Is It a Lafufu or a Labubu?

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Check the body and packaging to see if your Labubu is real

Co-authored by Daniel Gbenle and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: August 20, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Lafufu vs. Labubu: The Packaging
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• Lafufu vs. Labubu: The Doll

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The Labubu craze has taken the world by storm, and it doesn’t seem like these fluffy, ugly-cute little elf toys are going anywhere. Because of their popularity, many sellers are offering fake Labubus—known as Lafufus. So, how do you tell the difference between a Labubu and a Lafufu? Let’s break it down.

What’s the difference between a Lafufu and a Labubu?

A “Lafufu” is a fake Labubu. Lafufus are often made with lower-quality materials and tend to have slightly different features than genuine Labubus, so they should be easy to spot. Here are some signs that your doll is a Lafufu:

• Missing QR code on the box
• Missing POP MART sticker on the box
• Messy or uneven paint on the face
• Patchy fur or bald spots
• Missing POP MART stamp on the left foot
• 8 or 10 teeth (genuine Labubus have 9 teeth)

Steps

Section 1 of 2:

Lafufu vs. Labubu: The Packaging

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   Box colors and finish Real Labubus come in packaging with muted colors—not quite pastel, but close. The image will take up the entire box. The box will also have a smooth, matte finish, and some elements on the box may be raised or embossed.

   • If it’s a Lafufu: The box might have vibrant, bright colors, or the colors might not match the packaging you see online. The image might only be printed in the center of the box, with blank space around the edges. Also, the packaging might be shiny or have a textured feel.
   • Tip: Sometimes Lafufus are repackaged in an original box, so even if you can verify that the packaging is real, be sure to examine the doll. Be especially cautious if the box is taped on the bottom, as this can mean that someone removed the original doll.
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   Sticker & QR Code Labubus have a holographic POP MART sticker on the back of the box, usually near the top. The sticker will have a bar code—scratch off the silver coating beneath the QR code to get a verification number. Then, scan the QR code and enter your verification number on POP MART’s authentication site to verify that your Labubu is real.

   • If it’s a Lafufu: The QR code may be missing or blurry, or the holographic sticker may look dull. If it’s present, scanning it may slowly redirect you to the POP MART site—or a dupe site.
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   Bag When you open a Labubu box, the doll itself should be sealed in a sealed foil bag. (It’s worth noting that some shoppers have recently reported receiving real Labubus from POP MART that are packaged in new drawstring bags instead of the sealed foil bags, so it’s possible that POP MART is changing this aspect of the packaging.)

   • If it’s a Lafufu: The bag might be missing or opened, feature a photographic (instead of printed) image, or have the wrong image.
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   Extras Labubus often come with an extra item in the box, like a card or sticker. For instance, the Exciting Macaron series comes with a small cardboard image that matches the color of the doll in the box. The Big Into Energy dolls come with a card that matches the doll in the box.

   • If it’s a Lafufu: This may be missing, poorly printed, or the wrong item.
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Section 2 of 2:

Lafufu vs. Labubu: The Doll

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1. 
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   Face A Labubu’s face is a soft, peachy color with a subtle rosy blush on the cheeks. It has exactly 9 pointed teeth and a shiny ridge around its eyes. The paint on the face should be even and precise. It should also have two ears that point slightly inward.

   • If it’s a Lafufu: The printing may be off (like paint that’s outside the line of the teeth) or the paint might be streaky. Also, the face might be pale, pink, or orange, and it may feature the wrong number of teeth or ears that point straight up or are turned outward.
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   Body and fur The fur of a Labubu is soft and full, but somewhat short, with an even color. There are three fingers and a thumb on each hand, and three pointed toes on each foot. The body is slightly poseable—you can move the arms a little and turn the head all the way around.

   • If it’s a Lafufu: The fur might be too long, the wrong color, or have bald spots. The body might not be poseable at all, and it may feature the wrong number of fingers or toes.
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   Branding Labubus have a POP MART stamp on their left foot, and newer Labubus have a UV stamp on their right foot that can only be seen under blacklight. They also have a high-quality keychain tag and a body tag. The body tag should feature the correct branding, and newer Labubus have a second QR code on the body tag that takes you to the POP MART authenticity verification website.

   • If it’s a Lafufu: The doll might be missing the POP MART stamp or have an incorrect stamp. Additionally, it may not have the UV stamp, or it may have an indentation in the left foot instead. The keychain or body tag might have the wrong branding or feature misspellings. The body tag might also be missing the QR code or have a QR code that won’t scan.
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