GLOBAL COLLECTIBLES MARKET – Even though some people have been burning their Labubu dolls, the market for these unique collectibles is still quite high. Collectors are willing to pay a lot for uncommon models. The recent sale of a rare Labubu x Vans plush doll on eBay for an incredible $10,585 broke all previous resale records and firmly established the toy’s status as a significant collector’s item.
The grey-brown Labubu doll initially featured in a “blind box” collaboration between the renowned skate wear brand Vans and the Chinese toy company Pop Mart, which began in 2023. The New York Post says that this Labubu was originally worth only $85, but its value has gone up an incredible 125 times in less than two years, making it the most expensive Labubu ever sold on the prominent online auction site. The Vans Labubu that was recently sold at auction stood out since it was hard to find and came with a fashionable streetwear outfit that included iconic Vans Sk8-Mid sneakers, a matching jumper, and a unique blue-orange cap with “The Monsters” written on it. The eBay ad drew a fierce bidding battle, with 96 people bidding on the sought-after doll. This shows that the desire for rare Labubus is growing.
Labubu Dolls: A Global Phenomenon
Labubus are strange, toothy stuffed animals that have won over people all over the world. Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung made these characters based on Nordic mythology. Pop Mart first sold them in “blind boxes” as part of their “The Monsters” collection. This well-known marketing trick lets purchasers get a wrapped package without knowing which character is inside. This adds an element of surprise and makes people want to collect the whole series. These plushies usually cost between $20 and $40 at stores.
The brand’s “secret editions” are mostly what make some Labubu dolls sell for such exorbitant prices. These are exceptionally unusual variations that were made to be hard to find. They only show up in one out of every 72 or even 144 blind boxes, which makes it very hard to get them through normal means.
Sales and Market Trends That Break Records
The Labubu x Vans doll’s recent sale on eBay is just one illustration of how much these collectibles are worth:
Pink “Catch Me If You Like Me” Labubu: A secret edition that sold for $2,000 on eBay in early 2024.
A set of “Three Wise Labubu” dolls sold for $28,300 at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong in May 2025.
Versions of Labubu in Life Size: In June 2025, a mint-green Labubu doll that was 131 cm tall and the size of a person sold for more than $150,000 (1.08 million yuan) at a Chinese auction house. This was the most money ever paid for a Labubu doll at auction. Someone paid more than $114,000 for another brown version that was 160 cm tall.
Pop Mart MEGA LABUBU Sketch 1000%: This bigger figurine has sold for as much as $38,000.
The Labubu x Vans Old Skool Vinyl Plush Doll collaboration edition sold for $55,000 in 2025.
The enormous excitement over Labubu releases has led to the UK calling it the “Labubu Hunger Games.” This is what people mean when they talk about the crazy events that happen during new “drops.” These usually happen online on Thursday evenings and in stores on Friday mornings. People who collect these toys regularly line up before sunrise, and some retailers are said to hold back stock to avoid fights. This shows how fiercely people want to get their hands on these rare toys.
Experts think that this is not just a passing trend. Dr. Lori Verderame, a well-known collectible appraiser known for her work on the History Channel, told Forbes that Labubus are “here to stay.” She compared them to other collecting crazes like Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch Dolls, saying, “Labubus are based on international children’s literature and modern art culture, which makes them interesting to both collectors and investors.”
The fact that Labubu is doing so well financially is also a sign of how well its parent company, Pop Mart, is doing. The “Monsters” series, which starred Labubu, made a huge 726.6% more money in 2024, bringing in almost $450 million (3.04 billion RMB). In 2024, Pop Mart made more than $1.8 billion (13.04 billion RMB) in sales, which was a 106.9% increase from the previous year. The revenue from plush toys, such as Labubu, skyrocketed by 1289%, hitting $396.2 million (2.83 billion RMB) and making up 21.7% of all revenue. This big rise is even bigger because the company has a strong presence in other countries. For example, overseas sales rose by 375.2% to $709.8 million (5.07 billion RMB) in 2024. In China, the fad has even led to a specialized market for “toy doctors” who fix these popular collectibles. Some of these doctors fix up to 100 Labubu toys a month.