How to search Brickset

We have tried to make it as easy as possible to search and browse the Brickset database. The search box in the corner is probably all you'll ever need to use to be able to find what you're looking for.

However, there are some advanced ways of searching that we'd like to tell you about that will enable you to perform complex queries and generate customised lists of the sets you're interested in.

This page summarises all the different methods of searching and browsing.

Use the search box

This is the quickest and easiest way to search. When you start typing, the auto-suggest feature will offer a list of sets, themes, subthemes and years. If it contains what you're seeking, simply select it from the list. If not, press the Go button to search the database.


If you select a set from the auto-suggest list, you'll be taken directly to the set details page. If you select a theme, subtheme or year, the results will be shown on a page optimised for the type of item you selected, the theme browser or year browser.

If you don't make a selection, the results are shown on the general search results page.

Use the Browse menu

If you not exactly sure what you want to find, click on Browse on the main menu to see listings of LEGO themes and years of release.

When you click on a theme you'll be taken to the theme browser.

When you click on a year, you'll be taken to the year browser.

Manipulate the query string

The theme and year browsers provide menus to enable you to further filter the lists by themes, subthemes and years. However it's not possible to list every possible query in the menus, there are just too many!

So, you can manually manipulate the page URL's querystring to tailor the lists, as follows.

 

General search URL format

http://www.brickset.com/search/?query={xxx}

Where {xxx} can take the following forms:

  • {search term} Any search term. The set number, name, year, theme and subtheme fields are searched for the term you provide. e.g. query=blacktron
  • {start number}-{end number} A range of numbers. Sets with numbers between the two numbers provided will be returned. e.g. query=30000-30199
  • {set number 1},{set number 2},...,{Set number n} A list of set numbers, including their suffixes, will return the sets specified. e.g. query=6876-1,6894-1,6954-1

http://www.brickset.com/search/?part={xxx}

Where {xxx} can take the following forms:

  • {part number} List sets that contain the specified part number

Examples:

Theme browser URL format

http://www.brickset.com/browse/themes/?theme={xxx}&year={yyy}&subtheme={zzz}

  • {xxx} Theme e.g. theme=Creator. This must be specified.
  • {yyy} Optional, one or more years separated by commas, e.g. year=2001,2002.
  • {zzz} Optional, one or more subthemes separated by commas, e.g. subtheme=Blacktron,Blacktron 2.

Examples:

It is possible to specify more than one theme in the same way as years and subthemes, but this is not fully supported.

Year browser URL format

http://www.brickset.com/browse/years/?year={xxx}&theme={yyy}

  • {xxx} Year e.g. year=2012. This must be specified.
  • {yyy} Optional, one or more themes separated by commas, e.g. theme=Ninjago,Dino.

Examples:

Use the Advanced Query Builder

The Advanced Query Builder provides total flexibility for searching all fields in the database. Once you've constructed your query you can save it for later execution, or share it with others.

Although it's been designed to be easy to use, some knowledge of how to create database queries will help.

That's it!

Hopefully we've provided enough flexibility to enable you to find and list what you're interested in!

Don't forget, if you want to create a list containing random or loosely-connected sets, you can use BrickLists.

Happy searching!