Empire State Building

Name: LEGO Empire State Building 21046
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 21046
Rating: 4.8 (2889 reviews)

85 · HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: AA20191,767 pcsHigh agreement · 100%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

2.9K+

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Highly Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"With a BrickScore of 85 and 2,889 owner ratings averaging 4.8 out of 5, the Empire State Building is one of the Architecture series' most celebrated sets, delivering an impressive display piece through clever construction that holds up beautifully years after its 2019 release."

Reviewers unanimously praised the Empire State Building (21046) as one of the finest entries in the Architecture series, highlighting its impressive scale, accurate proportions, and SNOT construction techniques that produce a strikingly solid finished model. Owner sentiment is equally enthusiastic, with 2,889 ratings averaging 4.8 out of 5 and 94% of LEGO buyers saying they would recommend it. The build is described as engaging and methodical rather than purely repetitive, with a satisfying sense of the real building's grandeur emerging through each stage. A minor note about one dented grill tile and the relative lack of spare grill tiles was the only consistent criticism across the feedback.

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LOVED (7)

01Impressive scale and accurate proportions that capture the grandeur of the real building
02Clever SNOT (Studs Not On Top) construction yielding a sturdy, polished finished model
03Satisfying build progression that conveys the building's height and setbacks
04Great part quality with no color variation across tan tile window sections
05Perfect display size for home offices and shelves
06Hidden details such as the interior escalator references
07Historical facts included in the instruction booklet

CRITICIZED (3)

01Some sections can feel repetitive, particularly the window tile segments
02No spare grill tiles included; one builder received a dented tile with no replacement
03Some fans noted inconsistent scales compared to smaller Architecture sets like 21031 Burj Khalifa

What reviewers are saying

"This is definitely on a different uh just a different plane of existence practically, not only in its size, but also its complexity and level of intricacy of the building techniques."

JANG's LEGO Reviews

"What could have been a dull and boring build was actually anything but."

Brickset Reviews

Ecosystem

Previous LEGO Empire State Building (standalone, ~10 years old) — The new version is on a completely different level, with over 1,700 pieces compared to around 70 pieces, and significantly more complexity and intricacy in building techniques.

New York Skyline set Empire State Building — The standalone set is much more elaborate than the miniature version included in the New York Skyline set.

21002 — The new 21046 dwarfs the original 21002. This version is significantly larger, more detailed, and at approximately 1:800 scale, represents a major upgrade in both presence and build sophistication.

21028 New York City skyline — The 21046 dwarfs the similarly-scaled but more detailed 21028. While 21028 includes multiple buildings as a skyline, the 21046 is a singular focal point with superior height and presence.

ArchitectureTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

"This is definitely on a different uh just a different plane of existence practically, not only in its size, but also its complexity and level of intricacy of the building techniques."

Key Pros

✓Excellent display value and scale for the piece count
✓Not hollow—very solid construction
✓Looks like a proper scale model from a distance; minimal exposed studs

Key Cons

✕Price is high, though justified by quality relative to architecture line
✕Does not scale well with minifigures

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Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"What could have been a dull and boring build was actually anything but."

Key Pros

✓Excellent building techniques, particularly SNOT use to mimic steel girders
✓Surprisingly enjoyable build despite size and scale; not tedious or repetitive
✓Refreshing lack of 1x1 pieces makes building pace pleasant

Key Cons

✕The mast is attached with just a 1x2 bar in a clip so it's easily knocked out of alignment
✕Yellow cabs lack variety; not the only vehicles on city roads but the set only includes one type

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Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (2)Wait for sale (0)

Exclusivity

Brickset Reviews: Wide retail through shop.LEGO.com (Europe and USA); not limited or exclusive.

Brick Bucks: GWP exclusive with expensive set purchase

Resale

Brickset Reviews: Expected to hold value well; currently available at shop.LEGO.com (USA release August 1, 2019; Europe already available)

Brick Bucks: Eiffel's Apartment GWP selling for $50–$70 on eBay; significantly lower resale value than Fell Beast GWP

Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Grill pieces (1x2x1/3 bricks)
684 of these pieces are used to construct the outer skin, providing intricate detailing and requiring application to the entire facade
Plated/painted silver pieces at the tip
Metallic finish with satin texture compared to regular glossy LEGO plastic, providing a deluxe visual touch
1x2 grille tiles
684 grille tiles are used throughout, primarily tan-colored; abundant parts value for MOCs.
Drum lacquered silver 1x2 cheese graters
Used for the four sets of escalators leading from the ground floor; noted as appearing only once in the build.
Drum lacquered 1x2 tiles
Used for lift doors hidden inside the central core.
Drum lacquered silver parts
Used in the mast construction; provide metallic detail and visual contrast.

What Owners Say · summarized from 50 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners overwhelmingly praise the Empire State Building as a beautifully detailed, rewarding build with impressive scale and sturdy construction, though some find the window segments repetitive and a few report quality control issues.

COMMON PRAISE