Now hiring at-home LEGO sorters · Milan, IL
Get paid to sort LEGO.
$1.35 per pound sorted. Pick up bulk LEGO, sort it at home on your own schedule, and bring it back within 30 days.
Serving your LEGO needs worldwide since 2017
How it works
- ApplyFill out the short form below. We'll text you to confirm a pickup time.
- Pick upGrab a batch of bulk LEGO at 337 2nd Ave E, Milan, IL. Mon–Fri 6am–1pm or by appointment.
- Sort at homeSort into 24+ categories using our Sorting Guide. Work whenever it suits you.
- Return & get paidBring everything back within 30 days, finished or not. You're paid $1.35/lb for sorted LEGO.
Who it's for
Detail-lovers
If sorting is satisfying to you, this is your job.
Flexible schedules
Parents, retirees, students, anyone with spare hours at home.
Smoke-free homes
No smoking around LEGO, ever. Smoke smell ruins bricks.
Near Milan, IL
You'll need reliable transportation to pick up and return batches.
About GBL
“To deliver exceptional service to builders globally with a wide selection of Lego from new and used selections.”
Serving your LEGO needs worldwide since 2017
- We work for God and not man
- We are a zero-debt organization
- We focus on community engagement
- Our customers deserve the best of our products and services
Our sorting network
Sorters are part of GBL’s processing network, which extends our capacity beyond the warehouse. Members work from home, and we’re growing toward a 50+ member network of sorters and catalogers. We share what we know on our YouTube channel.
Who you’ll work with
Doug Kirk, Operations Manager, handles day-to-day pickups and contractor payouts. Chris James is the owner.
Why LEGO?
LEGO doesn’t decay and can be washed, and parts made over 40 years ago still fit today’s pieces. Pound for pound, LEGO can be worth more than gold, which is why careful sorting matters.
Top 5 sorter tips
- Work every day, even if it's just 30 minutes.
- Listen to the radio, an audiobook, or a podcast.
- Use a take-apart tool (brick separator).
- Keep your workstation set up so you can jump right in.
- Take a 30-second break every 15 minutes and flex your fingers.
Sorting Guide
Sort into these 25 GBL categories. Bag or bin each one and label it with its CAT number.
Watch us sort
How to sort Lego for a massive warehouse of part to build with or sell! More videos on our YouTube channel
See the sorting guide (25 categories)Hide the sorting guide
CAT 1Round things
Dishes, cylinders, round bricks
CAT 22x or larger plates
Plates 2 studs wide or larger, normal and modified
CAT 2AWedge & round plates
Wedge plates and round plates
CAT 32x2 plates
Square 2x2 plates
CAT 3A2x2 plates, modified
Modified and round 2x2 plates
CAT 4Tiles
Smooth tiles: 2x?, 1x?, modified and round tiles
CAT 5Decorated
Any printed or decorated piece
CAT 6Slopes
Slopes, curves, wedges: normal, inverted, wedge bricks
CAT 71x1 round
1x1 round pieces
CAT 7A1x1 square
1x1 square pieces
CAT 81x3+ bricks
Bricks 1 stud wide, 3 or more long
CAT 8A1x2 bricks
1x2 bricks
CAT 9Wheels
Wheels and tires
CAT 9APlants
Plants and trees
CAT 102x2 bricks
Normal, modified and Technic 2x2 bricks
CAT 112x1 plates
Normal and modified 2x1 plates
CAT 121x1 bricks
Square 1x1 bricks
CAT 12ACones & round
1x1 cones and round 1x1 bricks
CAT 132x2+ bricks
Normal, modified, Technic and large bricks
CAT 141x3+ plates
Normal and modified 1x3 and longer plates
CAT 15Technic
Technic pieces, lift arms, bars, flags, Hero Factory
CAT 16Minifigs
Minifig body parts and accessories
CAT 17Panels
Panels, windscreens, windows, doors
CAT 18Large parts
Very large parts
CAT 19Non-LEGO
Troll, fake LEGO, other toys, junk
Common mistakes
- Mixing categoriesKeep each category clean, with no stray pieces mixed in. Plates (CAT 2, 3, 11, 14) and smooth tiles (CAT 4) go in different bins.
- Parts stuck togetherTake apart all stuck-together pieces. A take-apart tool helps.
- Non-LEGO in the binsFake LEGO, other toys and junk go in CAT 19. Throw out trash and debris.
- Unlabeled bagsLabel every bag or bin with its CAT number.
Illustrations are simplified drawings, not exact parts. Not sure where something goes? Text (563) 265-1078.
FAQ
How much will I make?
$1.35 per pound of LEGO you sort. Anything left unsorted is returned with no pay.
How long do I have?
Return each batch within 30 days, finished or not.
Is there a deposit?
Only on your first batch: a $25 deposit, refunded when you return that batch. You won't need to pay it again after that.
How do I sort it?
Into 24+ categories. See the Sorting Guide on this page, or download the Welcome Guide.
Can I smoke while sorting?
No. There's no smoking around LEGO. Only smoke-free homes can sort for us.
What if I don't return a batch?
If you don't return a batch, it's recorded as misappropriation of GBL property.
When can I pick up?
Mon–Fri 6am–1pm, or by appointment. Call or text (563) 265-1078.
Apply to sort
Thanks! You're almost in.
Next step: pay your $25 first-batch deposit. Add the note GBL deposit + your name (e.g. "GBL deposit Jane Smith"). The deposit is refunded when you return your first batch.
Pay by Venmo @greatbricklab or Cash App $GreatBrickLab (QR codes below).
Great Brick Lab will text you to confirm your pickup time.
Deposit: $25, first batch only
Pay with the note GBL deposit + your name. It's refunded when you return your first batch, and you won't pay it again.
Contact
Great Brick Lab
337 2nd Ave E, Milan, IL 61264
Call or text (563) 265-1078
greatbricklab@gmail.com
Pickup: Mon–Fri 6am–1pm or by appointment
© Great Brick Lab · Est. 2017 · Serving your LEGO needs worldwide since 2017