I get an email or a DM about labubu stickers at least once a week at PopNya. "Do you sell them?" "Are the ones on Etsy official?" "Why are some so expensive?"
It's a surprisingly deep rabbit hole for something that seems so simple. And the short answer is: it's complicated. The world of Labubu stickers is split into two very different universes: the official, sanctioned stuff from Pop Mart and Kasing Lung, and the massive, wild-west ecosystem of fan-made stickers.
So let's just get into it. As someone who's seen, bought, and sold more Labubu than is probably healthy, here's my honest breakdown of the whole sticker situation.
The Two Worlds of Labubu Stickers: Official vs. The Internet
First, you have to understand that not all stickers are created equal. Not even close. When you see a labubu sticker for sale, it falls into one of two camps.
Camp 1: The Official Stuff
This is the gear that comes directly from the source, Pop Mart. It's the "real deal," and it's much rarer than you'd think. Official stickers generally come from three places:
1. In-Box Surprises: This is my favorite kind. Some blind box series, like the first Monsters Camping series, included a small, random sticker sheet inside the box along with the figure and the collector card. It was a fantastic little bonus. The problem? They were small, and a lot of people (especially early on) just threw them away with the packaging. Finding these now is tough. The quality is usually excellent, thick vinyl, clean cuts, and that perfect, slightly matte finish.
2. Official Sticker Packs/Sheets: Sometimes, Pop Mart collaborates with lifestyle brands to release official sticker sheets. The Found is a big one that has produced some beautiful, high-quality sheets of labubu vinyl stickers. These are sold as standalone products. They're usually big, feature multiple characters from a series, and are made to last on a laptop or water bottle. They feel substantial. You know it when you feel it.
3. Promotional & Event-Exclusives: This is the holy grail for sticker collectors. These are stickers given away at toy fairs, convention booths (like DesignerCon), or Pop Mart store grand openings. They are often unique designs you can't get anywhere else and are produced in very limited quantities. If you see someone selling a single, specific labubu cartoon sticker for $20, it's likely one of these. They carry a certain clout because they prove you were there.
The key with all official stickers is that the art is 100% Kasing Lung's. The colors are perfect, the lines are crisp, and the character proportions are exact.
Camp 2: The Unofficial Universe (Etsy, Redbubble, etc.)
This is where 95% of the Labubu stickers you find online live. Go to Etsy or Redbubble and search "Labubu sticker." You'll find thousands of results. These are fan-made.
And I want to be clear: "fan-made" isn't a bad word. Some of these are created by incredibly talented artists who put their own spin on Labubu. They draw him in new outfits, new scenarios, or in their own unique art style. I've bought some of these myself to support an artist whose work I genuinely love.
But this is also where you find the low-effort stuff.
This is where the term labubu sticker png comes into play. What happens is someone will find a digital image of Labubu, often a scan from a collector card or a screenshot, and upload that labubu sticker png file directly to a print-on-demand service. The service prints it on sticker paper and ships it out. The person who uploaded it never even touches the product.
The result? The quality is a total crapshoot. It can range from surprisingly decent to absolutely terrible. I've seen stickers that were blurry, pixelated, had weird colors, or were printed on flimsy paper that would dissolve if you looked at it funny. These are the stickers that give fan-art a bad name. People search for la boo boo stickers (a common misspelling) and end up with a sticker that looks like a faded photocopy.
How to Tell What You're Buying: A Collector's Checklist
So you're staring at a sticker online, and you want to know what you're getting. Here's my quick mental checklist.
* Check the Material: The listing should say what it's made of. If it says "vinyl" or "weatherproof," that's a good sign for durability. These are essentially labubu decals meant to last. If it just says "paper" or doesn't specify, assume it's for indoor use only, like in a journal. Official stickers are almost always a nice, thick vinyl.
Examine the Art Style: Does it look exactly like Kasing Lung's art? Or is it a cute, chibi version? Is it Labubu dressed as a character from a different franchise? If it's a unique interpretation, you're buying fan art. That's cool! Just know that's what it is. If it's trying to pass as official art but something looks slightly off*, the ears are a bit too long, the colors are a bit too saturated, it's likely a scan or a redraw.* Look at the Cut: Look at the white border around the sticker. On official stickers and high-quality fan-made ones, the die-cut line is clean, even, and precise. On low-quality print-on-demand stickers, the cut can be jagged, uneven, or awkwardly far from the art. * The Backing Paper Secret: This is a pro tip. Flip the sticker over. Official sticker sheets often have branding on the backing paper, the Pop Mart logo, the series name, etc. Unofficial stickers will almost always have a plain white or generic grid-patterned backing. No one fakes the backing paper. * Price as a Clue: Is it $3 for one sticker? It's fan-made. Is it $12 for a sheet of 20 stickers? Probably fan-made. Is it $15 for an official-looking sheet from a known brand like The Found? Probably legit. Is it $25 for a single, small sticker? It might be a super rare event promo, and you should ask the seller for its origin story.
Real Talk: My Honest Opinion on Labubu Stickers
Okay, let's just be real for a second. Most of the time, when you're buying a labubu sticker, you're buying an unlicensed product. And honestly, for a fun little sticker, that's usually fine. I'm not going to tell you not to.
But here's my stance as a seller and collector: Don't get ripped off.
The problem isn't the existence of fan-made stickers. The problem is when people sell a low-quality, print-on-demand sticker for $5 and try to pass it off as something special. Or worse, when they use the word "rare" to describe a design they just uploaded to Redbubble yesterday.
My advice is this: If you see a fan artist with a unique, cool take on Labubu, buy their sticker! You're supporting a creative person. But if you see a generic sticker that looks like a scanned image, maybe think twice. Your money could be better spent.
Honestly, if you have $15 to spend, I'd rather see you put it towards an actual blind box. The thrill of opening it and the tangible, 3D figure you get is infinitely more satisfying than a sticker that might peel off in a few months. The figures are the heart of the collection. The stickers are just a fun little accessory. If you're looking to start or grow your collection, you can always browse LABUBU figures and see what's available. The joy of finally getting the one you wanted from a series is unmatched.
What About "Printable" Labubu Stickers?
You'll also see listings for labubu stickers printable. This is a whole other can of worms.
Typically, these are digital files (like a PDF or a set of PNGs) that you buy on a platform like Etsy. You pay a few dollars, download the file, and print them at home on your own sticker paper.
On the surface, it sounds like a great deal. But there are a few things to consider.
First, the legality is... Murky at best. The seller doesn't own the copyright to Labubu. They're selling Kasing Lung's intellectual property. Second, the quality is 100% dependent on your equipment. You need a good color printer and high-quality sticker paper to get results that don't look like a washed-out mess. By the time you buy the file and the special paper, you might have been better off just buying a pre-made, high-quality vinyl sticker. It's often more hassle than it's worth unless you're already set up for sticker-making.
So, What Should I Actually Buy?
It all comes down to what you want to do with it.
* For Your Laptop/Hydro Flask: You need durability. Go for official labubu vinyl stickers from a pack, or find a fan-artist on Etsy who explicitly states their stickers are weatherproof, laminated, or vinyl. Read the reviews! People will complain if the stickers fade or peel. These are the things that function as true labubu decals. * For Your Journal/Planner: Durability doesn't matter as much. Cheaper paper stickers are totally fine here. This is where the massive, cheap sheets from Amazon or even the printable options can be a cost-effective way to get a lot of designs for decorating pages. * For Your Collection: If you're collecting for value or rarity, stick to the official stuff. Hunt down the in-box stickers from older series. Keep an eye out for official sticker sheets. These are the items that will hold their value and become interesting footnotes in your collection's history.
The sticker craze is just one facet of the Labubu universe. It's a fun, relatively inexpensive way to show your love for these little monsters. But it's also a gateway to the wider world of customization and collecting. Once you have a few stickers, you might start thinking about dressing up your figures. That's a whole other adventure, and if you're curious, we've put together an unofficial guide to Labubu clothes that helps you navigate sizing and spot scams.
It's the same with other accessories. The keychain craze, for example, is just as wild, with its own market of fakes and knock-offs. Knowing what to look for is key, which is why we also wrote an honest guide to buying a Labubu keychain to help people avoid getting burned.
Ultimately, stickers are meant to be fun. They're a way to bring a little bit of that monster magic into your everyday life. Slap them on your stuff, trade them with friends, and enjoy them. Just go into it with your eyes open, know what you're paying for, and don't let anyone sell you a piece of paper for the price of a piece of art.
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