Which LEGO® bricks for a 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 year old?
Under 4, choose DUPLO® big bricks: regular bricks are small parts, and the LEGO Group’s classic sets start at 4+. At 4 and 5, choose sets marked 4+ or a plain box of bricks. At 6 and 7, choose sets marked 6+. The number on the box is a guide. A kid’s hands and patience decide.
Which bricks at which age
| Age | Which bricks | Box says | Tumbly sizes a build at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 3 | DUPLO® only | 1½+ | Up to 10 big bricks |
| 3 | DUPLO® | 1½+ | Up to 10 big bricks |
| 4 | DUPLO® or first regular bricks | 1½+ or 4+ | 10–30 pieces |
| 5 | Regular bricks | 4+ | 10–30 pieces |
| 6 | Regular bricks | 6+ | 10–30 pieces |
| 7 | Regular bricks | 6+, some 9+ | 25–70 pieces |
“Box says” is the LEGO Group’s own age groups on lego.com. The last column is how Tumbly sizes the builds it designs. It isn’t a rule.
A test before you buy
Age is a rough guide, so watch your kid for five minutes instead. They’re ready for regular bricks when they can do these:
- Keep things out of their mouth. This one comes first, every time.
- Press two small bricks together, and pull them apart. Small fingers tire fast, and a build that won’t come apart is a build that ends in tears.
- Find a piece from a picture. Show a red 2×4 and ask them to find one in a small pile.
- Stay with it for ten minutes. Not silently. Just still interested.
Try it for free: pick one of the small builds below, and see how far they get with bricks you have or can borrow.
Under 3: DUPLO® bricks only
DUPLO® big bricks. The LEGO Group’s youngest age group is marked 1½+, and that’s where DUPLO® sits. Regular bricks are small parts, and US rules ban small parts in toys meant for kids under 3, because of the choking risk.
At this age, stacking and pulling apart is the whole game. No instructions needed. When they want more, Tumbly Blocks makes chunky DUPLO® builds of up to 10 big bricks in two or three steps.
LEGO® bricks for 3 year olds
Still DUPLO®, for most kids. The LEGO Group’s classic sets start at 4+, so at 3 the big bricks are the match. A build this age is short: Tumbly Blocks sizes them at up to 10 big bricks and two or three steps.
If an older sibling’s small bricks are around, a kid who still puts things in their mouth isn’t ready for them. Sit beside them, or keep the small bricks at a table they can’t reach.
LEGO® bricks for 4 year olds
DUPLO® or sets marked 4+. This is the first age group for regular-size bricks. Some 4-year-olds are ready and some want another year of big bricks. Try the test below before you buy.
Expect to help. A grown-up finding pieces and a kid pressing them on is a good first build.
Free builds this size, in regular bricks:
LEGO® bricks for 5 year olds
Sets marked 4+, moving toward 6+. Many kids this age can follow a picture and press small bricks on by themselves, with help finding pieces. A plain box of mixed bricks starts to pay off too, because they begin to make up their own builds.
Tumbly sizes builds for ages 4 to 6 at 10 to 30 pieces and 3 or 4 steps. That’s a good size to finish in one sitting.
Free builds this size, in regular bricks:
LEGO® bricks for 6 year olds
Sets marked 6+. Longer booklets, more small pieces, and a build that takes more than one sitting. At this age it helps to sort pieces by color first, and to keep a tray so nothing rolls away.
Start at the small end of the 6+ group. A finished small set beats a big one that sits half done.
Free builds this size, in regular bricks:
LEGO® bricks for 7 year olds
Sets marked 6+, and the easier 9+ ones if they’re keen. Tumbly sizes builds for ages 7 to 9 at 25 to 70 pieces and 4 to 6 steps. Kids this age can often follow a booklet alone and start to change a build to make it their own.
Now the number on the box matters less than interest. A kid who loves trains will finish a harder train.
Free builds this size, in regular bricks:
DUPLO® or LEGO® bricks: what’s the difference?
| DUPLO® bricks | Regular LEGO® bricks | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Twice as long, wide and tall | The standard size |
| Ages | About 1½ to 5 | From 4+ |
| Kids under 3 | Yes, from about 1½ | No: they’re small parts |
Do they fit together? Some do. The LEGO Group says only pieces with an even number of studs fit on DUPLO® bricks: a 2×2 or a 2×4 will, a 1×2 or a 2×3 won’t. Regular bricks also press onto DUPLO® studs that are hollow. Figures don’t cross over.
Sources: the LEGO Group’s help page, Wikipedia on DUPLO, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
If it’s for Christmas
A plain box of bricks goes further with a plan. Start with a free step-by-step build, or wrap up a Christmas build as a PDF, sized for their age. There’s nothing to ship, so it works on December 24 too.
Whatever bricks you end up with.
Show Tumbly Blocks the bricks on your table and say what your kid wants. It designs a build from only those bricks, sized for their age, with every step in 3D. Free to start.
Scan with your iPhone cameraor open it in your browser
Questions parents ask
What age is LEGO® for?
The LEGO Group sorts its sets into age groups: 1½+ for DUPLO®, then 4+, 6+, 9+, 13+ and 18+. Regular-size bricks start with the 4+ group. Below that, DUPLO® big bricks are the match.
Can a 3 year old play with LEGO® bricks?
Most 3-year-olds do better with DUPLO®, since the LEGO Group’s classic sets start at 4+. A kid who still puts things in their mouth isn’t ready for small bricks. US rules on small parts cover toys for kids under 3, so a kid who’s just turned 3 is close to that line.
What should a 5 year old build with?
Sets marked 4+ or the easier 6+ ones, or a plain box of mixed bricks. A good size is 10 to 30 pieces, which they can finish in one sitting. What to build at each age has free ideas that size.
What is the difference between DUPLO® and LEGO® bricks?
Size and age. DUPLO® bricks are twice as long, wide and tall as regular bricks, and they’re made for ages about 1½ to 5. Regular bricks start at 4+. They come from the same company, and some fit together.
Do DUPLO® bricks fit regular LEGO® bricks?
Some do. The LEGO Group says only pieces with an even number of studs fit on DUPLO®: a 2×2 or 2×4 will, a 1×2 or 2×3 won’t. Its minifigures don’t fit. The LEGO Group’s help page has more.
When do kids stop playing with DUPLO®?
DUPLO® is made for ages up to about 5, but there’s no need to clear it out on a birthday. Plenty of kids mix both for a while, and the big bricks make good bases and walls for a small-brick build.
Is there an app that sizes builds for my kid’s age?
Yes. Tumbly Blocks designs what your kid asks for from the bricks on your table, sized for ages 2 to 13. It works with LEGO® bricks, DUPLO® big bricks and plain wooden blocks, and it’s free to start. Here’s how it compares with Brickit.