If you've tried to buy a Labubu in the past few months, you'll already know the problem: the official stock disappears almost as fast as it appears, and the gap gets filled by resellers charging well above the sticker price — or worse, by convincing fakes. With Christmas 2026 shaping up to be the biggest Labubu season yet, that problem is only going to get sharper.
This guide covers where you can actually buy a genuine Labubu in the UK right now, what the different ranges cost, why stock vanishes so quickly, and — just as importantly — how to tell a real one from a "Lafufu" before you hand over your money.
What is Labubu, and why has it taken over the UK?
Labubu is a character from The Monsters, a collectible toy line designed by artist Kasing Lung and sold by the Chinese retailer Pop Mart. The figures are small, slightly unsettling, snaggle-toothed creatures that come in soft vinyl figures, plush versions and bag-charm sizes — and they're almost always sold as "blind boxes," meaning you don't know which variant is inside until you open it.
That mystery element is a huge part of why Labubu has become such a phenomenon. Collectors chase "secret" or ultra-rare variants that appear at roughly one-in-several-hundred odds, trade duplicates, and post unboxings that rack up millions of views. Pop Mart has leaned into the momentum with high-profile collaborations — including an official Labubu collection tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup — which has pushed the toy well beyond collector circles and into mainstream gift-buying territory.
Pop Mart's own figures tell the story: the company reported soaring profits in 2026 on the back of "viral toy" demand, and Labubu's sister collectible, Jellycat, has seen a similarly steep rise. For UK shoppers, the practical upshot is simple — demand massively outstrips supply, especially in the run-up to Christmas.
Where to buy a genuine Labubu in the UK
Pop Mart's official UK website and app. This is the safest and most reliable source. Pop Mart runs scheduled online drops through its own site and app, and genuine figures are confirmed as authentic by default. The catch is that popular series sell out within minutes of going live, so this isn't a guaranteed route — more on getting the timing right below.
Pop Mart's physical UK stores. Pop Mart has expanded quickly in Britain. Its original Soho shop has since been joined by a growing estate of stores — reported at around 16 to 20 locations across the UK by spring 2026 — including a new 5,000 sq ft flagship at 69–71 Charing Cross Road in London's Chinatown, and a large store at Liverpool ONE. Because new openings keep being added, your best move is to check Pop Mart's official UK store locator for your nearest branch rather than relying on an old list, since availability and stock levels vary store to store.
Selfridges. Selfridges has previously stocked Labubu figures through a Pop Mart concession in its London store, though stock there isn't guaranteed and isn't something you can order online — it's worth a look if you're already in the West End, but don't make a special trip on the assumption it'll be there.
On pricing, expect to pay roughly £16–£18 for a standard blind box in the core Monsters range, around £26 for larger collaboration series (the Coca-Cola collection is a recent example), and about £10 for smaller bag charms. Rare "secret" variants and limited editions are a different story entirely — some have resold at auction for thousands of pounds, which tells you everything about why the resale market is so aggressive.
Why Labubu keeps selling out — and how to actually get one
Pop Mart doesn't publish a fixed restock calendar, which is precisely why the figures feel so hard to get hold of. Drops are announced with little notice, both online and in-store, and the combination of a small production run against enormous demand means stock can be gone within minutes.
A few things genuinely improve your odds:
Turn on notifications in the Pop Mart app, rather than checking the website manually. Restocks are often flagged there first.
Follow Pop Mart UK's official social accounts. Restock hints and drop times are frequently shared there before they hit the main site.
Try in-store on a weekday morning, if you have a branch nearby. Weekend footfall at flagship stores is brutal, and some locations receive small top-up deliveries during the week that don't get the same online attention.
Don't fixate on one specific character. If you're buying as a gift rather than chasing a particular variant for your own collection, being open to whichever blind box is actually in stock will get you a genuine Labubu far faster than waiting for one exact release.
We've covered this pattern before in our guide to why viral products keep selling out — Labubu is very much the current poster child for it, but the underlying advice (follow restock alerts, be flexible, and resist panic-buying from unverified sellers) applies just as much here.
If you can't get one at RRP: buying on the resale market safely
When official stock isn't available, resale platforms like eBay, Depop, Vinted and StockX are where most UK buyers end up — and that's fine, provided you go in with your eyes open. Expect to pay a noticeable premium over RRP, particularly for sought-after variants as Christmas approaches and demand peaks.
A few ways to reduce your risk:
Favour platforms with built-in authentication, such as StockX, where items are checked before they reach the buyer. On eBay, stick to sellers with a strong, relevant feedback history rather than brand-new accounts listing suspiciously large quantities of "rare" figures. Be wary of any listing priced noticeably below the going resale rate — if a price looks too good for a genuinely scarce item, it usually is. And always pay through the platform's own protected checkout rather than being pushed towards a direct bank transfer, which strips away your buyer protection entirely.
How to spot a fake Labubu ("Lafufu") before you buy
Counterfeit Labubus — nicknamed "Lafufus" — are a real and growing problem in the UK, not just a theoretical risk. Trading standards officers in Newham raided stalls and shops in the run-up to Christmas 2025, seizing more than 117 fake Labubu dolls (some being sold for as much as £65) and 56 fake keyrings. The fakes found included dolls with heads stuck on upside down, missing eyes and poorly printed labels — and all were traced back to suppliers in East Asia outside Pop Mart's own supply chain.
Genuine and fake figures differ in several checkable ways:
- Box finish: genuine packaging has a matte, muted pastel finish; fakes tend to look glossy or overly vivid.
- QR code: a real code is sharp and often sits on a holographic sticker, linking through to Pop Mart's official site. Fake codes are frequently blurry or redirect to unrelated pages.
- Printing and logos: genuine boxes have clean, properly aligned text. Misspellings and rough print quality are a strong red flag.
- Collector's card: every authentic figure comes with a sturdy card matching that specific character. A missing card, or one that's thin and blurry, suggests a fake.
- Teeth: genuine Labubu figures have exactly nine sharp, triangular teeth. Fakes often get the count or shape wrong.
- Eyes and blush: authentic figures have glossy, embedded eyes and soft, airbrushed blush. Fakes tend to have flat, dull eyes and harsh, overly bright blush.
- Foot stamps: look for a clear Pop Mart logo stamped on the left foot, and — on figures from 2024 onwards — a UV-only security seal on the right foot that's invisible under normal light.
- Material quality: genuine fur and vinyl feel soft and well-finished, with seamless stitching on plush versions. Fakes often feel coarse, light or brittle.
This matters beyond just getting ripped off. Cheaply made fakes can have small parts — eyes, hands, feet — that detach easily, which is a genuine choking hazard if you're buying for a younger child, and some have been linked to concerns about the materials used. If a Labubu is going under the tree for a child this Christmas, buying from an official source isn't just about authenticity — it's a straightforward safety decision. For a wider look at avoiding dodgy sellers altogether, our guide to spotting a fake shopping website covers the same red flags from a different angle.
Buying Labubu as a Christmas gift this year
If a Labubu is on someone's Christmas list this year, the honest advice is: don't leave it until December. Stock pressure only increases as the season goes on, and by the time most people start their Christmas shopping in earnest, popular variants will already be scarcer and pricier on the resale market than they are right now. Buying earlier, directly from Pop Mart's website, app or a physical store, and being flexible about which exact figure you end up with, is by far the most reliable route to a genuine one at RRP.
If you're building out a wider gift list alongside it, our Argos top toys for Christmas 2026 roundup is a useful companion piece, and it's always worth a quick check of PrimeVoucher's full list of UK stores before you check out anywhere else on your list — you may find a working code that takes a bit off the rest of your shop, even where there isn't one for Pop Mart itself.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Labubu in UK supermarkets or general high street shops?
No. Genuine Labubu figures are sold through Pop Mart's own website, app and stores, plus occasional stockists like the Selfridges concession. Anything sold through a generic gift shop, market stall or unfamiliar website should be treated with real suspicion.
How much does a genuine Labubu cost?
Standard blind boxes in the core range are typically £16–£18, larger collaboration series around £26, and smaller charms about £10. Rare or limited-edition figures can cost dramatically more on the resale market.
Why are some Labubus so expensive on resale sites?
Limited production runs, the blind-box mystery format, and extremely high demand mean rare variants are scarce almost immediately after release. Scarcity, not material cost, is what drives resale prices up.
Are fake Labubus actually dangerous?
They can be. Counterfeits are often made with lower-quality materials and looser construction, meaning small parts can detach more easily — a genuine choking hazard for young children — and some have raised concerns about the safety of materials used.
Will Pop Mart restock before Christmas?
Pop Mart doesn't publish a fixed schedule, but restocks do happen regularly through its app, website and stores. Turning on app notifications and following official UK social accounts is the most reliable way to catch a drop as it happens.
Whatever's on your Christmas list this year, it's worth a quick check for a working voucher code before you buy. Browse PrimeVoucher's full list of UK stores to see what's currently available.