How to Spot a Fake Labubu: 2026 Real vs. Lafufu Guide

Last Updated: March 19, 2026

Fake Labubu, called Lafufu, are everywhere and we have met many parents who accidentally purchased a fake Labubu for their kids.

Lafufu are ugly but they’re also dangerous because small pieces can break off and become choking hazards. (USA Consumer Product Safety Commission)

How to Tell Real from Fake Labubu

Do these 3 checks first:

60 Second Test: 3 Rules That Catch Most Fake Labubu

Here are 3 simple rules that’ll eliminate 95% of the guesswork.

• 1st Rule: Price and Quantity Available
• 2nd Rule: Who is Selling It and the Display
• 3rd Rule: Compare Photos of a Real Labubu and Look at the Small Details

1st Rule: Price and Quantity Available

Don’t be greedy or think “you’re lucky!”

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

That just means…

In 2026, if you see someone selling a Labubu doll for way below the Pop Mart retail price of $28 and they have tons of them for sale, they’re probably all fake.

For example, most resellers sell Labubu dolls for at least $20 to $30 USD and the quantity is also limited.

Current Market Prices for Unopened Blind Box of Labubu Exciting Macaron V1

Check Pop Mart for the current retail price.

If it’s out of stock, you can then double check Amazon and eBay to see what that Labubu doll is selling for.

2nd Rule: Who is Selling It

There is limited supply of authentic Labubu dolls so if you see a random store like a restaurant or gift shop selling boxes of Labubu dolls, then it’s most likely going to be fakes and Lafufu.

Those are all fake Labubu!

How is the Labubu Doll Being Sold

How it’s being sold will tell you a lot whether it’s real or fake.

Fake Labubu Sold on Hanging Board

These are all fake. Real Labubu keychain dolls are not taken out of their blind boxes and sold by hanging them at a store.

Fake Labubu at Vending Machines in Arcades

Examples of fake. Some are poorly made and is pretty obvious

Real Pop Mart Robo Shop Vending Machines

This is how a real Pop Mart vending machine looks like

Fake Labubu Sold Inside Plastic Case

These are all fake Labubu. Real ones are not sold inside plastic cases

Fake Labubu Sold Inside Plastic Bags

You may also see Lafufu sold inside a plastic cover (bag). These are all fake because real ones are not sold this way

Fake Labubu Sold With Clothes On

Cute outfits make the fake Labubu more attractive so many of them are sold with clothes on.

Here are some examples of Lafufu being sold with outfits on.

Majority of the Labubu keychain dolls are NOT sold with Labubu clothes on

There are a few authentic Labubu keychain pendants that do come with clothes on and they’re separate releases.

If you’re not sure, go to our complete Labubu checklist of authentic dolls and you can compare and see if one is real or fake.

How Real Labubu Are Sold

Real Labubu keychain dolls are sold as blind boxes.

Here is how some of them look like next to their blind box and Pop Card card

High Quality Packaging

Some of the separate releases which are not sold as blind boxes are sold in high quality packaging made by Pop Mart.

If you ever own a real Labubu doll, you can also tell the cheaper quality of the Lafufus.

3rd Rule: Compare Photos of a Real Labubu and Look at the Small Details

Some fake Labubu are SOOO obvious but it may not be as obvious if you’re new to Labubu dolls

If you’re not sure if what you see is a Labubu doll original, you can refer to our complete Labubu checklist for pictures and details

Photos of Real vs Fake Labubu

Here are some examples of real vs fake Labubu dolls

Some fakes are very obvious and so poorly made that it’s hilarious!

Below is an obvious fake Labubu and not a real Labubu plush

Notice the huge difference between the real vs fake Labubu box

Here are more examples between a fake vs real Labubu

Fake versus real Rock the Universe Labubu

Here is a fake versus the real Labubu Dada

Look at the Tiny Details

Some fake Labubu are not as obvious and you have to look at the details of the Labubu doll

Freckles and Shape of Ears

For someone new to Labubu dolls, the one on the left is cute and looks real but it’s a fake Labubu.

If you compare pictures of it with the ones from our Labubu checklist you can see the freckles and shape of the ears are different.

Sloppy Paint

Here are 2 fake Labubu of Labubu Serenity that look real but they’re fake Labubu once you look at the details of the doll.

Compare the pictures of the fake Labubu with the real Labubu Serenity and you see sloppy nail polish at the bottom of the feet

Here are helpful guides that have detailed pictures of how real Labubu dolls look like.

Fake Labubu Box and Packaging

The 1st step is to look at the packaging.

All real Labubu dolls have great packaging.

Here’s what to look for:

1 ) Pop Mart Logo

On a real Labubu box, the Pop Mart logo is always there, crisp, and clean.

On fake Labubu boxes, it may be blurry, off-centered, or missing entirely.

2 ) The Monsters Logo

Real boxes feature a clear “The Monsters” logo.

Fake versions tend to print it too dark or smudged.

3 ) Background Color

The color tone of the box is a giveaway.

Replica Labubu boxes are often a little darker or slightly off in hue.

4 ) Missing Elements on the Back

Real Labubu packaging includes barcode, stars, and small text.

Fake ones usually leave one or more of these out.

5 ) Tear Strip to Open

Real Labubu blind boxes include a red pull strip to open the blind box.

Most fakes have boxes that don’t have it.

6 ) Hidden Watermark

Real boxes have a foil surface inside with a hidden “Have a Seat” watermark when light is shined on it.

If it’s just plain silver, it’s likely not the real Labubu

The Contents – What Should Be Inside?

1 ) Real Labubu Box Contents

A real Labubu comes with:

1 ) The Labubu doll

2 ) A Pop Mart “Pop Card” in the Labubu keychain sets such as Labubu Macaron, Have a Seat, Big Into Energy.

The Pin for Love set has a Labubu sticker instead

3 ) A DM bag (dehumidification)

Here are how the bags and dehumidification packets looks like from the real Labubu keychain sets

2 ) Contents in a Fake Labubu Box

Many replica Labubu boxes skip the DM bag entirely.

Newer fakes include a Pop Card, but the font is often thicker and the print quality is low.

Also, the Pop Mart logo might be slightly off.

Differences in the Labubu Doll

1 ) Finishing on Hands and Feet

Real Labubu figures have matte-finished limbs.

Fake Labubu toys often look shiny or even slightly metallic.

If you’re not sure how a Labubu doll should look, here is a list of all the Labubu names and characters with pictures and release info

These guides will also be helpful

2 ) Fur Texture

The fur on real figures is soft and fine.

Fake ones usually feel stiffer or rougher.

3 ) UV Icon on Right Foot

The real Labubu has a hidden UV icon on the right foot that only shows up under a UV light.

If you can see the icon with the naked eye, it’s probably fake.

4 ) Pose of the Foot Icon

Real Labubu icon shows a character standing with arms raised.

Fake dolls usually have icons that show a sitting pose.

5 ) Teeth Count

Real Labubu has 9 teeth.

Fakes may have ten or weirdly shaped teeth.

6 ) Labels and Logos on the Feet

Real ones have the Pop Mart logo and creator’s name printed neatly.

Fake ones sometimes use thick black ink or misaligned logos.

7 ) How to Spot Fake Labubu Face

– Blush Tone

Fake ones have faces that tend to have a more reddish or overly dark blush.

– Lip Shape

Thicker lips are a common giveaway on fakes.

– Eyeliner and Eyelashes

Counterfeits usually exaggerate the eyeliner — making it too thick and bold.

– Nose Coloring

Fake figures often have noses with a strange light orange tone or look off-center.

The Keychain

Real Labubu keychains have a lanyard that matches the Labubu doll colors.

Fake Labubu often have mismatched colors and generic tags

How to Spot Fake Labubu w QR Scan

Every Labubu has a QR code on its tag and you can scan it

Scan it with your phone

It should go directly to a webpage on Popmart’s website and it will confirm.

If it’s a fake Labubu or Lafufu, then nothing will come up.

Here are some important things to watch for as scammers are getting more sophisticated.

1 ) Scan Behavior

A real QR code takes you straight to Pop Mart’s official site, where you can enter the serial number and confirm it’s authentic.

2 ) Suspicious Redirection

Fake Labubu QR codes may first send you to a weird domain like a random website before jumping back to Pop Mart’s site.

3 ) Serial Number Already Used

If the scan shows it was used BEFORE your unboxing, it could be a reused or copied code — a warning sign.

How to Tell if a Sealed Labubu Blind Box is Fake w the QR Code Scan

Here is a real story from Jessica, a fan from Toronto, Canada who bought a sealed box of Big Into Energy but the Labubu keychains were all fake Labubu!

Jessica bought what looked like brand new sealed blind boxes of Big into Energy from a reseller and the boxes were sealed, the tags looked normal, and nothing appeared wrong from the outside.

But when she scanned the QR code on the tag, the Pop Mart page showed that the fake Labubu had already been verified months earlier in Beijing!

That does not make sense for a box that you just opened for the first time!

This is a classic sign that someone copied a real QR code from an authentic Labubu and put that same code onto a fake Lafufu.

Label Typos and Color Errors

1 ) Spelling Mistakes

Fake Labubu packaging often misspells “Pop Mart” (e.g., “Popm Mart”).

2 ) Wrong Logo Colors

Pop Mart logos on real packaging are red. Fakes sometimes use black or grey ink.

3 ) Text Alignment and Font

Fakes often use oversized fonts or text that’s misaligned and blurry.

Advanced Tip: Use a UV Light

1 ) Icon Visibility

On a real Labubu, the UV icon is invisible until you shine a UV torch. If you can already see it — it’s fake.

2 ) Icon Size and Pose

Fake Labubu UV icons tend to be too big and show the wrong pose (usually sitting).

Buying Tips

If you’re looking for authentic Labubu doll for sale, check Pop Mart first but if they’re out of stock, you can check Amazon or eBay because both have good return policies.

Visit our Guide for more tips on where to buy Labubu

Best Labubu Doll to Buy

The best Labubu doll to buy depends on your budget and also who you’re buying it for.

If you’re buying for a kid or for someone new to Labubu dolls, then one of the Exciting Macaron V1 such as Lychee Berry would be great.

If the person is a more serious collector, you should consider one of the more expensive larger Labubu plush dolls

Our guide to Labubu dolls will give you more ideas

Good Sellers Versus Bad Sellers and Scammers

When you want to buy a authentic Labubu doll from a reseller make sure you check reviews!

3 Quick Tips for Buying Online

The best place to buy Labubu is Pop Mart but if they’re out of stock, here are 3 quick tips on buying from resellers.

1 ) Stay away from new sellers (accounts) that have less than 100 reviews

2 ) Make sure the reviews are specific to past sales of Labubu dolls

3 ) Make sure there are recent reviews (preferably in the last 30 days)

Example of Bad Seller and Scammers

Here is a seller that has many bad reviews especially related to selling fake Labubu.

Example of Good Sellers

When you purchase online such as eBay, make sure you’re buying from a seller that has a lot of ratings so this prevents you from being scammed.

Here is another example of a seller with over 2,000 positive reviews

Final Advice on How to Spot a Fake Labubu

Some of the newer fake Labubu are extremely well made.

But if you know the signs, you can still tell the difference between real vs fake Labubu.

Helpful Guides

Here are some Guides on Labubu dolls that’ll help you avoid a fake Labubu

Additional Resources On How to Spot Fake Labubu

Here are some videos that will be helpful

FAQ