I see the search terms. I get the DMs on Instagram. I see the hopeful posts in Facebook groups.
"Where can I find a 10 dollar labubu?"
It's one of the most common questions I get as a seller and a long-time collector. And I get it. You see these adorable, mischievous little monsters with their floppy ears and buck teeth, and you want in. But maybe the $15, $17, or even $20+ price tag on a single blind box feels a little steep. So the hunt begins for a bargain, for that mythical labubu under 10 dollars.
Let's just get this out of the way right now. I need to be brutally honest with you, collector to collector.
New, authentic, standard-sized LABUBU blind boxes from Pop Mart do not cost $10. They just don't.
It's not a secret conspiracy by shops like mine to mark things up. The standard retail price for a single LABUBU blind box in the US is typically between $14.99 and $16.99, before tax and shipping. That price is set based on the costs from Pop Mart, which include the artist Kasing Lung's licensing fee, the complex manufacturing process (those paint jobs don't happen by magic), the multi-layered packaging, international shipping, and import duties.
When a small shop like PopNya sells a Labubu, our margin is already pretty thin. So when someone asks for a $10 Labubu, what they're essentially asking for is a toy that costs less than what we even pay to acquire it. It's just not a sustainable reality.
So… Where Did The "$10 Labubu" Legend Come From?
If they're not actually $10, why are so many people searching for them at that price? The idea didn't just appear out of thin air. It's a myth built from a few different, often misleading, sources.
First, you have the "lottery winners." These are the stories you see on Reddit or TikTok. Someone posts a blurry photo with the caption, "OMG, I got a Labubu for $10 at a liquidation bin store!" or "Found this at a garage sale!" Yes, this can happen. It is technically possible. It's also as likely as finding a Rolex at Goodwill. These are one-in-a-million flukes, not a reliable shopping strategy. For every person who finds a treasure, thousands of others just find broken electronics and old Tupperware. You cannot build a collection strategy around someone else's freakishly good luck.
Second, there was the Boggs Tiny Tote phenomenon in early 2024. These little canvas tote bag keychains, which looked a bit like the famous Bogg Bags, had a tiny LABUBU figure attached. They retailed for about $10-$12 and went viral on TikTok. Suddenly, people were associating "LABUBU" with a $10 price point. But here's the crucial detail everyone missed: that wasn't a standard Pop Mart figure. It was a licensed accessory, much smaller, and of a completely different quality. The paint was simpler, the vinyl was lighter, it was a keychain charm, not a collector's figure.
And the third, most dangerous source of this myth? Fakes. Go on sites like AliExpress, Temu, or shady corners of eBay and search for "labubu under 10". You will be flooded with results. They'll have the familiar shape, but something will be… off. The colors will be too bright or completely wrong, the paint lines will be sloppy, and the vinyl will feel cheap and lightweight. These are counterfeits, and they are the biggest trap for new collectors hoping for a deal. I've seen some truly terrible fakes, especially of the popular Exciting Macaron Labubu series, and they prey on the exact hope that you can get the real thing for a fraction of the price.
Our Take: The Real Talk on Value
Look, I'm a seller, but I'm a collector first. And as a collector, my honest advice is to stop hunting for the cheapest possible price and start hunting for the piece you genuinely love. The value of a LABUBU isn't that it's a $10 toy. If it were, it would be made like one. The value is in Kasing Lung's art, the excitement of the blind box pull, the quality of the sculpt and paint, and the community you join.
Chasing that $10 price point is a recipe for disappointment. You'll either spend weeks fruitlessly searching or end up with a fake that leaves you feeling cheated. The joy of this hobby comes from holding a real, hefty, beautifully painted figure in your hand, not from saving five bucks on a cheap knockoff.
*A Better Playbook: What Can You Actually* Get for Around $10?Okay, so I've burst the bubble on the $10 blind box. But that doesn't mean you're completely priced out of the LABUBU universe. If your budget is firm, you just need a smarter playbook. Here's what's actually realistic in that price range.
1. Official, Non-Figure Merchandise: Pop Mart occasionally releases smaller items like sticker packs, acrylic keychains (different from the Boggs ones), phone grips, or memo pads. These are often in the $8-$12 range. It's a great way to get some official Kasing Lung art into your life without committing to a full figure. The quality is usually good for what it is, but don't expect the same heft and detail as a vinyl toy.
2. "De-cased" Commons: This is a real collector-to-collector market secret. Sometimes, a person only wants the figure and not the box or the collector card. On secondary market platforms like Facebook groups or Mercari, you can sometimes find a common figure, out of its box, for a few dollars less than retail. The seller saves on shipping size, and you save a little cash.
3. Unpopular Commons from Older Series: Let's be honest, in every blind box series, there are hits and there are misses. Some designs just don't resonate with the community as much. After a series has been out for six months or a year, you can often find the less popular common figures on eBay for under retail. For example, some of the commons from the older Have a Seat Labubu series can sometimes be found for around $10-$12 if you're patient. It won't be the chase, but it's a real Labubu.
4. Damaged Box Items: This is something I deal with as a seller. Sometimes a shipment arrives and a corner of a box is crushed. The figure inside is perfectly fine, but the box is no longer mint. I can't, in good conscience, sell that for full price. Many sellers, myself included, will discount these "shelf-worn" or "damaged box" items. If you're an "out-of-box" collector who doesn't care about packaging, this is a golden opportunity to get a brand new, authentic figure for 10-20% off.
The Real Danger of the "Under $10" Hunt**
The biggest risk isn't just disappointment; it's getting ripped off. The market for fakes is sophisticated. Some counterfeiters are getting scarily good. They steal official product photos, so the listing looks legit. They might even copy the box art.
Here's what I've learned to spot from handling hundreds of figures: * The Weight: Real Labubus have a satisfying heft. Fakes are often made from cheaper, lighter PVC and feel hollow and flimsy. * The Smell: A new, authentic Pop Mart figure has a distinct, clean "new vinyl" smell. Fakes often have a harsh, chemical, almost gasoline-like odor that is a dead giveaway of low-quality materials. * The Details: Look at the teeth. On a real Labubu, they are distinct and well-defined. On fakes, they are often mushy, rounded, or painted on sloppily. Check the "LABUBU" stamp on the foot, on fakes, it's often blurry, misspelled, or missing entirely. For a deeper dive into what to look for, especially with popular series, checking a guide on spotting fakes is a must. Knowing the difference between a real and a fake Pink Labubu can save you a lot of heartache.
Instead of pouring your energy into a risky hunt for a cheap deal, I suggest a different strategy: the "Patient Collector" approach.
Instead of buying a fake $10 Labubu today, save that $10. In two weeks, you'll have $20. That's enough for a real blind box from a reputable store, plus maybe a little towards shipping. The anticipation will make the unboxing even sweeter. You'll get the thrill of the pull, a genuine piece of art, and a collector card. You'll have an authentic figure you can be proud to display or trade.
This hobby is a marathon, not a sprint. Your collection will be far more meaningful if it's built with authentic pieces you truly love, rather than a shelf full of cheap compromises. Start by learning about the different series and what makes them special, from the wild designs of Labubu Big into Energy to the iconic crossover with The Monsters x One Piece. Understanding the landscape is the first step to smart collecting.
So, can you get a 10 dollar labubu? Maybe, if you're the luckiest person in the world on that particular day. But should you spend your time looking for one? Honestly, no. Your time and money are better spent investing in the real thing. Start by browsing an authentic LABUBU collection to see what real figures look like and what they cost. Get a feel for the market, find a design that speaks to you, and start your collection the right way. The joy you'll get from a genuine piece will be worth so much more than the few dollars you might have saved.
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