Printable labels to sort your LEGO bricks

Printable labels to sort your LEGO bricks

These labels have moved to: http://brickarchitect.com/labels/

I have continued to add labels to the collection which now includes over 700 different LEGO elements. The latest labels are available for download at a new location: http://brickarchitect.com/labels/


In building a lot of LEGO Architecture models and sorting through 50 pounds of used LEGO bricks, I learned that a well organized brick collection is a requirement. I agree with most LEGO builders that the best way to sort a large LEGO collection is by part, rather than by color.

After a lot of research, I decided to buy several Akro-Mils bins in a mix of 24, 44, and 64 drawer configurations, and I planned to create labels for each drawer!

Beautifully designed LEGO labels which print perfectly on a Label Printer.

Beautifully designed LEGO labels which print perfectly on a Label Printer.

I am happy to share a large collection of ready-to-print labels for most LEGO bricks (including many Technic parts) which you can print at home with a Brother PC Label printer, such as the inexpensive PT-P700 which replaces the PT-1230PC which I use. (You can find a list of compatible printers later in this article…)

About the labels:

I created scripts to produce sharp, high contrast images with thick outlines that will print well on a Label Printer. The labels which I designed use these crisp images, the common name for each part, and the Part ID#.

Some of the labels from this collection.

Some of the labels from this collection.

Each file contains a strip of about 10 labels organized into categories, so you should print only the labels you need.

Compatible label printers:

These labels are designed to be printed using a Brother Label printer (such as the PT-P700) on Brother 1/2″ Laminated Tape. These labels are waterproof, smudgeproof, durable, and they come in a variety of colors such as White, Pink, Yellow, Clear, and even Gold.

Any Brother printer which prints on “P-touch” 1/2 inch (12mm) labels will work. The higher-end PT-P700 seems to be the best price at this time. I prepared a table comparing the features of each model below:
[table id=3 /]

These links show the latest prices at Amazon.com which may help you find the best price. (If you buy from one of these links, I get a small royalty which is appreciated!)

NOTE: Some of these printers include software which will appear on your screen automatically when you plug-in the printer. You may need to download the “full” version of the “P-touch” software from the brother.com website to print these labels or make your own…

Download the labels:

The first version of these labels only included parts for the excellent 1210 piece 21050 – LEGO Architecture Studio set. I’ve expanded the collection to include many of the parts which weren’t included in the set but should have been. I’ve since added labels for many Technic parts, and will continue to create new labels in the future.

These labels have moved to: http://brickarchitect.com/labels/

Version History:

History of updates to these labels and the instructions for printing these labels listed on this page. (Newest updates on top…)

  • January 31, 2015 Version 1.8 includes 40 new labels! NEW: bricks_large, wedge_plate, wedge_brick, door_rails. UPDATED: fence, bricks_curved_more, cones, slopes_3
    New Labels!
  • January 16, 2015 Version 1.7 includes fixed scripts to create your own brick label images using LDraw app. (also adds labels for some additional slope pieces.)
  • November 17, 2014 Version 1.6 adds 32 labels to the collection. (hinges, turntables, click hinges, clips, and handles)
  • September 30, 2014 Version 1.5 adds about 30 labels to the collection. I moved this website to a permanent link at http://tomalphin.com/bricklabels
  • September 17, 2014 Added a table of compatible Brother label printers at the bottom of this article.
  • September 13, 2014: Version 1.4 improves consistency and quality of text + images throughout the “All Labels” collection. This version also adds 8 new panel types, technic_pin_axle_connectors, and technic_misc labels.
    2014-09-13 - a few more labels
  • September 10, 2014: Version 1.3 adds many of the most common Technic parts including: Pins, Axles, Technic Bricks, Ball + Socket, Technic Plates + Rotors, Connectors. Gears, Pulleys and other specialty parts will need to wait for another day.
    Lots of new Technic labels in version 1.3 of the collection!
  • May 30, 2014: Version 1.2 of this collection now includes most of the labels for a large general-purpose LEGO collection. Let me know if you like it by leaving a comment. Missing some important parts, let me know. In my next update, I hope to add common Technics pieces.
Have these labels helped you get organized? Let me know you like them by leaving a comment below!

83 Responses

  1. Michael says:

    Hey Tom!

    I just came across your page looking for someone using the Akro-Mills for Lego sorting. And then I was intrigued by your provided labels. And then I saw you name and was like, what? I just bought your book and it made me built just last night already three models. I was kinda disappointed when I bought the Architecture Studio that there weren’t many instructions for building things. Your book is awesome. The best Lego book out there and I hope you will publish many more. I love the little buildings – finally a good use of the Architecture Studio. Include more buildings from Europe and some skyscrapers, that would be awesome. Thanks a lot for this great book! Maybe publish some instructions on your webpage too 🙂

    • Tom Alphin says:

      Michael, thanks for the kind words. I hope the labels help you get your bricks more organized – I know they helped me tremendously.

      As for additional instructions, I do have one available already, and may make others available int he coming months. (They are very time consuming to create) Visit http://brickarchitect.com/book/extras/ to download instructions for a tiny neoclassical monument.

  2. Kim says:

    Hey Tom, I love your labels, they will be very useful. I saw on one of your versions where you said you included scripts so that people could make their own labels using LDraw. I found the script files in the 1.8 download but I am curious, how does one go about doing that? You do a great job but I know you don’t have a ton of time to devote to making more labels all the time, so I was curious how to do that.

  3. Trey says:

    Wonderful work! Just started organizing our Lego out of giant tubs into Stack-On and this was perfect. Are there any labels set up for modified plates? Thanks again!

  4. Josh says:

    Tom it was great seeing you at BrickCon, your workshop was awesome. Picked up the book as well. I was wondering how easy it would be to make labels for the entire LDraw catalog. Your labels are so awesome and honestly would be happy to donate to help “pay” for your time to create labels for the whole catalog. I don’t know if that is a ridiculously huge request or not, but figured I would at least as. If not is there a walkthrough for your script to do it myself? Thanks again for the workshop and the book. Really enjoying it.

  5. Steeve says:

    Thanks for the label. Really changed the way I sort and store my legos. Quick question, Is there a way to tell the P-Touch Editor to automaticaly cut the labels between each pictures?

    Thanks,

    Steeve

  6. Patsy Bieg says:

    I am a professional organizer and I am obsessed with the labels! How can I share a link to this on FB? Thanks in advance.

  7. David Bretag says:

    Hello Tom,
    I was wondering if you have made or could make these labels available in a PDF file so that they could be printed on a standard sheet of paper. I like to make my labels a little bit different from the printed tape but your labels are exactly how I want this to look.

    Thanks for your time
    David

  8. Matthew says:

    Thanks much for your posts, I’ve learned enough to start my new after school club, “LEGO Architect”. My question is how many distinct pieces are in the LEGO Architect Studio set? For instance, if our club starts with 4 to 8 sets how many Akro Mills Drawers would be required?

    • Tom Alphin says:

      Matthew,
      You can fit about two complete “LEGO Architecture Studio” sets in one of the Akro-mils drawer cabinets, but you need 2 cabinets to have enough drawers to fit all of the different parts. You will also find that the most common parts will run out, whereas the specialty parts like the sloped roof sections are rarely used.

      My suggestion would be to build as many LEGO workstations as you can to allow more students to work at the same time: Each station might contain two copies of Architecture studio set plus some extra common elements (ordered via bricklink), organized into one 24-drawer cabinet for the more common elements, and one 64-drawer cabinet for the smaller, specialty parts.

      I would love to discuss further, as this is a really neat idea!

  9. Harrison says:

    Tom,

    I am a relatively new LEGO addict, and have decided to go with Akro-Mils storage cabinets for sorting my pieces. I have already acquired two cabinets, and am contemplating a few more, but I was hoping to hear from your experience, having used them for a period of time: how well do they keep out dust? With the open backing and the bits of open space around each drawer, I am a little concerned. I have no plans to ever mount them, so I am thinking that I can probably cut sheets of some durable plastic and glue them to the back to help…

    Any tips are greatly appreciated!

    • Tom Alphin says:

      Harrison, I have not had a lot of problems with dust. It isn’t a tight seal, but it seems to keep dust from settling on my bricks. I also try to keep the LEGO room relatively clean to keep dust from becoming a major issue.

      Sincerely,
      —tom

      P.S. I keep a can of compressed air in my LEGO area. If something is a little dusty, I blast it!

  10. Sharon says:

    I have been organizing my 7 yr old son’s massive LEGO collection and am so glad I started on the right track! I started off by sorting by brick size and more detailed sorting with the smaller pieces using the Ackro – mils brand drawers. I am excited to get to the next step – labeling. I stumbled across your page this morning and am even more excited to complete this project! I can’t wait until my son’s LEGO station is complete. I have noticed a huge difference in the way that he is able to create and play with his LEGOs organized vs. dumped in a bin. Plus, it helps keep me sane! Thank you so much for sharing all of your hard work with the labels! I really appreciate it!

    • Tom Alphin says:

      Sharon, I’m glad to hear that organizing the bricks has made it easier for your child to build models, and for you to feel like everything is in it’s place. It seems like you got lucky, too, as some kids seem to really enjoy dumping everything on the floor, and others seem to like a well organized collection.

      Good luck!
      —tom

  11. Meg says:

    Hi,
    The Amazon link for the Brother PC Connectable Label Maker (PT-P700) states that there’s a newer version of this model. It’s wireless, but I don’t know if that’s the only difference. Do you know if the newer version, Brother Printer PTP750W Wireless Label Maker, will work as well as the PT-700? I like the idea of being wireless so i can move around, but only if the wireless model (PTP750W) works as well or better than the PT-700. thank you so much for all your help and information!

    • Tom Alphin says:

      Meg,
      I do not have the newer wireless model, but I have heard that it works great with my labels. You will still need your computer to print the labels, so I’m not sure the wireless capability will be all that much more convenient. Let me know if you do get the wireless model, as i’d love to know if it’s more convenient for you!

      Good luck, and happy organizing!
      —tom

      P.S. Make sure you download the latest labels at http://brickarchitect.com/labels/

  12. Meg says:

    Thank you! After researching and reading reviews, I decided upon the PT-D600. (I did start through one of your links to Amazon.) It’s not wireless, but it has a nice keyboard and can be used both with the computer and as a stand-alone labeler. The prices on some of these labelers have been fluctuating a few dollars the past few days, but the PT-D600 costs about the same as the PT-700 at the moment. I played with it today and it’s lovely, though I immediately went back on Amazon and ordered a much longer A-male to B-male USB cable so I’ll have some maneuverability. I will try your label files (including the new ones!) as soon as I have a bit more time and report back. Next up is to decide on which/how many Akro-Mils cabinets.
    Thanks again for all your help!

  13. Shannon Nordgren says:

    Hi Tom! I am going to buy a printer (from your link) to print these labels. How much tape do I need to print them? The printer comes with 16′ but I’m not sure if I should buy more. Thank you so much for sharing these!

  14. Steve says:

    Hi…great work!

    Just noticed though, and i’m not sure if you ever fixed it, but in your photo, you have the Plate 2×6 and Plate 2×8 label examples swapped (example 2×8 is in 2×6 label and vice versa).
    Awesome site, look forward to continuing to explore.

    Steve

  15. Titus Golemgeske says:

    Hello Tom,

    My name is Titus, and I really like your labels. However, I noticed that some of the pieces I have in my collection do not appear in your label archive. I was wondering, is there a specific program you used to create the actual pictures of the bricks? I’m looking for a way to create my own labels for the pieces that are not in your set. I would really appreciate any help you could give me.

  16. Lego Man says:

    This saves me doing this all myself. I might just print this out, cut out each one, and stick it on with tape to little plastic drawers. The tape will act as lamination to keep it airtight. Instead of moving labels, I’ll just reprint them. And I’ll print out a copy of the whole thing and laminate it.

  17. Lego Man says:

    Also it’d be helpful if someone could post a list of what is missing, maybe someone else can make temporary labels for the missing parts until they are added properly.

  18. Luciana says:

    An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who was conducting a little homework on this.
    And he actually ordered me breakfast simply because I stumbled upon it for him…

    lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
    But yeah, thanks for spending some time to discuss this issue here on your web page.

  19. Brian says:

    I just came across this while looking for printable parts lists and color swatches. I don’t have a label printer, but I am able to print to Avery Dennison label sheets. By any chance, do you have the template for that which you would be willing to share?

  20. Lucien says:

    Thanks this will help me with my school assignment for making a periodic table out of legos.

  21. Joe says:

    Does the new PT300 work with this file?

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