What Are Blind Box Toys? A Beginner's Guide to Pop Mart, Labubu, and the Collecting Craze

A blind box is exactly what it sounds like: a sealed package containing a toy figure you can't see before you buy it. You know the series, you know the character universe, but the specific variant — its colorway, pose, or rare "secret" edition — is a mystery until the moment you open the box. It's a simple concept with a powerful psychological hook, and it's driven the growth of the art toy industry to remarkable heights over the last decade.

How Blind Boxes Work

Blind box series are typically released in sets: say, 12 standard figures plus one or two "secret" rare editions. Each box contains one figure. The ratio of rare to standard editions varies by manufacturer but is usually something like 1:72 or 1:144 — meaning one rare figure exists for every 72 or 144 standard boxes produced. Collectors who want a complete set must buy multiple boxes, and the probability of landing a rare edition creates a casino-like anticipation that's deeply satisfying when it pays off.

Pop Mart — the dominant player in the art toy blind box space — takes this model and layers in collaborations with contemporary artists, making the figures genuine art objects with real cultural cachet. The company reported selling over 30 million blind boxes globally in 2022 alone, with particular strength in China, Southeast Asia, and, increasingly, North America and Europe.

The Rise of Labubu

Of all Pop Mart's characters, Labubu has become the most globally recognized. A key inflection point came in 2024 when BLACKPINK member Lisa was photographed carrying a Labubu keychain attached to her Hermès bag. The image went viral, and resale prices for certain Labubu editions jumped within hours. This kind of celebrity association — unplanned, organic, and photographically compelling — is exactly the cultural moment that turns a niche collectible into a mainstream phenomenon.

Labubu's creator, Kasing Lung, has described the character as something "that exists between cute and scary" — a deliberate artistic choice that gives the figure broad appeal across age groups. Kids find it funny. Teenagers find it edgy. Adults find it collectible. The design works precisely because it doesn't fit neatly into any single aesthetic category.

Are They Worth It?

Whether blind box toys are "worth it" depends entirely on what you're buying them for. As collectibles with genuine secondary market value — particularly Pop Mart's limited editions — they have a track record of appreciating in price. As gift items, they're uniquely exciting to give and receive. As a hobby, they can become addictive in the best possible way.

Sweet Palace carries the Labubu Big Into Energy series at $54.99 — a serious piece from one of the most in-demand characters in the space. If you're curious about the blind box world, this is a good place to start. Come in, and we'll tell you everything you need to know.