MISB / NISB / NIB

MISB, NISB and NIB are acronyms you'll see constantly on BrickLink, eBay and collector forums. They describe the condition of a second-hand set.

The grades

• MISB — Mint In Sealed Box: perfect, original seals intact, box undamaged. The holy grail for collectors.
• NISB — New In Sealed Box: new and unopened, but the box may have light wear (scratches, corner dents).
• NIB — New In Box: never built, but seals may be loose or box damaged. The bricks themselves are unused.
• Used or Built: previously built. Brick condition varies; may be complete or not.
• Incomplete: parts missing — always ask which specifically.

Why the distinction matters

For the average LEGO fan who wants to build, MISB versus NIB makes zero difference — the bricks are identical. But for collectors, sealed condition is everything. A MISB Café Corner from 2007 fetches €4000+; a built/complete version €1500-2000. Same set, 2-3× difference because of one plastic strip.

Lakea tip

We compare prices of new sets at current retailers only. For an out-of-production set second-hand, BrickLink is the place — watch the condition code in each listing.