You’ve just been handed one of the most exciting briefs of the year: find something truly memorable for the company’s milestone celebration, end-of-year gift, or onboarding kit. You’ve landed on a custom brick set, something people will actually keep on their desk for years and now comes the practical question every HR and event planner eventually asks:
“How much time do we actually need?”
This guide is built for you. Whether you’re coordinating a gift for 100 team members or 1,000, planning a product launch, a company anniversary, or a client appreciation moment, understanding the lead time behind a custom brick project will save you stress, protect your budget, and make sure your boxes arrive before the party starts.
Let’s walk through it, phase by phase, format by format.
Why Lead Times for Custom Brick Projects Are Different
Custom brick gifts from DD Bricks aren’t off-the-shelf products. Every project is built from scratch, assembled from original LEGO® elements, including the model design, brick selection, packaging, and custom digital instruction and landing page. That level of personalization takes time and that’s exactly what makes these gifts so powerful.
Unlike ordering branded mugs or printing a logo on a notebook, a custom brick set involves:
- Creative design work (3D modeling, instruction building, graphic design)
- Element sourcing (finding the right colors and quantities for your build)
- Assembly or production (packing individual sets with precision)
- Full packaging customization (custom boxes, inserts, branding)
- Shipping logistics (coordinating delivery across offices, countries, or fulfillment partners)
Each of those steps takes real time and they happen in sequence. That’s why planning ahead isn’t just recommended: it’s essential.
The earlier you get in touch, the more options you’ll have on design, timing, and budget.
The Three Types of Projects (and What to Expect)
At DD Bricks, we handle a range of project formats depending on your brief, quantity, and budget. Here’s an honest breakdown of what each involves and how long you should plan for.
Full Custom Brick Sets
Best for: Company milestones, executive gifts, product launches, large team gifting
Minimum quantity: 100 sets
Typical quantity range: 300-1,000 sets
Budget range: Starting at $6,000-7,000 USD (up to $10,000-20,000 and 50,000+ for larger runs)
Production lead time: 6-8 weeks (after design approval)
This is the flagship format: a fully custom-designed building set, complete with custom packaging and a digital landing page with your branded building instructions.
What’s included in the project cost:
- Brainstorming and concept development
- 3D set design and instruction creation
- Full packaging customization (box, inserts, branding)
- A branded digital landing page with digital instructions
- Delivery to your location (taxes and duties not included)
Key planning tip: The 6-8 week production window begins after you’ve approved the final design. Factor in 1-2 weeks for the design phase itself, plus shipping time on top of production. A safe total planning window from first contact to gift in hands is 8-10 weeks.
Minifigure Projects
Best for: Smaller teams, budget-conscious campaigns, onboarding kits, event giveaways
Quantity: Flexible, great for lower minimums
Production lead time: 4-6 weeks
Custom minifigure projects combine the unmistakable charm of iconic brick characters with your brand identity, custom printed torsos, accessories, and a small brick build or themed packaging. They’re a great entry point if you’re exploring custom brick gifting for the first time, or if you need something impactful at a more accessible price point.
We also offer keychains and other minifigure-based accessories for event giveaways or swag bags.
Key planning tip: Even though the timeline is shorter, don’t leave it to the last minute. Design approvals and print production still need breathing room. Plan for a 6-8 week total window from brief to delivery to stay comfortable.
Compatible Brick Projects (Large Quantities)
Best for: Massive campaigns, wholesale gifting, large-scale brand activations
Quantity: High volumes (ideal for projects where quantity is the priority)
Production lead time: 3-4 months minimum (the longer you allow, the better)
For projects where volume is the priority and timeline flexibility allows it, compatible bricks offer a cost-effective alternative with the same visual impact and build experience. These are produced at scale and require longer factory lead times.
If you’re planning a large campaign – think thousands of units – compatible brick projects offer excellent value, but they require significant advance planning.
Key planning tip: If you’re thinking about this format, start the conversation with us as early as possible. A minimum 4-6 month planning window is strongly recommended. The earlier you brief us, the more control you have over production scheduling.
The Full Project Timeline: From First Contact to Gift in Hands
Here’s how a typical full custom brick project unfolds at DD Bricks, end to end:
| Phase | What Happens | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Discovery & Brief | You share your brief, goals, quantity, and deadline. We discuss formats, budget, and feasibility. | 3-5 business days |
| 2. Concept & Design | Our team develops the set concept, 3D model, and packaging design for your review. | 1-2 weeks |
| 3. Design Approval | You review, request revisions, and sign off. (Production starts only after this step.) | 3-7 business days |
| 4. Production | Elements are sourced, sorted, packed, and quality-checked. | 6-8 weeks (full custom sets) / 4-6 weeks (minifigs) / 3-4 months (compatible) |
| 5. Shipping & Delivery | Kits are shipped to your specified address(es). International delivery timelines vary. | 1-2 weeks (depending on destination) |
Total realistic window (full custom brick set): ~8-14 weeks from first contact to delivery.
5 Common Events and When to Start Planning
Still not sure when to reach out? Here’s a practical reference for the most common corporate gifting moments:
| Event / Occasion | Recommended “Start Planning” Date |
|---|---|
| December holiday gifts | Start in September at the latest |
| Company anniversary or milestone | Start 3-4 months before the event |
| Product launch gift | Brief us as soon as the launch date is confirmed |
| Conference or trade show giveaway | Start 4-5 months before the event |
| Onboarding kits (ongoing) | Plan in batches with a recurring schedule |
The earlier, the better. Always. Rush production is rarely possible with fully custom sets, and it often means compromising on design quality or packaging options.
Factors That Can Affect Your Timeline
Even with the best planning, a few variables can impact how long your project takes:
1. Speed of design approvals
The production clock doesn’t start until your team signs off on the final design. Long internal review cycles are one of the most common causes of delays. Assign a clear decision-maker from the start.
2. Number of revision rounds
One or two rounds of design feedback is standard. Multiple rounds of back-and-forth can add 1-2 weeks to the design phase.
3. Quantity and complexity
Larger quantities and more complex models (more parts, more colors) take longer to source and assemble.
4. Shipping destination
International shipping, customs clearance, and last-mile delivery to multiple offices or addresses all add time. Factor this in, especially for cross-border projects.
5. Holiday or peak seasons
Production facilities have peak periods (especially Q4). If your deadline falls around major holidays, you’ll want to start even earlier than usual.
Pro Tips for Stress-Free Corporate Gift Planning
Here’s what the most experienced corporate gift planners do differently:
- Lock in your deadline first. Work backwards from the date you need gifts in hand, not the date of the event itself.
- Brief early, iterate later. You don’t need a perfect brief to start a conversation. Sharing a rough idea early gives us time to problem-solve together.
- Assign one internal owner. The fastest projects have one person with authority to approve designs. Committee-driven reviews slow everything down.
- Budget for shipping and duties. Project quotes from DD Bricks cover production and delivery, but taxes and import duties vary by destination country, factor these into your overall budget.
- Think in batches for recurring needs. If you give custom gifts regularly (new hires, quarterly milestones), planning quarterly batches is far more efficient than one-off rushes.
Real Projects, Real Results
Still wondering what’s possible within your timeline and budget? Browse our past projects to see the custom brick sets we’ve built for brands and teams around the world and visit our case studies for a deeper look at how real clients planned and executed their custom gifting campaigns.
From intimate leadership gifts to large-scale global rollouts, the range of what’s possible might surprise you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Occasionally, depending on current production capacity and project complexity. It’s always worth reaching out, but we can’t guarantee rush availability, and shorter timelines may limit design and packaging options.
Yes. DD Bricks handles international projects and ships globally. Delivery timelines and customs requirements vary by destination, we’ll walk you through this during the briefing phase.
No problem. We can start with a range and refine it as your project develops. Having a ballpark number early helps us give you accurate timelines and initial pricing.
For our full custom and minifigure projects, yes we use genuine LEGO® elements. For high-volume campaigns, we also offer compatible brick alternatives. Both options are discussed during discovery based on your quantity and budget.
Full custom set projects include brainstorming, set design, instruction creation, full packaging customization, a digital landing page, and delivery. Taxes and import duties are not included and vary by destination.
Ready to Start Planning?
The best time to start your custom brick project is now, even if your event is months away. The earlier we connect, the more creative freedom we have, and the smoother your project will run.
Book a free 15-minute consultation with the DD Bricks team to talk through your brief, timeline, and budget. No commitment required, just a conversation.
Or explore what’s possible first:
- 👉 Explore our custom brick corporate gifts
- 👉 Browse our project gallery
- 👉 Learn more about DD Bricks
LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group. DD Bricks is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the LEGO Group.