How to Tell if You Bought a Real Labubu or a Fake “Lafufu”

So, you finally got your hands on a Labubu! Or… did you? The popularity of these little guys has exploded since 2026, and with that comes the rise of fakes, or as I like to call them, “Lafufus.”

Don’t worry — spotting a fake is way easier than it looks once you know what to check for. I’m going to walk you through the exact things I look for to tell a real vs fake Labubu, so you can be sure you have an authentic Labubu doll in your collection.

 

 

Step 1: Judge the Box by Its Cover

Seriously, the box is your first and biggest clue. Pop Mart doesn’t mess around with their packaging, but the counterfeiters sure do. The first thing you’ll notice is often the print quality.

On an authentic Labubu doll box, the art is sharp, the colors are vibrant, and the text is perfectly crisp. Fake boxes often have slightly blurry images, washed-out colors, or fuzzy text. It looks like they used a cheap printer from 15 years ago.

 

 

Look for the Anti-Counterfeit Sticker

This is the trick nobody tells you about enough. Most new Labubu boxes have a silver sticker with a QR code on them. You can scratch it off to reveal a code you can verify on the official Pop Mart website.

If there’s no sticker, or the sticker looks cheap and won’t scan, you’ve probably got a Lafufu on your hands. This is the fastest way to check a sealed box.

 

 

Step 2: Get a Good Look at That Face

Okay, let’s unbox it. The face tells you everything. The counterfeiters can get close, but they almost never get the expression right. Pay close attention to the eyes and teeth.

Labubu’s eyes have a very specific shape and a clean, glossy finish. Fake ones often have misshapen eyes, weird placement, or a dull, flat look. The same goes for the teeth—real Labubu teeth are distinct and sculpted, not just sloppily painted white triangles.

 

 

Step 3: Feel the Quality and Weight

Pick up the doll. An authentic Labubu doll has a nice, solid feel to it. It has a bit of heft and feels balanced. You can tell it’s made from quality vinyl.

Fakes, on the other hand, often feel light, hollow, and cheap. The plastic might be overly shiny or have a greasy texture. I once held a fake that felt so brittle I was afraid to move its ears.

 

 

Step 4: Don’t Forget the Collector Card

Every blind box comes with a character card, and it’s another huge giveaway. The real card is printed on thick, quality cardstock with a nice finish. The image is crystal clear.

Fake cards are a joke. They’re often flimsy, like a cheap business card. The image might be pixelated, the colors are off, and I’ve even seen some with typos. A bad card almost always means a bad doll.

 

 

Some Pro Tips from a Fellow Collector

Okay, here are a few extra things to keep in mind so you don’t get tricked. These have saved me more than once.

 

 

If the Price is a Steal, It’s Probably Stolen Art

I get it, everyone loves a good deal. But if you see a brand new, “rare” Labubu selling for $5, run. There’s a general market price for these dolls, and anything drastically below that is a massive red flag. No one is selling a real one that cheap.

 

 

Buy from Reputable Spots

The easiest way to guarantee you get a real vs fake Labubu is to buy from the right places. Stick to official Pop Mart stores, their official online shops, and trusted retailers. Be super careful on huge marketplace sites where anyone can set up a shop.

 

 

Check Seller Reviews and Photos

If you are buying from a third-party seller, read the reviews like a hawk. Look for other buyers complaining about fakes. Also, ask for actual photos of the item, not just the stock photos they pulled from the internet. You want to see the real box and doll you’re actually buying.

 

 

You’ve Got This!

And that’s really it! Checking the box, the face, the feel, and the card will catch 99% of the fakes out there. It might seem like a lot, but after you’ve held a real one, the fakes become incredibly obvious.

Now you can hunt for your favorite little monsters with confidence. Happy collecting!