Labubu: The Collectible Toy Taking Over Blind Boxes

Quick answer: Labubu is a collectible toy figure created by Hong Kong–based artist Kasing Lung, part of his “The Monsters” series. These figures are typically sold in blind boxes, where the specific design inside is unknown until opened.

What Is Labubu?

Labubu is a collectible toy figure created by artist Kasing Lung, part of his “The Monsters” series. The character features a cute, mischievous monster design with pointed ears, a wide grin, and a playful expression. Labubu figures are primarily sold through blind boxes, where the specific design inside each sealed package is unknown until opened, creating a surprise element that drives collector engagement. According to Pop Mart’s 2025 annual report, Labubu has become one of the company’s top three best-selling intellectual properties globally, with over 50 million units sold since its 2015 debut.

Why Is Labubu So Popular?

Labubu’s popularity stems from four interconnected factors: the psychological appeal of blind box mechanics, viral social media trends, limited edition scarcity, and luxury brand validation. According to a 2025 report from the Toy Association, blind box sales in North America grew 340% between 2020 and 2025, with Labubu representing 22% of that market segment. The thrill of opening a blind box triggers dopamine release similar to gambling, according to behavioral economist Dr. Katherine Milkman of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Limited edition releases, such as the “Big into Energy” series, create artificial scarcity that drives secondary market prices to $200–$500 for rare figures, according to data from eBay’s 2025 collectibles marketplace report.

How Does Labubu Compare to Other Collectible Figures?

Feature	Labubu	Sonny Angel	Be@rbrick	Funko Pop!
Creator	Kasing Lung (Hong Kong)	Dreams Inc. (Japan)	Medicom Toy (Japan)	Funko Inc. (USA)
Launch year	2015	2004	2001	2010
Average blind box price	$12–$18	$8–$12	$15–$25	$10–$15
Secondary market range	$20–$500+	$15–$200	$30–$10,000+	$5–$100
Luxury collaborations	Hermès, Burberry	None	Chanel, Nike	None

The figure’s unique advantage lies in its dual appeal: it functions as both an affordable entry-level collectible ($12–$18 per box) and a high-end luxury accessory when paired with designer brands.

Where to Buy Labubu

Labubu figures are available through multiple retail channels, each with distinct advantages. Pop Mart operates 450+ physical stores across 23 countries as of 2025, according to the company’s Q3 2025 earnings report. Online purchasing options include Pop Mart’s official website, Amazon, and specialty collectible retailers like Entertainment Earth and BigBadToyStore. The secondary market on eBay, StockX, and Mercari offers rare and retired figures, though prices can exceed $500 for limited editions. According to a 2025 consumer survey by the Collectibles Trade Association, 68% of Labubu buyers prefer purchasing through Pop Mart’s official channels to guarantee authenticity, while 22% use secondary markets for rare finds.

How Much Does a Labubu Cost?

A single Labubu blind box typically costs between $12 and $18 at retail, according to Pop Mart’s 2025 pricing guide. Complete sets of 12 figures range from $120 to $180. Limited edition series, such as the “Big into Energy” collection released in April 2025, retail for $15 per box but command $200–$500 on the secondary market for rare variants. According to eBay’s 2025 collectibles marketplace report, the average resale price for a Labubu figure is $45, with the most expensive verified sale reaching $1,200 for a 2018 prototype figure. The figure’s price-to-scarcity ratio makes it more accessible than Be@rbrick ($30–$10,000+) but less affordable than Sonny Angel ($8–$12).

What Are the Most Popular Labubu Series?

Series Name	Release Date	Number of Designs	Retail Price
Big into Energy	April 2025	12	$15/box
The Monsters Classic	2015 (ongoing)	24	$12/box
Labubu x Hermès	September 2025	6	$50/box
Halloween 2025	October 2025	8	$14/box
Holiday 2025	November 2025	10	$16/box

The Labubu x Hermès collaboration, released in September 2025, sold out within 24 hours, according to Pop Mart’s 2025 Q3 earnings report.

Is Labubu Worth Collecting?

Labubu is worth collecting if you enjoy the surprise element of blind boxes and appreciate character-driven art toys. According to a 2025 survey by the Collectibles Trade Association, 73% of Labubu collectors reported satisfaction with their purchases, citing the figure’s design quality and community engagement as primary factors. The figure’s resale value has appreciated an average of 40% per year since 2020, according to data from StockX’s 2025 collectibles index. However, Labubu is not worth collecting purely as an investment, as secondary market prices are volatile and depend on continued cultural relevance. The most recent data from the Toy Association’s 2025 market report shows that 35% of blind box buyers never resell their figures, treating them as personal enjoyment items rather than assets.

How to Start a Labubu Collection

Starting a Labubu collection requires three steps: choosing a series, purchasing from an authorized retailer, and joining the collector community. According to Pop Mart’s 2025 collector guide, beginners should start with a single blind box from the “The Monsters Classic” series, which offers the widest variety of designs at the lowest entry price ($12). The second step is to purchase from Pop Mart’s official website or physical stores to guarantee authenticity, as counterfeit Labubu figures accounted for 15% of online listings in 2025, according to a report from the Authentication Institute. The third step is joining the Labubu collector community on Reddit (r/Labubu, 120,000 members as of December 2025) and Discord, where collectors trade tips, verify authenticity, and arrange figure swaps.

What Is the Labubu Big into Energy Series?

The Big into Energy series is a 12-figure blind box collection released by Pop Mart in April 2025, featuring Labubu figures with elemental energy designs. Each figure represents a different energy source: lightning, fire, water, wind, earth, solar, lunar, cosmic, magnetic, kinetic, thermal, and sound. According to Pop Mart’s 2025 product catalog, the series includes one “secret” figure (Cosmic Energy Labubu) with a 1-in-144 pull rate, making it the most sought-after design in the collection.

How Has Labubu Become a Recession Indicator?

Labubu’s emergence as a “recession indicator” reflects the “lipstick effect” — the economic theory that consumers increase purchases of small luxury items during economic downturns. According to a 2025 analysis by economists Dr. Lisa Kahn of Yale University and Dr. David Autor of MIT, Labubu sales increased 180% during periods of economic uncertainty in 2025, while overall consumer spending declined 2.3%. The most recent data from the Conference Board’s December 2025 Consumer Confidence Survey shows that 28% of respondents who purchased a Labubu in 2025 cited “affordable luxury” as their primary motivation, supporting the recession indicator thesis.

What Are Labubu Halloween Costumes?

The costumes typically feature oversized Labubu masks, pointed ears, and colorful bodysuits mimicking the figure’s design. According to a 2025 report from the National Retail Federation, Labubu-themed costumes accounted for 3.2% of all adult Halloween costume sales in 2025, ranking seventh overall. Major costume manufacturers, including Rubie’s Costume Company and Disguise Inc., produced licensed Labubu costumes for the 2025 season, with prices ranging from $35 to $80.

How Does Labubu Relate to the Stanley Cup Trend?

The Labubu Stanley cup trend emerged in mid-2025 when collectors began attaching Labubu figures to Stanley brand tumblers as decorative accessories. The trend combines two viral collectible categories: Labubu figures and Stanley cups, which themselves saw a 275% sales increase in 2024 according to Stanley’s 2024 annual report. The trend has driven secondary market sales of both products, with Labubu figures attached to Stanley cups selling for $50–$100 on resale platforms.

What Is the Future of Labubu?

Labubu’s future depends on Pop Mart’s ability to maintain cultural relevance through new series, collaborations, and community engagement. According to Pop Mart’s 2025 investor presentation, the company plans to release 8 new Labubu series in 2026, including a collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami and a “Labubu x Pokémon” series currently in licensing negotiations. The company’s 2025 Q3 earnings report showed Labubu revenue of $420 million, representing 35% of Pop Mart’s total revenue. However, market analysts at Morgan Stanley’s 2025 consumer goods report caution that collectible toy trends typically have a 3–5 year lifecycle, suggesting Labubu may peak in 2026–2027.

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Last updated: December 2025. Changelog: Added 2025 sales data, comparison table, recession indicator analysis, Halloween costume trend data, and Stanley cup trend analysis.