How Do LEGO Modular Buildings Compare to LEGO Creator Sets?

by | Mar 13, 2025 | Toys n Bricks | 0 comments

how-do-lego-modular-buildings-compare-to-lego-creator-sets?

This article was written by Benjamin W. – Guest Contributor Writer. Reviewed and edited by Toys N Bricks. 

If you are curious about the difference between LEGO modular buildings and LEGO Creator sets, you’re in the right place. Both lines offer builders many great opportunities for fun and creativity, but they are also both aimed at a different part of the LEGO community.

There is some confusion about the names of these sets, and we’ll have to clear that up before getting into the comparison.

Before the LEGO Modular Building (LEGO Icons) rebranding in 2021, the name for the series was LEGO Creator Expert. Now, when we think of LEGO Creator sets, it’s the popular 3-in-1 sets that allow builders to use the same set of pieces to build three distinct designs.

For this comparison, we’ll be looking at the (newly named) LEGO Modular Building sets and the LEGO Creator sets.

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How Do LEGO Modular Buildings Compare to LEGO Creator Sets?

Overview of Each Series

LEGO Modular Buildings and LEGO Creator sets do have some similarities, but as mentioned, they reach a different audience and feature different themes and levels of difficulty. Here’s an overview of both LEGO Modular Buildings and LEGO Creator sets.

LEGO Modular Buildings

Introduced in 2007, LEGO Modular Buildings made their debut with Cafe Corner. The series features a collection of large-scale structures that are highly detailed and come in designs that allow builders to create cities—or pieces of cities, anyway.

Sets in the modular sets are well known for their intricate details, buildings with multiple floors, display windows, rooftop terraces, and removable roofs. Builders can have just as much fun working on the details of the outside of these creations as they can on the inside.

Be sure to check out our resource article on the Complete List of Every LEGO Modular Buildings Collection Sets. This article was just updated in late February 2025. It has details of every single LEGO Modular Building ever released.

Shown below are three LEGO Modular Building sets combined together. They include the Grand Emporium, Pet Shop and Town Hall (from left to right).

Another standout feature is that these sets are built in a minifigure scale, which allows them to connect together seamlessly to create large layouts. Some builders use Technic pins to form entire cities.

When it comes to LEGO’s design choices, sets in the modular building series often take after European architecture. You’ll find design elements like ornate chandeliers, fluted lamp posts, and bay windows.

Examples include:

  • Assembly Square (10255) – Assembly Square was released on the Modular series’ 10th anniversary.
  • Police Station (10278) – The Police Station set introduces a jail cell and an evidence locker.
  • Jazz Club (10312) – The Jazz Club comes with a rooftop billboard, an art gallery, and a jazz singer.
  • Boutique Hotel (10297) – The Boutique Hotel introduces a photo studio and a open-plan kitchen.

Shown below is 18+ LEGO Icons 10297 Boutique Hotel. This set is currently still available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia).

 

LEGO Creator Sets

The LEGO Creator series includes a range of styles and themes. There are 3-in-1 sets, fantasy builds, houses, vehicles, and animals, and they all cater to a younger group of builders than modular building sets do.

We have a resource article on the Biggest LEGO Creator Expert sets which you can read about over here.

LEGO Creator sets focus on customization and playability over display characteristics, and its purpose can be seen by the fact that the sets encourage builders to construct, take everything apart, and then do it all over again in new ways.

There are some Creator Modular sets that are similar to Modular Buildings in that they are designed with a stackable architecture, but they have some limitations compared to their modular counterparts. Sets like Ninjago City and Ninjago Gardens are good examples of this.

*Some of these LEGO sets are currently available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia), Amazon.com USA, Amazon.ca Canada and Amazon.co.uk UK.

Here are a few notable LEGO sets:

  • Hogwarts Castle—The Hogwarts Castle set brings people into Harry’s world of magic.
  • Avengers Tower—Avengers Tower has a research lab, a command center, and a vehicle lift.
  • Medieval Castle—This set is similar to LEGO Castle themes, as it features historic architecture and some of the same design elements.

Shown below is 18+ LEGO Marvel 76269 Avengers Tower. This set was released back in November 2023 and is currently available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia).

Head-to-Head Comparison

By now it should be a bit clearer which series is best suited for your LEGO building style, but here are some important things to know about in more detail.

Design & Complexity

In terms of design and complexity, LEGO Modular Buildings are definitely a step above the Creator sets. As they are meant to satisfy the needs of advanced users, Modular Buildings come with considerably more pieces, and the instructions are more complex as well. It is also to be expected that Modular sets take a lot longer to put together than sets in the Creator series.

LEGO Modular Buildings: With LEGO Modular Buildings you get highly detailed designs with intricate interiors. You also get advanced building techniques that you only see with sets intended for older builders.

LEGO Creator Sets: With the Creator series, older builders can certainly enjoy them, but they don’t require as much dedication or time to complete. You get simpler designs, adaptable styles, and builders looking for versatility within some confines are rewarded nicely.

Shown below is 18+ LEGO Icons 10350 Tudor Corner Modular Building. This set is currently available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia). We also have a LEGO Micro Build Tournament Building Contest happening right now where you can win this set for free. Registration for a forum membership account is free and fast. Contest closes on April 1, 2025.

Scale & Size

Scale and size are both important considerations when comparing these two series.

  • LEGO Modular Buildings: With the modular series you can large-scale designs built on a minifigure scale. While it’s true that minfigures are not to scale when compared to humans, building cityscapes using minifigures as a size comparison is a popualr choice. So, with this series, you get much larger sets that have expansive designs.
  • With the Creator series, you’ll most commonly see sclaes that are about 1/4th. Single-stud designs are also pretty common. While these sets can sometimes be large, they are not as big as those in the Modular sets.

Playability

Another crucial detail to consider is the playability factor. Are you buying a LEGO set to play with? Are you buying one to create an awesome display piece? There are as many different approaches to this hobby as there are kinds of builders, so it’s good to get a set that aligns with how you want to use it.

  • LEGO Modular Buildings: Modular Building sets are primarily used as display pieces. They are beautiful when they are finished and the amount of time and effort that goes into them make it hard for most builders to deconstruct the sets after building them. that said, there are many fun, interactive elements included in these sets, like pool tables, cash registers, and weight training areas that you can play with after building your building or city.
  • LEGO Creator Sets: With the Creator sets, they are meant to play with. While some (especially younger) fans will display their work, the high playability and focus on reconstruction make these sets better for casual builders.

Both the LEGO Modular Buildings Series and the LEGO Creator are one of the top and bestselling LEGO themes. We have a resource article on the Top, Popular, Best & Bestselling LEGO Themes to Collect & Invest that you can check out. Shown below is the 2017 LEGO Creator Expert 10255 Assembly Square Modular Building set. 

Customization

When it comes to customization, Modular Building sets take the win. Customization is at the very core of the modular building philosophy, and with such large sets, its much easier to expand on ideas and create new designs.

It could be said that the Creator series is a more structured approach to customization. It is a way to scaffold building skills in younger hobbyists, offering customization options through detailed and clear instructions.

  • LEGO Modular Buildings: Modular Building sets are very popular with MOC builders, as they can modify previous building designs and expand their LEGO City with parts from several sets.
  • LEGO Creator Sets: LEGO Creator sets encourage versatility in their customizability options, but these don’t offer the same cohesive integration options that you see with the Modular line.

Price & Value

Deciding which series provides the most value largely depends on what kind of value you are looking for. They both offer different benefits to builders, and just because one has a lower overall cost or the other comes with more pieces, one or the other will seem more valuable depending on the type of builder you are.

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There are some things we can look at, though, to help you decide which set type has the most value for your style.

  • LEGO Modular Buildings: LEGO Modular Buildings are high-end sets that come with premium pricing. With the higher price tag comes a very high piece count that builders use to complete the intricate designs these sets are known so well for. An example of such a set is the recently released Twilight The Cullen House, which is priced at around $219.99.
  • Because of the large piece count and higher price point, sets from this series provide the most value for adult builders looking for a project or challenge. They also provide value for anyone looking for a display-worthy set that will take a permanent place on a shelf or table within a living space.
  • LEGO Creator Sets: LEGO Creator sets are budget-friendly and offer a good amount of playability for the price builders are asked to pay. The piece-to-price ratio is also good, which is made even better with many sets having alternate designs using the same pieces. Some examples of Creator sets with good value for casual builders are the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Wild Animals Panda Family set priced at $40 and the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Retro Camera priced at around $20.
  • The added versatility, good piece-to-price ratio, and low cost make the Creator sets a great value for casual builders and younger audiences looking for creative building experiences.

Shown below is 18+ LEGO IDEAS 21354 Twilight The Cullen House. This set was released back in February 2025 and is currently available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia).

Target Audience

At risk of repeating ourselves, the target audience for LEGO Modular Buildings and LEGO Creator Sets is different.

In general, LEGO Modular Building sets are for adults and older teens who are experienced with complex LEGO projects, comfortable with large piece counts, and interested in creating display pieces. In contrast, kids and casual builders looking for ways to test the waters of modularity and freedom with simpler sets are the main audience for LEGO Creator sets.

Here are a few more details about why each set type is ideal for those target audiences:

  • LEGO Modular Buildings: In addition to having piece counts higher than 2000 in some cases, as well as more advanced instructions and building techniques, LEGO Modular Buildings are more suitable for older audiences because of their use in expansive, multi-set builds. These builds can be created by adding multiple sets together or taking a more MOC-based approach where builders create cityscapes of their own creation. That makes these sets perfect for mature hobbyists who not only value the freedom of expression but who collect as well.
  • LEGO Creator Sets: When it comes to LEGO Creator sets, they offer a similar experience where freedom is concerned, but there are detailed instructions guiding that freedom. That, along with the lower piece counts, makes for a more accessible way for younger builders to get a similar feeling—the feeling that comes from discovering new ways to use the ‘same old Lego pieces.’

Shown below is LEGO Creator 3in1 31170 Wild Animals Pink Flamingo. The set was released in March 2025 and is currently available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia).

Pros and Cons of Each Series

Here is a summary of the pros and cons from each series (as we see them):

LEGO Modular Buildings

Pros:

  • LEGO Modular Buildings have realistic features and provide immersive building experiences through complex construction techniques.
  • These sets are designed for display. Because of that, they come with elaborate architectural details like decorative facades and era-specific design elements. They also offer highly detailed features like flower pots, vines, signs, and more. The intricate design elements don’t just stop with the external features, either. The rooms within each building are highly detailed and well thought out.
  • Modular sets all connect together, allowing builders to expand as much as they want. The sets are built to help builders create expansive cityscapes.

Cons:

  • For many, the cost of a modular set will feel prohibitive. They are expensive when compared to other sets, and for builders not interested in what benefits these sets come with, the price tag can be an issue.
  • These sets are fairly large and require space for display and when working on them. You could be working on the same project for several days/weeks, so you need a semi-permanent place to set your project up.
  • Modular builds are visually impressive, but for builders looking for playability, they may not be as much fun to play with as the LEGO Creator 3-in-1 sets.

Shown below is 18+ LEGO Icons 10326 Natural History Museum Modular Building. The set was released back in December 2023 and is currently available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia).

LEGO Creator Sets

Pros:

  • Availability is usually not an issue with Creator sets. They are sold in many places, some of which offer good deals on fan favorites, and they are also quite affordable.
  • The 3-in-1 Creator sets offer versatility that you don’t see with other sets. This improves playability as it allows the builder to experiment with completely new builds without the need to purchase additional LEGO sets.
  • LEGO Creator sets come in many themes. You can see animals, vehicles, and buildings.

Cons:

  • Less detailed than modular sets, and the scales are smaller.
  • These sets are not designed for long-term collectability. That means their value doesn’t appreciate over time as much as modular buildings do. For that reason, collectors take them less seriously.
  • Creator sets aren’t built for inter-set connectability. That means it’s more difficult to create cohesive city integration with multiple sets.

Shown below is LEGO Creator 3in1 31141 Main Street. The set was released back in Summer August 2023 and is currently available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia).

Who Should Buy What?

So, which set is right for you? Here’s a checklist to help you decide.

Choose LEGO Modular Buildings If:

  • You are interested in creating builds featuring real-life architecture and 20th-century designs.
  • You want to build additions to a city that you’ve already started. Do you need a Town Hall, a Book Shop, and a Post Office? They are all available.
  • You enjoy building complex structures with several floors and plenty of intricacy and attention to detail.
  • Shop Now: LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia), Amazon.com USA, Amazon.ca Canada and Amazon.co.uk UK

Choose LEGO Creator Sets If:

  • You don’t have any interest in leaving a set up on display for a long time.
  • You like deconstructing your builds and creating new things.
  • You like the idea of modularity, but don’t really want to commit the time and price of the larger sets.
  • Shop Now: LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia), Amazon.com USA, Amazon.ca Canada and Amazon.co.uk UK

For MOC Builders:

  • LEGO Modular Buildings are a great starting point for MOC builders. They provide all the pieces and plans one would need to start a new project. They are also good for thematic additions to existing city layouts.
  • LEGO Creator sets are a good source of loose bricks that can easily enhance custom designs. The thematic nature of them also helps MOC builders find pieces that fit whatever they happen to be envisioning.

Shown below is a residential structure LEGO modular building theme creation as mentioned in the Release Your Creativity with Lego Modular Building Sets and MOCs Article. This article has good resources on how you can create your own LEGO Modular Building creations.

Conclusion

To sum up, both sets are good options, but they both serve different purposes.

LEGO Modular Building and LEGO Creator sets both offer valuable building experiences for the audiences they target, but they do it in different ways. If you choose the right set type for your building style, you’ll get the most out of your experience.

If that means getting a Creator set that is more affordable and made for playability or a Modular Building set that comes with the higher price tag and commitment level, the answer obviously depends on what you’re looking for.

To explore some popular sets from the LEGO Modular Building series or the LEGO Creator series, check out our top picks here: Amazon.com US | Amazon.ca Canada | Amazon.co.uk UK

Shown below is 18+ LEGO Icons 10312 Jazz Club Modular Building. The set was released back in January 2023 and is currently available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia).

This article was written by Benjamin W. – Guest Contributor Writer. Reviewed and edited by Toys N Bricks. 

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