Preview (PDF): LEGO_BRICK_LABELS-CONTACT_SHEET.pdf
Download the ‘PDF’ file to preview to the entire collection, use my categories as a starting point for your LEGO organization project, or to print a few of the labels on paper (before investing in a label printer).
Further down on this page, you will find a list of compatible printers, and detailed instructions to help you print these labels.
Support LEGO Brick Labels
The easiest way to show your support is by sharing LEGO Brick Labels with other LEGO Artists! Please also consider using the referral links on this page when shopping at lego.com or amazon.com—it helps!
Become a Patron
You can also support LEGO Brick Labels by making a donation!
If you are able to make a donation to support LEGO Brick Labels project, please visit patreon.com to subscribe!
Current Patrons
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Compatible Brother Label Printers
LEGO Brick Labels were designed to be printed on ½″ laminated label tape using a compatible Brother Label printer (such as the PT-D600.) The labels are waterproof, smudgeproof, durable, and they come in a variety of colors such as White, Black, Pink, Yellow, Lime Green, Clear, and even Gold.
Any Brother printer which connects to a PC/Mac using the Brother P-Touch Editor application and prints on ‘P-touch’ ½″ (12mm) labels will work. The multi-function PT-D600 seems to be the best value at this time.
Recommended Printers
The following printers are affordable and readily available. You will connect the printer to your PC/Mac (using USB or Bluetooth), then use the ‘P-touch Editor’ application to print the LEGO Brick Labels.
Model | Features | Compatibility | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|
PT-D600 | Standalone Model w/ Keyboard. Plug into PC/Mac to print LEGO Brick Labels, or design your own labels using the keyboard and small screen. Compatible with labels up to 1″ (24 mm). Uses AA Batteries or included Power Adapter. MSRP 79.99$ |
PC + Mac | PT-D600 at Amazon |
PT-P710BT (Cube Plus) | Wireless Model. Print LEGO Brick labels from PC/Mac using USB or Bluetooth, or design your own labels using Android or iOS. Compatible with labels up to 1″ (24 mm). Integrated Battery, Charge with USB. MSRP 99.99$ Note: The ‘Cube’ (not ‘Plus’) is not compatible because you can not connect it to your PC/Mac. |
PC + Mac | PT-P710BT (Cube Plus) at Amazon. |
Note: For best results, I recommend the following settings when printing with the PT-P710BT (Cube Plus): 1) Quality = Standard, 2) Graphics = Error Diffusion.
While text does look better when you select Quality = “High Resolution”, the part images are much lighter and harder to see for reasons I have been unable to diagnose so far. (Recommendation based on testing with a Windows 10 PC, and version 5.2.032 of the Brother P-touch Editor application.)
Other Compatible Printers
The following printers are also compatible with LEGO Brick Labels using the P-touch Editor application.
Other current models:
- PT-P750W – More costly alternative to the PT-P710BT (Cube Plus).
$129.99, PC/Mac, Up to 1″ (24 mm) labels. - PT-P900W – Higher-resolution printer for commercial applications.
$429.99, PC/Mac, Up to 1½″ (36 mm) labels. - PTE500 – Ruggedized printer for industrial applications.
$269.99, PC/Mac, Up to 1″ (24 mm) labels.
Retired models:
- PT-P700 – Earliest version to support both PC & Mac.
$79.99, PC/Mac, Up to 1″ (24 mm) labels. - PT-D450 – Older model with integrated display & keyboard.
$79.99, PC/Mac, Up to ¾″ (18 mm) labels. - PT-1230PC – Low-cost option that’s no longer available.
$52.99, PC only, Up to ½″ (12 mm) labels. - PT-2430PC – Older version of PT-P700 without Mac support.
$79.99, PC Only, Up to 1″ (24 mm) labels.
How to Print LEGO Brick Labels
It’s easy to print LEGO Brick Labels on a compatible Brother Label Printer.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Confirm that you have a compatible label printer.
Only Brother label printers that connect to your Windows PC or Mac using USB or Bluetooth are compatible with these labels. (Some older models are not Mac compatible.) - Purchase several rolls of ½″ Brother Label Tape.
The labels are designed for ½″ label tape, which means that the labels will be ½″ tall and up to 2″ wide (1.2 cm × 5 cm). This size is perfect for common storage solutions like the 64-drawer cabinet by Akro-Mils. - Install Brother P-Touch Editor application.
It is available from the Brother website at brother.com/product/dev/label/editor/index.htm (There is a download link at the bottom of the page.) - Connect the printer to your computer.
In most cases you will use the included USB cable, although the PT-P710BT (Cube Plus) also supports Bluetooth. - Download LEGO Brick Labels.
You can find the latest version at brickarchitect.com/labels - Open .lbx files in Brother application.
After you install the “Brother P-Touch Editor” application, you should be able to simply click on label files (with .lbx file extension) and the labels should appear in the “Brother P-Touch Editor” application. - Print the labels you need.
If you want to print all of the labels from a single file, click “File” in upper left of application and press “Print…”. (If you want to print just one label, you may need to carefully select the image and text, copy it from that file, and “paste” it into a new file.)
FAQ
I’ve prepared this FAQ to cover the most common questions from fans of LEGO Brick Labels. (Please feel free to leave a comment on this page or send me an email if you have any additional questions!)
Q: Why are the labels cutting off after printing only 60% of each file?
April 3, 2020: Several Mac users have experienced a bug which prevents them from printing a complete 11 ¾″ strip of labels.
This issue was discovered with the ‘PT-D600’ printer on ‘Mac OS Mojave 10.14.6’ + ‘P-Touch Version 5.2.10’, and with ‘Mac OS Catalina 10.15.3’ + ‘P-Touch Version 5.2.9’. (Thanks to Gabriela who received the workaround from Brother customer support, and Lauren for helping diagnose this issue.)
Primary Workaround:
- Uninstall the current version.
- Go to support.brother.com
- Search for ‘QL 500’ (even though we have the PT-D600).
- Download and install the ‘P-touch Editor’. (It should be version 5.1.110, which is an older version than the one you uninstalled.)
- When prompted to enter a serial number for your device, enter “B2Z112233” (a serial number for the QL 500).
Alternate Workarounds:
- Use a Windows PC.
- Manually copy/paste the second half of each strip of labels into a new file.
Q: Why isn’t ______ included in the LEGO Brick Labels collection?
Since many people print every label in the collection, I don’t want to include uncommon parts which few people own. It also takes a lot of time to create each label, so I focus on the most common and versatile parts.
When a very useful new part is included in many new sets, I’ll create a label as soon as possible. For a less common part, I wait a few years to see if it gains widespread adoption before adding it to the collection. (Many less common parts are retired after just a few years.)
I’ve also ensured that the top 600 most common parts from the last 5 years are included in the collection. (The only exception are weapons, because they are already covered by generic labels for Guns, Swords, etc…)
Q: Can I use black labels with white text?
I had not tried this, but another reader confirmed that this works fine. For folks who want a darker look for their LEGO collection, the black label tape looks great!
Q: How did you get consistent images for each LEGO Part?
The images were created using custom LDraw scripts that optimize the viewing angle and enhance the contrast of each part. The scripts are proprietary and hard to use.
Workarounds:
- If the missing part is pretty common, ask me to include it in a future update!
- If you need to create additional labels, I recommend using images from BrickLink. They won’t look quite as good, but may meet your needs.
Q: How can I show my support for LEGO Brick Labels?
There are several ways you can help! Most of all, you can share a link to LEGO Brick Labels with your friends that have a large (or growing) LEGO Collection.
Other ways you can help:
- Please consider using our referral links when shopping on lego.com or amazon.com — It helps!
- If you want to make a donation to support LEGO Brick Labels, go to patreon.com/bricklabels and subscribe!
LEGO Brick Storage
There aren’t any “perfect” LEGO Storage solutions for all LEGO enthusiasts—the best solution for you will depend on dozens of factors such as the age of the primary LEGO builder, the size of your LEGO collection, how much space you have, and your budget.
History of LEGO Brick Labels
LEGO Brick Labels began in April 2014, when I decided to organize all of the bricks included in 21050 Architecture Studio into two 44-drawer Akro-mils cabinets. The label collection grew throughout 2014, as I purchased additional LEGO bricks while writing my book, The LEGO Architect.
You can read the detailed version history to see which labels were added in each update.
Show your appreciation by sending a photo of your well-organized LEGO Storage!
Have questions/ideas to make LEGO Brick Labels even better—leave a comment below!
Hi I have noticed most recent labels do not include 44569/92092 Hinge Train Gate 2 x 4 Locking Dual 2 Fingers. Is this likely to be added in next version?
Tracy, those are quite rare parts (13 sets between 2007-2017) and they are retired so I’m unlikely to add them to the collection in the future. My focus is on common and current parts.
—Tom
Hi, first of all thanks for the amazing work. Just finished my first run through. There were a couple pieces I couldn’t find, which I guess are on the list of uncommon pieces. Do you have the full list somewhere in non-label form?
Freyr,
The parts in the collection are here: https://brickarchitect.com/most-common-lego-parts/ and you can find a longer list here https://brickarchitect.com/most-common-lego-parts/more/ although the longer list is just an excel drop, and not officially maintained.
Hi. Firstly, thank you!!
These will be such a huge help. Your hard work is much appreciated.
Just wondering if you have any experience with the ptouch phone app, and how to get these files into that??
You can’t (to my knowledge) open the .lbx files in the phone app. You will need to use a Windows PC or a Mac computer (not an iPad).
When they ask me what I am doing during the COVID lockdown I tell them I am sorting my LEGO; then I tell them it’s like doing a 10,000 piece jigsaw puzzle without the picture. Thanks for providing the labels, and thanks for the PDF contact sheet. That contact sheet is the ‘picture’ which tells me where each piece goes. Making order out of chaos is so much fun for an 81-year-old AFOL!
Hey there, this is super handy for quickly finding the right part(s).
I just can’t seem to find the 3836 Push Broom (which I believe is very common).
Also, on the updates I see parts like 4214 which have moved to retired in version 35, but I cant find them in the retired folder.
Tim,
Thanks for the message!
Hi Tom.
You labels have been a huge help.
Thank you.
I have printed several sets of labels from updates. I do not have a label printer but print on standard A4 (UK) paper. Then cellotape to the drawer front, this does involve a little extra work. But it is what works for me.
My question is…Is there a way to enlarge the labels slightly, so are easier to see at a glance (I wear glasses but sometimes find them too small) ?
I have tried scanning the sheet or copy n paste as mentioned, but I find this distorts the information and makes it pixelated.
Thank you.
I never expected to find so much relaxination while organizing bulk lots of LEGO for my collection. These labels are just fantastic and such a help now that I’m using some drawers for the small Technic pieces and minifig accessories. Thank you so much, Tom!
Relaxination is apparently a new word, by the way.
Hi Tom, just finished my first round of printing with my new PTD600. Works like a charm! I am noticing that I have some parts that are not included in your labels. I am wondering if you have the pictures of parts that are not already a label? I’d be ok with making my own but having the pictures like those on your labels would be killer. Thanks for any help! -DLH
Dustin, I’m glad that the labels are working well for your collection.
Each of the pictures is created custom for this label collection, so your best bet is to either grab photos online when making custom labels, or request specific parts by leaving a comment on the website.
—Tom
Thank you so much for these great labels !!!!
I found a very good offer for the PT-D450. Everything works without problems.
Hi Tom, thanks for providing such a great resource.
I’m trying to decide between the two recommended printers (PT-D600 or PT-P710BT (Cube Plus)). I was initially going to go for the Cube Plus when noticed your note about having to use lower text quality to avoid the images being too light.
Is this issue know to affect printing your labels on the PT-D600 as well or is the PT-D600 better for printing your labels on high quality without making images too light? Or is there any more recent work around for the Cube Plus?
Many thanks and I’ll go though your links when I come to buy!
Dave,
I do not have a PT-D600 to test with, but have heard from other users that it works well. The Cube Plus is a fine unit, but you should do some test prints before deciding whether standard or high-resolution printing looks better to you.
(I keep meaning to follow-up with Brother support to clarify the high-res printing issues, but I’ve been too busy!)
—Tom
Dear Tom,
Do you accept hugs?
With Love from The Netherlands
E-hugs are encouraged and welcome. (Regular hugs will be accepted when social distancing rules are no longer in place.)
—Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for the labels. Very handy. Today I discovered an issue when I was trying to use one of the INDEX_*.lbx files for the first time. When loading one of these files I get an “Unsupported font detected. Replacing with a supported font”-error though this does not work as expected. Some textboxes are then empty, while others look good. Maybe you might want to switch to a font that is available on Win and macOS by default. I use Catalina and P-Toch Editor 5.3.1 with a Brother Cube. Works seamlessly for all other labels. Which fonts do use there?
Michael,
I believe the only font being used is “Arial” which is pretty widely distributed. I will look at the INDEX files to see if I made a mistake.
—Tom
First of all: This contact sheet is the work of an organizing god. Holy moly.
That said, I feel bad pointing out that (in v. 3.4) the minifig head (3626) is in both the Curved” and Minifig sections, albeit with slightly different graphics.
How would you recommend categorizing larger creatures from Jurassic Park sets? Minifigs or Nature (as unnatural as cloned dinosaurs are)?
Thank you. I spend a lot of time thinking about how all of these thousands of pieces “go together”. The final decision about where to put a piece when there are multiple reasonable categories comes down to my own intuition (and I’ve updated this organization over the years.)
I’m glad to hear that it’s a helpful starting point for organizing your own collection!
No offense taken! I’ve intentionally allowed this duplication because it makes sense to me (and other builders I’ve talked to) to keep printed minifig heads with other minifig parts, and unprinted parts with other round parts. Your instinct (and mileage) may vary.
I’m going to leave this one to you – do whatever makes sense given the scope of your collection and storage containers you have. (The only dinosaur I own is in the reptile drawer—and yes, I’m well aware that they are likely more closely related to birds.)
—Tom
How well would these labels work on 9mm labels, as opposed to 12mm?
Thanks, Joe
I do not have a Brother printer. Can I use the labels on HP? I have tried to open the files and it doesn’t work.
Liz,
The .bsx files are not compatible with an HP label printer.
Hello,
Thanks for the great labels! I noticed that part 98285 (last entry on TECHNIC-plate_3.lbx) is marked Top, but it’s the Bottom part.
Thanks!
Patrice, thank you. I just fixed this, and it will be correct in the next release.
Thanks Tom! Again, I love your labels but also learned to create my own for new parts, or to copy and paste them to create a one-time strip for only the labels I need to print 🙂 BTW, on Amazon there are cheaper dividers for the Akro-Mils drawers (half-dividers for small and large drawers and quarter dividers for the large ones). I really recommend them.
Patrice – Would you provide the link to the Akro-Mils quarter dividers? I searched on Amazon and couldn’t find them. Thanks!
Hi Tom,
Found an issue in Technic-Gears 4 – there’s a big chunk of whitespace before the last element.
Also, for some reason my printer is not automatically cutting between parts – I just get one long strip. Prior to printing, I have to switch to Advanced mode, and manually insert a cutline between each element (and yes, I’ve got ‘Auto Cut’ enabled in the print options) – any idea what might be causing that?
JD,
I just re-opened that file, and I am not seeing a large whitespace. Can you send me an email with a screenshot from your PC/Mac?
(This looks good on the latest version 3.4, with my Windows 10 PC.)
I encourage you to print each strip and cut manually with scissors, as this saves a lot of tape!
I’m seeing the same thing in Version 3.4. If you open TECHNIC-gears_4.lbx, and scroll all the way to the right — keep going ! — you’ll see there’s a second Technic Pulley Tire at the end, after a whole lot of whitespace.
Matt, thank you – you’re right! I’ve fixed this for the next version.
Hi Tom / Ben
Agree the system is great once complete and it does take some time to sort and label. I underestimated the number if draws I would need – 16 large sets of draws were needed (44 in each so 704 draws), You don’t realise how many different pieces there until you get going.
Once done, building new sets is so much faster, allowing us to find the pieces quickly and easily. I actually went one step further and mapped all the drwas into Excel with all the item numbers so now I type in the item number and excel shows me the exact location of the item in the draws, making it even easier 🙂
Thanks again.
Ant
Hi Tom
Found a few small things that need fixing in 3.4:
1) In the MINIFIG Accessories section, you have the Wrench 4006 displayed twice – once at the start of line 2 and once further down with a different angle and the full description – not sure if this was intentional or not?
2) Rotor Blade 62743 is 2 x 16 not 2 x 12
3) The Arm, Mechanical – you have the item number 53989 listed twice (53989/ 53989)
Thank so much for the huge effort on these!!
Ant
Thanks Ant,
I’ve already started working on v3.5 and added these items to my todo list.
As for issue #1, the first wrench is meant as a “category” label, in situations when you want to dedicate a drawer to miscellaneous minifig accessories, and the second label is specifically for the wrench part. That said, this is clearly causing confusion so I will think about it!
Sincerely,
—Tom
Hi, Are they also available as pdf as before? Or how can I change lbx to pdf? I use regular printer for labels.
You can download the Preview PDF here: https://brickarchitect.com/labels/#download_lego_brick_labels
(It was updated to include the new labels.)
—Tom