Labubu is no ordinary plush — it’s a cultural phenomenon, an art toy, and a status symbol. While it may look like a mischievous, toothy elf straight out of a fairy tale, its price tag often leaves people stunned. From $27.99 blind boxes to auctioned giants selling for over $170,000, many are asking: why are Labubu toys so expensive?
The answer isn’t just hype or scarcity — it’s a perfect storm of design culture, emotional nostalgia, celebrity exposure, and a deep consumer psychology that few brands have mastered as completely as POP MART.
🧠✨ Labubu Isn’t Just a Toy — It’s a Story-Driven Designer Art Piece
At the heart of Labubu’s value is its origin in storytelling. Created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, Labubu emerged from his book series The Monsters, where the character was portrayed as a kind but chaotic elf in a whimsical, Nordic-inspired world. According to Lung in an interview with CGTN Europe, Labubu is “something that has always existed in [his] heart.”
This emotional origin gives Labubu artistic and narrative depth that goes beyond typical toys. It’s not mass-manufactured in the traditional sense — it’s curated, imagined, and then transformed into a collectible. In the world of designer toys, narrative equals value.
🛍️📦 Blind Box Culture: The Luxury of the Unknown
Part of what makes Labubu so expensive is its deep integration with the “blind box” model. Each box is a mystery — buyers don’t know what version they’re getting until they open it. According to Michelle Parnett-Dwyer of the Strong Museum of Play, blind boxes play on nostalgia, randomness, and the thrill of unboxing, similar to vintage capsule toys and Pokémon cards.
This model creates artificial scarcity. Rare or “secret” Labubu figures can resell for hundreds of dollars, particularly if they are part of limited edition drops. It taps into the psychology of gambling — consumers keep buying in hopes of striking gold. And when they don’t, they trade, resell, or start collecting variants. It’s not a toy anymore — it’s a game of chance, status, and obsession.
📸👑 Celebrity Endorsement and Street Fashion Appeal
Labubu exploded globally when POP MART collaborated with Kasing Lung in 2019. Since then, Labubu has been spotted on the bags of global icons like Dua Lipa, Rihanna, and BLACKPINK’s Lisa. That gave it instant credibility in the fashion and streetwear scene, where the line between art, fashion, and toy culture is increasingly blurred.
Clipping a Labubu to your tote or belt loop isn’t about cuteness — it’s about identity and exclusivity. In that context, Labubu becomes more like a fashion accessory than a toy, priced similarly to streetwear drops from brands like Supreme or KAWS.
🌍📈 Limited Editions, Auction Hype, and the Resale Economy
In June 2025, a life-sized Labubu sold for $170,000 at Yongle Auction in China. That wasn’t just a marketing stunt — it reflects a broader trend in which art toy collectors treat these figures like assets, similar to NFTs or sneaker drops. There’s an emerging secondary market economy, with sellers flipping rare Labubu versions for 3–5x their retail price.
According to POP MART’s own data, their initial release of The Monsters Labubu series broke sales records for art toys. The company has since leaned into timed releases, mystery variants, and exclusive collaborations to keep demand surging — a tactic not unlike luxury watchmakers or art dealers.
🎭🧵 Labubu as Emotional Comfort Object in Adult Consumer Culture
Perhaps the most unique angle in explaining why Labubu toys are so expensive is their psychological value. Many young adults, especially in East Asia and urban centers globally, are turning to toys not for play, but for emotional grounding. In a world of digital noise and economic uncertainty, characters like Labubu offer comfort, nostalgia, and a reminder of childlike wonder.
As Parnett-Dwyer put it, play is “crucial for everybody at all ages.” Labubu taps into this human need for comfort and connection. It’s not just about looking cute on Instagram — it’s a proxy for joy and vulnerability, which makes people willing to pay premium prices.