Want to know if a Labubu is real or fake? Learn how to check Labubu authenticity in 2026 and confidently identify whether yours is genuine or counterfeit.
If you’ve got a Labubu in hand — or you’re eyeing one online — you want a straight answer: is it real, or is it a “Lafufu,” the nickname collectors use for counterfeit versions with no connection to Pop Mart?
Fakes have gotten good enough that no single detail proves anything on its own. This guide covers exactly how to authenticate a Labubu, in the order that actually matters, so you can tell a real Labubu from a fake one with confidence.
Quick Answer
The fastest way to check:
- Enter your verification code at Pop Mart’s official portal
- Count the teeth — genuine Labubu figures always have exactly nine
- Check the left foot for a crisp, clearly printed Pop Mart logo
- Shine a UV light on the right foot — figures from 2024 onward reveal a hidden silhouette
- Look at the price — a deal well below Pop Mart’s retail price is a red flag on its own
No single check is airtight by itself. Combine at least two or three before you decide.
How to Tell If a Labubu Is Real or Fake
None of the checks below is 100% conclusive alone, but together they’ll catch nearly every fake.
1. Check the Pop Mart Verification Code
This is the most reliable check, straight from Pop Mart itself:
- Scratch off the coating on the box label to reveal your code.
- Go to m-gss.popmart.com/us and open the “QR Verify” section.
- Enter the code and hit verify.
You’ll get one of three results, all worth knowing:
- “Genuine – First scan” — an unregistered, first-owner figure.
- “Genuine – Multiple scans” — still authentic, just checked before by a previous owner or a retailer.
- “Genuine – Exceeded maximum scan count” — also genuine; Pop Mart simply flags codes scanned an unusual number of times.
Some newer figures carry a second code on a tag attached to the doll — check that one too if it’s there. Older or discontinued series sometimes shipped with no code at all, so a missing code isn’t automatically suspicious on anything older than a year or two.
2. Count the Teeth
Every authentic Labubu has exactly nine teeth — small, triangular, and evenly spaced. Fakes commonly show eight, ten, or teeth painted so sloppily they blur together instead of standing apart.
3. Check the Left Foot and Pop Mart Logo
The left foot should carry a crisp, clearly stamped Pop Mart logo with sharp lettering and no smudging. The vinyl should feel soft and flexible, matching the rest of the figure — fakes often feel harder, heavier, and cheaper right here.
4. Try the UV/Blacklight Test
Since around 2024, newer Labubu editions carry a hidden UV-reactive stamp on the right foot — a small silhouette that only shows up under a blacklight. No glow at all, or a smudged blob instead of a clean shape, is a warning sign. This test doesn’t apply to older, pre-2024 releases, since they predate the feature.
5. Inspect the Face, Eyes, Blush, and Ears
- Skin tone should be a soft, matte peach — fakes often run too pink, yellow, or bright.
- Blush should look airbrushed, not like a harsh circular patch.
- Eyes should be glossy and embedded smoothly, with no scratches or flat black fill.
- Ears sit close together and angle slightly inward, following a natural hairline — fakes often place them too far apart or too high.
6. Check the Box and Holographic Seal
Genuine boxes use a matte finish in muted tones, sharp high-resolution printing, a pastel identity card with a desiccant packet, and a tamper-evident holographic seal that sits flat and catches light cleanly.
Important: some counterfeiters put a fake doll inside a genuine box, or a real doll inside a fake box. A good box only tells you the box is probably real — check the figure itself too.
7. Inspect the Tags and Material
Tags should show the correct Monsters logo, clean printing, and no spelling errors — cheap paper stock or a font that looks “off” are red flags. Pick the figure up: it should feel balanced, not hollow or oddly weighted, with smooth, hard-to-spot seams. A strong chemical smell, especially after being held in your palm for a moment, points to cheap counterfeit materials.
8. Consider the Price and Seller
A price well below Pop Mart’s retail is the single biggest tell of a scam. Before buying secondhand, check the seller’s reviews and history, ask for real photos of the actual item rather than stock images, and record an unboxing video for your own protection.
What If Your Labubu Is Fake?
- Contact the seller and request a refund or exchange.
- Dispute the payment through PayPal, your card issuer, or the marketplace’s buyer protection if the seller won’t cooperate.
- Report the listing to the platform so other buyers are warned.
- If there’s a safety concern — loose small parts or anything a young child could put in their mouth — stop using it immediately. Counterfeit Labubus have been the subject of a formal CPSC choking-hazard warning, so this isn’t hypothetical. Report safety issues to cpsc.gov (US) or your local Trading Standards office (UK).
Keep your unboxing photos or video — they’re your best proof in any dispute.
Where to Buy an Authentic Labubu
Your safest options: Pop Mart’s official website and app, physical Pop Mart stores and ROBOSHOP vending machines, Pop Mart’s verified storefronts on Amazon and TikTok Shop, and official event pop-ups. Buying secondhand? Certified resale platforms like StockX authenticate items before they’re sold — a safer bet than an unverified private listing.
Labubu Real-or-Fake FAQs
What’s the most reliable way to tell if a Labubu is real or fake?
Run the Pop Mart verification code first — it’s the only check that comes directly from Pop Mart rather than your own inspection. Combine it with the teeth count and foot details for a near-certain answer.
Do all Labubu figures have a verification code?
No. Newer releases almost always include one, but older or discontinued series sometimes shipped without any code. That’s not automatically suspicious on an older piece — it’s a bigger concern on anything released in the last year or two.
What’s the difference between a Labubu and a Lafufu?
A Labubu is an official Pop Mart product designed by Kasing Lung. A Lafufu is the nickname for any unofficial knockoff, with no connection to Pop Mart at all.
My code shows “multiple scans” or “exceeded scan limit” — is that fake?
No. Pop Mart classifies both as genuine — it just means the code’s been checked before, likely by a previous owner. Worth asking questions if you bought it secondhand, but it doesn’t mean the figure is fake.
Final Verdict
No single test catches every fake, but running the verification code, counting the teeth, and checking the feet together will catch nearly every Lafufu out there. When in doubt, buy from Pop Mart directly or a certified reseller, and you won’t need this checklist at all.
Got a Labubu you’re still unsure about? Drop a comment with what you’re seeing.
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