Labubu for Parents: Blind Boxes, Fakes, Where to Buy

By the RestockPal team · Updated October 18, 2026 · 14 min read

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If your child just asked for a Labubu, here is the short version: it is a collectible vinyl or plush character from the company Pop Mart, it usually comes in a sealed "blind box" so nobody knows which figure is inside, and a standard box runs about $27 to $30 in 2026. This Labubu guide for parents covers how blind boxes work, what a full set really costs, how to spot a fake, and where to buy a real one, including what we can and cannot tell you about New Jersey stores. It is part of our 2026 holiday gift guide.

What Labubu and Pop Mart are

Labubu is a small, mischievous monster character with pointed ears and a wide, toothy grin. It belongs to a series called The Monsters, and it is sold by Pop Mart, a company that makes "designer toys." That is a polite way of saying collectible figures that are meant to be displayed, traded, or clipped to a bag, more than played with like an action figure.

Labubu became a mainstream craze in 2025, and plenty of kids and adults still collect it. The most common forms are small vinyl figures, plush pendants that clip onto backpacks, and a growing range of extras like mugs, magnets, and card holders.

One reassuring bit of context for parents: the frenzy has cooled. An October 2026 analysis from the IIAS blog reports that Labubu supply flooded the market after the 2025 craze, with over 100 million figures in circulation, and that overseas online sales fell sharply while store sales grew. Our reading of that is simple. Labubu is no longer the scarce, hard-to-find item it was last year, so you should not feel pressure to panic-buy or pay extra.

How blind boxes and "secret" figures work

A blind box is a sealed box or bag. The outside shows the whole series, but the figure inside is a surprise. Pop Mart's own product pages explain it plainly: some figures are rarer than others, and the rarest are called secret, hidden, or chase items. They are usually not part of the standard 12-box set, and when a secret figure turns up, a regular figure is randomly replaced.

What that means in practice

• You cannot choose. Unless the seller lets you pick, you get a random figure from the series.
• Duplicates happen. Buying two single boxes does not guarantee two different figures.
• A sealed full set is different. Some sellers offer a whole sealed set of a series, usually described as one of each regular figure. Pop Mart's explainer notes that when a secret turns up, it replaces a regular figure. Check the seller's description before you rely on that.
• The secret is a long shot. Pop Mart does not list the odds on the product page we checked. Figures like "1 in 72" circulate online, but they are unofficial and we could not confirm them, so treat any exact number as a rough guess.

For a child, the surprise is the fun. For a parent, the thing to know is that the "chase" is designed to keep people buying. It helps to decide your budget before the unboxing, not after.

What a full set really costs

Here is the general math, using Pop Mart's listed prices. Series sizes vary. Pop Mart's blind box explainer mentions a "standard 12-box set," but its page for the Labubu Cat Mode On vinyl plush pendant shows nine regular designs plus one secret (Maine Coon Kitty), at $29.99 a box. If you could buy exactly one of each of the nine regulars, that would be $269.91 before tax. Other series cost a little less per box, such as the Labubu Big into Energy blind box at $26.99 in our catalog, so check the series size and price for the one your child wants.

New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax applies to most tangible goods unless the law exempts them, according to the NJ Division of Taxation. Toys and collectibles are not covered by the clothing exemption, so add about $18 on those nine boxes, plus shipping if you are under the free-shipping line. Pop Mart's US site shows "Free shipping $49" on that product page.

Buying single boxes at random is where costs climb. If every figure were equally likely and you wanted all nine regulars, the math (a classic "collect them all" problem) says you would expect to open about 25 boxes on average. At $29.99 each that is roughly $750. That is our own illustration, not a Pop Mart figure or a prediction: Pop Mart does not publish the odds, and a secret can take the place of a regular. But it shows why a "complete set" is rarely cheap if you buy singles.

A calmer path for most families: buy one box, enjoy it, and let the child pick a favorite from the series image if they want a specific character. Figures sold by trusted retailers as open singles cost more, but at least you know what you are paying for.

2026 series and new arrivals

Pop Mart's US site lists new items on a rolling basis. The figures below come from its new-arrivals page, captured around October 18, 2026. Prices on retailer pages change, so treat these as a snapshot.

• The Monsters Cat Mode On series (released October 15): blind boxes range from $12.99 for a fridge magnet to $29.99 for a vinyl plush pendant. Pop Mart's product page also lists a $17.99 pendant blind box and a $19.99 card holder blind box in the same series. Our catalog tracks the Cat Mode On blind box at $29.99.
• Spooky Bakehouse Series Labubu Cookie Mini Bag: $27.99, listed with a September 10 date.
• LABUBU Original Ver.3 Figure: $159.99, listed September 24. This is a larger display figure, not a blind box.
• Labubu Freckles Figure: $159.99, listed October 15.
• The Monsters Shake A Drink Gaming Handheld: $49.99, scheduled for October 22 at 8 pm. We track it as The Monsters Shake A Drink Handheld.
• 10th Anniversary Exclusive Bundle: $115, listed September 24.

Our catalog also tracks a few other Labubu items with list prices: Labubu Have a Seat at $26.99 and Labubu x Hello Kitty at $36.99. Browse everything we follow on the Labubu and Pop Mart category page.

You may notice the standard price quoted as $27.99 in some news coverage (it rose from $24.99 in April 2025) and $26.99 or $29.99 in our listings. Different series carry different prices, so always read the number in your cart before paying.

We also saw upcoming items listed: a Hirono x Harry Potter run from October 16 to November 30 and a Crybaby series on October 22.

Fakes ("Lafufu") and why they matter

Fake Labubus are common enough to have a nickname: "Lafufu." This is not just a bragging-rights issue. In August 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned about counterfeit Labubu plush that can break apart and create choking hazards for young children, according to ABC7's reporting on the warning.

A separate CPSC alert from August 5, 2026 covered fake squishy toys in general. It said 55 shipments of violative squishies were identified at ports, with 355,683 units stopped. It did not name Labubu, but the safety logic is the same: knock-offs skip safety testing, and you cannot see that from a photo.

How to spot a fake

ABC7 listed a few tells that collectors use on authentic Pop Mart items:

• A holographic Pop Mart sticker on the packaging.
• A scannable QR code.
• A UV stamp on the foot of newer editions.
• Nine teeth. Fakes often get the tooth count wrong.

These are consumer tips, not a guarantee, and counterfeiters improve. Other common-sense signs help as well:

• Price that is too good. If a "real" Labubu is half the normal price, be suspicious.
• Odd packaging. Blurry printing, misspellings, or flimsy boxes.
• Unknown sellers. The CPSC's squishy advice also applies: know the seller, beware bargains, and check the packaging.
• Strange smell or rough finish. Fakes often feel or smell off out of the bag.

If a toy looks wrong, stop and keep the packaging. Do not let a small child play with a figure you doubt. For more on the same issue in another toy category, our guide to spotting a fake NeeDoh uses the same habits.

Where to buy a real one

Pop Mart itself

The safest source is Pop Mart. Its US online store drops new items at 8 pm Eastern, typically on Thursdays, based on its listings. According to its Instagram, in-store releases happen at 10 am on Fridays. We could not confirm app, queue, or purchase-limit rules from an official Pop Mart page, so check its app or site for the latest rules before drop day.

New Jersey stores: honest status

Here is where we have to be straight with you. Pop Mart's own US store-locator page showed "Coming soon" with no list of stores when we checked, so we cannot give you an official NJ store list. A September 2025 news roundup (via the Asbury Park Press) named the Pop Mart store at American Dream in East Rutherford as New Jersey's only Pop Mart store at that time, along with third-party sellers such as Gatcha in Edison, Zonk's POP Culture World in Little Ferry, Sneaker Arcade in Pompton Lakes, and Soled Out in Jersey City. That article is more than a year old, so call ahead or check each shop's own page before driving.

We could not verify other NJ locations, including a social post mentioning a pop-up at Garden State Plaza, so we left those out.

Retailers in our listings

RestockPal tracks Labubu items in its catalog because shoppers ask about them. See the Labubu and Pop Mart category and the product pages above. To see which New Jersey chains we follow overall, browse all NJ stores. We do not promise a specific item is on a specific shelf. A parent who reports a find in the free app can help other nearby families, and the how alerts work page explains what we check automatically and what comes from reports.

For broader planning across all the hot gifts this season, see our list of the hardest-to-find toys for Christmas 2026. For Labubu specifically, remember the market news above: it is generally easier to find than last year.

Reseller markups

Resellers buy popular blind boxes and sell them for more on marketplaces. With Labubu, the biggest markups are usually on "secret" figures and sold-out limited items.

There is a useful official comparison: Pop Mart's own site lists large display figures like the Original Ver.3 and Freckles at $159.99. If a marketplace seller asks far above Pop Mart's own price for something that is still in stock there, you are paying a premium for convenience, and possibly for a fake.

A few rules we like:

• Check Pop Mart's own site first.
• Use a platform with buyer protection, and pay with a method you can dispute.
• Skip unknown sellers with no history.
• If the price is higher than list, ask whether the child would be just as happy with a different character at list price.

We wrote a whole post on the topic: how to beat resellers to hot toys this holiday. The same logic applies here, with an extra caution about fakes.

Is Labubu right for my child's age?

This is a collectible line, and it is aimed more at older kids, teens, and adults than at little ones. We are not going to quote a single age number, because labels differ by product. Go by the age label printed on the package of the exact item you are buying, and treat it as the guide. For example, Pop Mart's page for the Cat Mode On vinyl plush pendant says it is "Not suitable for persons under 15."

Some practical points:

• Small parts. Many figures, pendants, and accessories are small. Keep them away from kids who still put things in their mouths.
• Clip-on pendants. A plush that hangs from a backpack can be pulled off and lost. Check how it attaches.
• Maturity of the hobby. Blind boxes involve chance and spending. For a tween, it is a good chance to talk about a budget.
• Not a toy for rough play. Display figures are made to sit on a shelf.

Gift tips

One box or a whole set?

For almost every family, one box is the right gift. It delivers the unboxing moment, and it keeps the budget sane. Buying all nine regular Cat Mode On pendants at list, about $270 before tax, is a serious purchase, and the child may care more about getting a particular character than about owning all of them.

If you want a little more certainty, consider two things. First, a single box of a series you know they like. Second, a gift card or a note that promises a trip to pick a favorite. Either way, you avoid the roll of the dice on a large spend.

Wrapping and presentation

• Leave the box sealed. Half the fun is opening it with the child.
• Keep the packaging if the child collects, since some fans like the box and card.
• Ask what the child wants to do with it. Clip it on a bag, or put it on a shelf?

Display ideas

A small floating shelf, a clear acrylic riser, or a cube display case keeps figures dust-free and out of the way of younger siblings. For plush pendants, a hook rail or a pegboard works well. Keep anything with small parts out of reach of toddlers.

Stocking stuffers and add-ons

If a Labubu is the main gift, pair it with something small and inexpensive from a different category. Our stocking stuffers under $10 post has ideas. Pop Mart's own magnets and card holders in the Cat Mode On series start at $12.99, which is above that mark but lower than a full figure.

Timing

Because Labubu supply is less tight than in 2025, there is little reason to buy in October for a December gift unless you want the first pick of new series. Newer drops, like the October 22 handheld, may sell through faster than older stock, so if a specific limited item matters, plan ahead for that one. Our hot right now list shows what other families are searching for.

FAQ

What is a Labubu?

Labubu is a collectible monster character from Pop Mart's The Monsters series. It is sold as vinyl figures, plush pendants, and accessories, often in sealed blind boxes where the exact figure is a surprise.

How much does a Labubu blind box cost in 2026?

Pop Mart's US site listed items from $12.99 for a fridge magnet to $29.99 for a vinyl plush pendant in the Cat Mode On series in October 2026. Our catalog lists blind boxes at $26.99, $29.99, and $36.99 depending on the series.

Can I tell which figure is in the box?

No. A sealed blind box is meant to be a surprise. Some sellers offer open singles, and a sealed full set is usually described as one of each regular figure, but the secret figure is not guaranteed.

How can I tell if a Labubu is fake?

Look for a holographic Pop Mart sticker, a scannable QR code, a UV stamp on newer editions, and nine teeth on the figure. Be wary of low prices and unknown sellers. The CPSC warned in August 2025 that fake Labubu plush can break apart and cause choking hazards.

Where can I buy a real Labubu in New Jersey?

Buy from Pop Mart's own site or an authorized seller. Pop Mart's store locator showed "Coming soon" when we checked. A September 2025 report named the American Dream store in East Rutherford, but that is over a year old, so verify before you go.

Is Labubu hard to find right now?

Less than in 2025. An October 2026 analysis reports supply flooded the market after the craze. Specific limited items can still sell out, so check the listing for the exact item you want.

What age is Labubu for?

It depends on the product. Follow the age label printed on the package. Pop Mart's page for the Cat Mode On vinyl plush pendant, for example, says it is not suitable for persons under 15. Many pieces are small and not meant for young children who mouth objects.

Is one box or a whole set a better gift?

One box is usually enough. One of each of the nine regular Cat Mode On pendants would cost about $270 before tax and shipping at Pop Mart's $29.99 price, and a specific figure may matter more to your child than a full set.

Looking for more ideas across all budgets and ages? Head back to our 2026 holiday gift guide. And if you want a heads-up when a Labubu or any other item turns up near you, you can track items free in the RestockPal app.

Sources

1. Pop Mart US new arrivals (2026-10-18)
2. Pop Mart US: The Monsters Cat Mode On Series Vinyl Plush Pendant Blind Box ($29.99, nine regulars plus one secret, free shipping $49, not suitable under 15, blind box explainer) (2026-10-18)
3. IIAS: Pokemon, Sanrio and Hello Kitty: what they know about scarcity Pop Mart's Labubu didn't (2026-10-06)
4. ABC7: Labubu warning, fake Lafufu dolls pose choking hazard (CPSC) (2025-08-18)
5. CPSC: Consumer Safety Alert on fake and counterfeit squishy toys (2026-08-05)
6. Yahoo Shopping (Asbury Park Press): Looking for Labubu? Here's where to buy (2025-09-04)
7. USA Today: Labubu blind boxes Pop Mart restock (2025-09-15)
8. Pop Mart US Instagram (release timing) (2026-10)
9. RestockPal catalog list prices (Labubu and Pop Mart) (2026-10-18)
10. NJ Division of Taxation: Sales and Use Tax (6.625% on most tangible personal property) (accessed 2026-10-18)