Element ID

An element ID is LEGO's internal number for a specific part in a specific colour. A 1×2 plate in black has a different element ID than the exact same plate in red, even though the shape is identical. It's NOT the same as the design number, which identifies only the shape regardless of colour.

Why two different numbers?

LEGO uses two things behind the scenes:

• Design number (e.g. 3023): identifies just the shape — a 1×2 plate is always 3023, in any colour.
• Element ID (e.g. 302326): identifies shape + colour. 302326 is specifically the black 1×2 plate. The red version has its own number (4124376).

Old vs. new numbers

Until around 2010, LEGO used 6-digit numbers (like 302326). Since then they've moved to 7-digit IDs (like 6603319). Both forms are valid and still work on Pick-a-Brick. Older instructions show 6 digits; modern sets mostly use 7. Sometimes you'll see both side by side.

Where Lakea uses this

Each part in a set's building instructions carries an element ID. We extract those numbers automatically from the official PDF and make them clickable — so you can see how many of each specific variant you've got and, if you want, order the exact part via Pick-a-Brick. Not there? BrickLink is usually the answer.