What Is Labubu? Why It Is Popular, Where to Buy One, and How to Spot a Fake

You have seen it by now. The little fuzzy monster with the pointy ears and the too-many teeth, swinging off someone’s handbag on the train, peeking out of a coworker’s tote. Maybe you thought it was a bit strange. Maybe you also, quietly, kind of wanted one.

That is Labubu, and that pull you feel, half amused and half charmed, is the whole point. It is ugly-cute, and once one of these creatures has grinned at you, it is hard to unsee. Spot one in pink and orange swinging from a bag strap and try not to smile back.

So if you are here to figure out what Labubu actually is, whether it is worth it, what it should cost, and how to get a real one instead of a sad fake, let me walk you through it properly.

What Is a Labubu Doll?

Labubu is a mischievous elf character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung for his story world, The Monsters, in 2015. POP MART later turned Labubu into a much larger collectible line that includes vinyl figures, plush dolls, and the vinyl-plush pendants commonly worn as bag charms.

The viral bag charms usually combine a vinyl face with a fuzzy body and a hanging loop. Sizes vary by series: Big Into Energy and Exciting Macaron are about 17 cm tall, Have a Seat is about 15 cm, and the smaller Pin for Love pendants are about 10.5 cm, not counting the hanging loop.

Many of the most popular series are sold in blind boxes, where the specific design stays hidden until you open the package, so you only find out which design you got once it is unsealed. That surprise is a big part of why they are so easy to get hooked on. I go deeper on how the whole model works in my guide to blind boxes, so I will keep it short here.

What Does Labubu Mean?

Labubu is not a Chinese word and does not have a literal translation. It is the name Kasing Lung chose for the elf character. Within The Monsters, Labubu is mischievous but kind-hearted and often tries to help, even when things do not go entirely to plan. Its meaning comes from that playful, imperfect personality rather than from any traditional Chinese symbolism.

Who Created Labubu and Where Did It Come From?

Here is the part that surprises people, including plenty who assume Labubu is some ancient Chinese myth. It is not. Labubu was drawn by Kasing Lung, an artist born in Hong Kong who grew up in the Netherlands, and the creature comes from his storybook world The Monsters, which leans on the elves and imps of Northern European folklore. The roots are more Nordic fairy tale than anything else.

What helped turn a picture-book elf into a global craze was Chinese retail. POP MART (泡泡玛特, pào pào mǎ tè), the designer-toy company behind the figures, made blind boxes central to its business, and its stores and Roboshop vending machines became common in major Chinese malls. That engine is what put Labubu into millions of hands, first across Asia and then everywhere else, until it was reported as one of the most sought-after ugly-cute toys on the planet.

Why Is Labubu So Popular?

Part of it is famous people. Lisa from BLACKPINK, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Cher, and plenty of others have been photographed with a Labubu swinging from a designer bag, and once something becomes a bag charm on people like that, it stops being a toy and turns into a little status flag.

But that is not really why you want one, is it? The deeper pull is quieter. There is the small thrill of a blind box, not knowing which one is inside, chasing the rare hidden version. There is the fun of dressing it, posing it, giving it a personality. And honestly, there is the way a slightly ugly, grinning little creature riding on your bag just makes an ordinary day feel a bit lighter. That is the real product here. Not a vinyl figure, but a tiny companion that makes you smile.

Read on: How Jellycat Became an Adult Comfort Object

How Much Is a Labubu?

Good news: at retail, Labubu is not expensive. That is part of the charm. As of a check in August 2026, POP MART’s US site listed single Big Into Energy, Have a Seat, and Exciting Macaron vinyl-plush blind boxes at $26.99 each, and the smaller Pin for Love vinyl-plush blind boxes at $19.99 each. Prices can change, and new releases may use different price points, so treat these as an August 2026 snapshot rather than fixed numbers.

Larger plush figures and special collaborations cost more, sometimes well over a hundred dollars. And on the resale market, a rare secret figure from a sold-out series can climb into the hundreds or beyond, because supply is tight and demand is high. But for one of these standard blind-box pendants at official retail, you are looking at roughly the price of a nice lunch. A sealed box offered for a small fraction of the official retail price is a warning sign, especially from an unfamiliar seller, though price alone cannot prove that an item is fake.

Where Can You Buy an Authentic Labubu?

The safest way to get a real Labubu is to buy it as close to the source as you can.

Your first stop is POP MART itself. The official US store sells current releases from The Monsters collection. Check POP MART’s website, app, and launch calendar, and use the Notify Me option for restock alerts. Popular releases can still sell out quickly.

Can You Buy Labubu on Amazon?

Yes, and it can be a good option, but the seller matters more than anything else. POP MART runs an official store on Amazon. Before you buy, check that the current offer says Sold by POP MART Store. Opening a product through POP MART’s Amazon storefront does not remove the need to check the seller, because the featured offer can change. Read recent product and seller feedback, and check the return policy too. Further down I have picked out a few specific listings that were being sold by POP MART’s official store.

Where Can I Buy Labubu Near Me?

POP MART’s official store locator lists its stores and Roboshop vending machines. In person you skip shipping and get to hold the box in your hands. An independent shop should not be described as an authorized retailer unless that status can be confirmed by POP MART, so be a little cautious with small gift shops or market stalls, especially ones with a big pile of cheap Labubu.

Which Labubu Series Should You Buy?

With dozens of series out there, this is usually where people freeze. Here is how I would narrow it down, depending on what you are after. Each link below is a single blind box that was being sold through POP MART’s official Amazon store, so check that the current offer still says Sold by POP MART Store before you buy, since the featured offer may change.

If you want a 17 cm Labubu charm with a dreamy tie-dye finish, consider the POP MART Big Into Energy Labubu. The listing is for one random figure, while the whole-set option includes six blind boxes with a different figure in each. I actually own this one myself. Rather than hanging it on a bag, I keep it in my room, where its soft peachy colors make it feel more like a tiny piece of cheerful decor. There is something surprisingly warm and comforting about it, and seeing it when I come home genuinely makes me happy. Mine has even ended up with a name: Nuan Nuan.

If you prefer a more compact Labubu with a sitting pose, the Have a Seat Labubu blind box is about 15 cm tall and has a slightly calmer, more cuddly look than the longer hanging styles. There is something especially charming about seeing a Labubu sitting with its little feet out rather than simply dangling from a bag. It makes the figure feel more like a tiny companion, so I can easily imagine keeping one beside a laptop, on a bedside table, or tucked onto a bookshelf where you notice it throughout the day. The expressions and soft plush bodies also give each character plenty of personality despite the relatively small size. This listing is for one random blind box, so you will not know which design you are getting until you open it. That surprise is part of the fun if you enjoy the collecting side of Labubu rather than shopping for one exact color.

Released in October 2023, the Exciting Macaron Labubu was the earliest of the four vinyl-plush series featured here, and it still has one of the sweetest color palettes. The pastel, dessert-inspired shades feel soft rather than flashy, with the kind of creamy colors that can make a room, desk, or everyday bag feel a little more cheerful without looking overly bright. If you are drawn to Labubu because it is cute but still slightly mischievous, this series captures that balance particularly well: the fluffy body and candy-like colors are gentle and comforting, while the familiar toothy Labubu grin keeps it from becoming too sugary. It is an especially appealing choice if you like warm, playful collectibles that can become part of your everyday surroundings.

For a smaller, more playful option, the Pin for Love Labubu is about 10.5 cm tall, excluding the hanging loop, making it the most compact of these four. Its petite size gives it a different kind of charm: rather than dominating a large bag, it works nicely as a small accent on a pouch, handbag, key collection, or even somewhere in your room where you want a little extra personality. The letter theme also makes this series feel more personal than a standard color-based collection. You might associate the letter you receive with your own name, someone close to you, or simply use it as inspiration for a nickname. This particular listing contains one random figure from the N–Z group, so you cannot choose a specific letter. For anyone who enjoys the surprise of a blind box, that uncertainty can make the reveal feel more memorable.

How Can You Tell If a Labubu Is Real or Fake?

This is the part that stresses people out, so let me make it calm and simple. Fakes, which collectors jokingly call Lafufu, are everywhere, and some are convincing enough that no single visual trick will save you. The move is to stack the odds in your favor, in this order.

Start with where you are buying. Buying from POP MART’s official website, app, stores, or Roboshop vending machines greatly reduces the risk of receiving a fake. Random marketplace listings and street stalls are where you need to be much more careful, so the channel is your first and best filter.

Next, check the seller. On Amazon, that means confirming the current offer says Sold by POP MART Store.

On resale sites, check the platform’s verification process, seller history, buyer protection, and return policy. If a seller has a mountain of cheap boxes and dodges questions, that tells you plenty.

Then use POP MART’s official verification system. Scratch the coating on the box label to reveal the verification code, visit POP MART’s authenticity-check page, and enter the code on the official verification site. Avoid relying on a QR code that directs you to an unfamiliar domain.

Only after all of that does it make sense to look closely at the figure itself, and even here nothing is absolute. The official Labubu design has nine teeth, but counterfeiters can copy the tooth count, so treat it as a visual clue, not proof of authenticity. The same goes for the foot stamp, the UV mark under blacklight, the sticker, and the packaging. They are real signals, but they also change from series to series, so what is correct for one set can look wrong for another. When in doubt, compare the figure with official product photos from that exact series. If the verification result is unclear, contact POP MART Customer Service; collector groups can provide a second opinion but not official confirmation.

Is Labubu Demonic?

You may have come across videos or posts claiming that Labubu is demonic, cursed, or even connected to the ancient Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu. There is no credible evidence supporting those claims. Labubu was created by artist Kasing Lung as part of The Monsters, a picture-book world influenced by the European fairy tales he grew up reading and a distinctly Nordic fairy-tale style. POP MART describes Labubu as mischievous in appearance but kind-hearted. The demonic theories appeared much later on social media and are based largely on visual comparisons and speculation rather than anything in Labubu’s documented origins. Whether you find that wide grin adorable or slightly unsettling is, of course, another matter.

Which Labubu Accessories Are Worth Buying?

Once you have a Labubu you really like, it is surprisingly easy to start wanting a tiny wardrobe for it. A new outfit can completely change its personality — cozy one day, playful the next — but sizing varies between series, so check this guide to Labubu clothes before choosing an outfit.

The 17 cm Labubu clothes set is the kind of accessory that makes collecting feel much more personal. Instead of leaving your Labubu in the same look all the time, you can dress it to match the season, your bag, or simply your mood. I especially like the idea of giving each figure its own little personality through what it wears — at that point, choosing an outfit starts to feel almost like dressing a tiny character. The linked style includes a sweater and a pair of denim jeans, with several other looks available too. The Labubu itself is not included.

For a Labubu that actually leaves the house with you, a clear protective case is much more practical than it first sounds. You still get to see the face and outfit, but the plush is less exposed to dust and everyday grime while hanging from your bag. Some cases are shaped for standing pendants and others for sitting figures, so choose the version you want.

And once one Labubu turns into two, three, or six, a proper display starts to feel much more tempting. The large three-tier Labubu display case gives your collection the kind of setup that makes you want to stop and look at it every time you walk past. The two removable dividers can be positioned at three different heights, so you can play around with the layout rather than lining every Labubu up in exactly the same way. Put taller figures on one level, sitting Labubus on another, or mix in dressed-up favorites and smaller accessories to create a display that feels more like your own little Labubu world.

The clear acrylic keeps the focus on the figures, while the magnetic front door opens with a touch, making it easy to reach in whenever you feel like changing an outfit, rearranging the lineup, or adding a new arrival. It is also easy to assemble, so you can go from a pile of Labubus on the shelf to a proper display without turning it into a project. Once they are arranged across the different levels — especially with different outfits, colors, and personalities — they start to look less like separate collectibles and more like a tiny cast of characters you have put together yourself.

Labubu FAQ

What Is the Rarest Labubu?

There is no single permanent answer to the rarest Labubu. Blind-box series have their own secret or chase figures, with odds that vary by release, while one-off artworks and limited collaborations belong to a different category. For a normal retail series, its hidden secret is generally the hardest design to pull.

How Many Teeth Does a Labubu Have?

A genuine Labubu has nine teeth. It is a well-known marker, but as I mentioned above, some fakes now copy the count, so nine teeth on its own does not prove a figure is real. Use it as one clue alongside where you bought it and the verification code check.

Is Labubu Chinese or Japanese?

Labubu is not Japanese. It was created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, who grew up in the Netherlands, and is now produced by the Beijing-based company POP MART. Its story world was primarily inspired by Nordic folklore.

Is Labubu a Girl?

Yes. Labubu is female. Creator Kasing Lung has also described Labubu as the name of an elven species, whose members are female. Labubu belongs to the wider The Monsters universe, which includes characters such as Zimomo, Tycoco, Mokoko, Spooky, and Pato.

Are Labubu Dolls Suitable for Children?

Check the age guidance for the exact product. POP MART’s US product pages for Big Into Energy, Have a Seat, Exciting Macaron, and Pin for Love state that they are not suitable for people under 15.

Final Thoughts

If this guide helped you feel surer about your first Labubu, I would love for you to pass it to the friend who keeps not-so-secretly wanting one. If you enjoy clear guides to Chinese culture, traditions, and contemporary trends, join my newsletter for new articles and updates.