What are Labubu Dolls? All About the Viral Plush Creatures

In recent weeks, everywhere I go, there's been one accessory on everyone's lips, and, well, bags. The viral little Labubu creatures are seemingly showing up everywhere and I'm not the only one on the lookout for them. With lines out the door of stores that hold them and Google searches for the mischievous dolls hitting millions, there's no doubt it's the "it girl" accessory of 2025.

And while I wanted to grab one myself, the truth is, they are harder to buy than you think. Like viral products of the past (remember the Stanley craze?), they sell out in seconds just to pop up on resale sites for five times the original price tag. While they can be resold for hundreds of dollars, they are initially pretty accessible in terms of prices, ranging from under $25 to $100.

If you, too, are curious about these little creatures, read along to find out why the internet is obsessed with them and discover similar plush toys to buy.

Now let's get into the history of these popular Labubu dolls. They first originated in Hong Kong, and unlike its popular predecessors (Hello Kitty and other plush characters), they are described as elvish creatures. They came to fruition in a Nordic-inspired picture book that artist Kasing Lung created. After the initial release of the book, the popular toy company Pop Mart created the first collectible collection for sale in 2019, and since then, sales have been soaring as new collections are released.

The Labubu creatures are a part of a tribe known as "The Monsters," and other members of the group include Zimomo, Mokoko, Tycoco, and more. A few key features that make her so unique are the wide eyes that are almost as big as her "mischievous smile," she has a furry exterior body and nine very visible teeth in her grin. From collection to collection, each can be seen wearing various outfits, different facial features and more fun accessories that make each drop unique. But don't let the mischievous smile make you think Labubus are evil. Lung says they are well-natured little creatures who have nothing but good intentions, that sometimes inevitably end up in a pickle.

Now, what makes Labubus so popular, besides the obvious cute charm, is that they are collectibles and hard to get, so it adds to the excitement of the hunt. According to Google Trends, searches for "Labubu doll" and "Labubu Keychain" have been at an all-time high in recent weeks and have stayed as a continuous breakout search term. Just in the last month alone, Google searches hit 2.1 million.

They also come in blind boxes so the hunt becomes harder if you have a particular color or Monster in mind. Because of mystery of the blind boxes, the reveal can be a surprise which is why many fans record their first impression of their creature to capture the moment. This excitement transcends age groups and communities, with everyone from pop stars to middle school students wearing the bag charms. It creates a sense of joy and status that you can say, "Yes, I succeeded and found a Labubu."

Shop TODAY photo editor, Vivian Le, is a fan of Labubu dolls saying she "loves that they're a playful accessory that also expresses a bit of mischief. The reason why I love blind box toys is that it's the chance to own something rare and special. I think a lot of people feel that way right now, when most luxury items and accessories are expensive and everyone wants to stretch their dollar. The boxes themselves are so hard to come by that even just getting a non-rare Monster is a big deal."

Pop Mart is the best place to buy Labubu and The Monsters products because they release them first online every Thursday at 9 p.m. and in stores on Fridays at 10 a.m.

You can also check local toy shops in your area for the little creatures. I [Shigo] found my Labubu at Partea bubble tea shop in Union Square where they have dozens of claw machines that they keep fully stocked with Labubus. I was lucky enough to get mine on the first try, but people spend hours and lots of money for the chance to win one.

The official retailer of the dolls is Pop Mart and they are the most reliable place to purchase an official Labubu doll. Other vendors might have them as well but it's always important to check that they are the official version. One of the signs that a Labubu is fake is the number of teeth it might have, the official dolls have nine.

While Labubus are sold out right now at Pop Mart (they go fast!), we have listed some other popular Pop Mart bag charms below.

This Blind Box was released originally in November 2024. It contains 6 characters and one secret mystery character. One of the characters in the box is Labubu.

This sparkly pendant charm from The Monsters was originally released before the holidays in November 2024 but can be used year-round as a bag charm, a keychain charm or an ornament. When you buy this blind box, you could end up with the viral yellow Labubu character if you're lucky.

CryBaby Blind Boxes have 6 collectible card holders that come in a mystery box. There is also a secret Queen Of Broken Heart figurine that can be found but according to the brand, the odds are 1/72 of finding it.

Another popular Pop Mart characters have been CryBaby, which are little teary-eyed dolls that are made into everything from keychains to huggable toys. These toys are neither boy nor girl and are meant to show deep emotion and normalize crying. This particular CryBaby Blind Box is meant to hold a card, so it can be a great bag accessory to hold a card you use frequently, like a bus pass or ID card.

This Blind Box was originally released in January 2025. There are 6 options and one mystery option in this blind box. The chain can be used to hold smart phones.

If you're always losing your phone, this phone chain is a chic and fun way to make sure it is always with you. The blind box has six characters that you have the chance to open, as well as funky-colored beads that go with each blind box's theme.

As if a fuzzy, smiling Labubu isn't enough for your bag, you can also find outfits to dress your monster up in every day. Some people even match their Labubu dolls to their outfits.

Accessorize your doll with a handful of cute and edgy pieces to show off their personality.

If you want to dress your Labubu up in a trendy outfit, you’ll want to grab this three-piece outfit for your doll that comes with all the best accessories, like a headband and necklace.

A fun two-piece set with a hat and outfit for your favorite toy.

You really can't go wrong with a summery look for your Labubu. This one comes with a frilly dress and little hat to keep them protected from the sun.

This outfit comes with overalls and a matching bucket hat.

Your Labubu needs a cute summer outfit too! This one is perfect for summer thanks to the denim bucket hat and matching denim overalls. If you're doing a picnic, this outfit would look great for a matching set.

Accessorize your doll with a camera, hat and dress.

Whether you're going to a party or running errands, your Labubu needs to be ready too. This blue ensemble is so cute with trendy accessories on the dress. It even comes with a removable hat for your doll's head.

If you can't wait until the next Labubu drop, we have compiled some other popular bag charms to buy right now. Shop everything from Jellycat charms to rare finds our editors love.

This bear is made of faux leather and features a white stitching throughout. It can be attached to a bag by knotting it around a strap.

Many fashion designers have been coming out with leather bag charms in fun shapes and animals. While they retail on designer sites for over $500, you can get this faux one for under $10.

This charm features the character Totoro from the popular world of Studio Ghibli. It comes with a beaded ball keychain.

Are you a fan of Studio Ghibli? Then this little fuzzy Totoro is a great little accessory to add to your bag charm collection. It's super small, so it can be layered easily.

Popular cartoon character Snoopy comes to life as a bag charm. It's ready to be put on anything with a metal hinge clip.

For fans of the iconic Peanuts character Snoopy, you can't go wrong with this personable accessory. Clip it onto a zipper and you're on trend in seconds!

This bag charm comes with a heart-shaped metal ring and the plush Sanrio character is made of polyester.

Cinnamoroll fans will love this little plush character that features big floppy ears and a cute blue heart clip that can attach to your bag.

This blind box has seven different figurines you could get in your surprise box. The ducks feature various different ducks like a bean duck, a coffee duck and more.

If you want a cute animal bag charm, you have to add this little duck blind box to your cart. Open up your surprise to find one of seven possible ducks in various outfits.

This keychain features the popular Miffy bunny from the Netherlands. Miffy in Dutch translates to "little bunny".

If you're anything like me, you also have a Miffy obsession. I own plenty of Miffy products, but this bag charm is next on my list to add to my ever-growing bag charm collection.

This pocket watch shaped charm is a Blind Box that has one of Hello Kitty and Friends character pendant available. Their are eight characters in this collection.

Sanrio fans will love this protected blind box option that features a little Sanrio character in a plastic case that can be attached to bags or keys. Similar to Labubu blind boxes, when you order one of these, they will also be a surprise when you open it.

This comes with 4 capybara plush keychains that feature a turtle backpack or a strawberry hat.

Matching plush keychains are always a great gift for your friends. These cute little capybaras come with either a turtle backpack or a festive summer strawberry hat.

Playful and friendly, the Bearchichi is said to be lightweight and according to reviewers, it's the "right size" for a bag charm.

Like Labubus, Monchhichis also have a loyal fan base, and for a while, these furry friends were hard to find. These happy little creatures add an element of play to any bag of yours.

This blind box has six possible figurines you could get and features the popular Lulu The Pig in a plush bear suit. It is a part of the Joyful Time series.

If you love Labubus, your next obsession might be Lulu the pig. These little piggies are famous in my friend group and one of my friends has well over 30 of them. I have a few from different collections, but this plush one is definitely next on my buy list. This release turns Lulu into either a plush teddy or bunny with ties, moments of joy in their retrospective names. If you already have a Labubu, this charm would look so cute next to it.

This rabbit charm comes with a claw clip closure and the rabbit is made to be floppy.

This little floppy-eared rabbit is such a cute bag charm for any type of bag. I actually got this charm for my rabbit-obsessed friend and she immediately put it on her bag and often mentions how commonly she gets complimented on it.

This blind box has one surprise Sonny Angel from the kiss kiss series. The charm is related to Valentine's Day and shows a kiss on the cheek of the Sonny Angel.

If you've heard of Labubu, you have definitely heard of Sonny Angel, and maybe you own a few. I know I have a couple placed around my apartment as decorations. What's unique about this Sonny Angel is that it is a keychain, so you can keep it with you always.

We selected these products based on Google search trends and research online about the popular Labubu dolls. We also reached out to Shop TODAY staff to hear their thoughts on the trend.

Annie Shigo is a social media editorial assistant for Shop TODAY.