Best Labubu Starter Picks, Affordable Keychain Releases for New Collectors

Labubu has officially split into two markets: the affordable blind-box keychain lane and the big-money display lane. If you want a first buy that feels fun without turning into a regret purchase, these four releases are the ones to know first, with the safest picks at the top and the most collector-driven option at the end.

1. Have a Seat

This is the cleanest all-around starter because it lands at $27.99, sits in the same accessible price band as the other entry releases, and is easier to live with than a bulky display figure. Pop Mart also labels it not suitable for persons under 15, which matters if you are buying for a younger fan and want to treat it as a collectible rather than a toy.

2. Exciting Macaron

If you want the most recognizable “first Labubu” feel, Exciting Macaron is the one that keeps getting recommended for a reason. It was released on October 27, 2023, is priced at $27.99 on the U.S. site, stands 6.7 inches tall, and uses ABS and PVC, so it has enough substance to display well without feeling like a fragile shrine piece.

3. Big into Energy

This is the best bridge between cheap entry and genuine collection behavior, especially if you already know you will want more than one piece eventually. Pop Mart lists THE MONSTERS Big into Energy Series as a vinyl plush pendant blind box at $27.99, which keeps it in the same starter zone while giving it the keychain-style portability that makes these releases easy to carry, gift, or replace if one gets worn down.

4. Pin for Love

This is the sharpest budget play because Pop Mart lists it at $22.99 per box, which makes it the lowest-cost option in this group. The series leans into the “spell out love” concept, so it works best when you want something lighter, sweeter, and more giftable than a straight status purchase, even if it does not carry quite the same immediate collector punch as Exciting Macaron.

The reason these four matter now is simple: Labubu is no longer just a cute impulse buy. Pop Mart reported 2025 revenue of RMB 37.12 billion, up 184.7% year on year, and said The Monsters became its first IP franchise to surpass RMB 10 billion in annual revenue. That kind of growth is why the market now has a real ladder, from low-risk blind boxes to high-ticket grails like ZIMOMO at $299.99, I FOUND YOU at $199.99, and MEGA LABUBU 1000% Tenth Anniversary at $1,269.90.

For a kid, the safest move is still one of the cheaper keychain-style releases, especially Pin for Love or Have a Seat, because the price does not make you sweat if it gets lost, tossed in a backpack, or dragged around daily. For a gift, Exciting Macaron is the best bet because it feels like a real Labubu moment without crossing into “I need a display shelf for this” territory. For a serious collector, Big into Energy is the smartest starter because it keeps the entry cost manageable while still living in the same collecting ecosystem as the higher-end Monsters pieces.

Availability and resale are the tradeoffs that matter most. These starter boxes are easier to replace than a grail, but they are also the releases most exposed to the counterfeit problem that has shadowed Labubu’s boom, so packaging, source, and condition matter more than usual if you ever plan to resell. That is where the market has changed the most: the casual buy is still casual in price, but the category around it has become serious enough that authenticity now affects whether you are buying a cute pendant or paying too much for a fake.

If you want the shortest possible answer, start with Have a Seat or Exciting Macaron for the best balance of price, display value, and broad appeal. If you want the cheapest box, choose Pin for Love. If you want the release that most naturally pulls you deeper into the collecting side of Labubu, Big into Energy is the one that feels like the first step, not the last.