Pokemon Plush Buyers' Guide and FAQ

How can I tell if a Pokemon plush is fake?

It is getting more and more difficult to spot a bootleg or fake plush, but usually the stitching will have loose threads or crooked seams. Also you can tell by the price. If the same plush is $5 on one site and $50 on another, chances are good that the $5 one is a fake. Also, avoid buying from companies based in Hong Kong or China directly. Alot of Japanese plushies are made in China, but they are only sold in Japan and strictly prohibited from being sold in China. So if it is shipped directly from China, there is a very good chance that it is a fake. Nearly all of the fake Pokemon plush toys come from China.
See our guide on how to spot a fake plush: How to avoid fake plush

Where can I buy authentic Pokemon plushies?

PokeVault is a great place to start! :) All of the plush toys on PokeVault are 100% authentic and purchased in Japan from the Pokemon Center or other officially licensed Pokemon retailers.

Why are Pokemon Center plushies so popular?

Pokemon Center plushies are known to collectors all over the world. Originally they were only available in Japan where Pokemon started back in 1997, which is what made them so unique and popular, but now they are available in several countries around the world.

Which Pokemon plush should I buy first?

That is a very difficult question. There are over 1000 Pokemon characters to choose from so its all up to you. The most popular choices include Pikachu, Mew, Charizard, Latias, Latios, Rayquaza, Eevee and many more.

What are the most collectible Pokemon plushies?

This depends on your reason for collecting. If you are collecting just for fun, Pokemon Center Fit (Sitting Cuties) are very popular. If you are collecting in hopes of having a valuable collection in the future, older Pokedolls seem to have the most value.

Why are Pokemon plushies so expensive?

The price of Pokemon plushies has gone up more than 2-3x since their creation in 1996. Most of the reason is due to material cost, labor cost and inflation. But there are other more current factors such as tariffs.

What makes a Pokemon plush rare?

There are several factors that make a Pokemon plush rare. One factor is if the plush was an exclusive to a specific region. For example a Pokemon plush that is exclusive to Japan and not made in any other country is usually worth more than one that is made worldwide. Other factors include the number of plushies made, however the number of plushies made is usually kept a secret, but you can sometimes tell if there is a limited amount produced by how fast it sells out on the Pokemon Center online website.

Should I keep the tags attached?

If you are planning on re-selling or keeping your plush as an investment, then definitely you should keep the tag attached. The Pokemon plush keeps its value much better with the tags attached. But if you are planning on playing with the plush toy, then it is not necessary to keep the tags on.

Are Pokemon plushies a good investment?

Yes, I think so. If they are kept out of the sunlight in a cool dry place, then they tend to keep their value. History has shown that most Pokemon plushies increase in value over time.

What is a Pokedoll?

Pokedolls are highly collectible Pokemon stuffed or plush toys that have a round body with an oversized head. They are often called "chibi" in Japanese which means short or small.

What is a Sitting Cuties (Pokemon Fit) plush?

Pokemon Fit are also referred to as "Sitting Cuties" in other countries. They are also highly collectible palm sized Pokemon plush toys with a small amount of beans inside. Most of them are able to sit down making them perfect for displaying.

Why do some Pokemon plushies sell out quickly?

Pokemon plushies sell out quickly when they are popular characters, exclusivly sold in a country, or if there was a limited amount produced.

How do I clean a Pokemon plush?

The best way to clean them is to put them in a bowl or bathtub. Then hand wash them with water and a little soap or detergent. Make sure that the detergent does not contain any bleach. After a gentle wash, wrap them in a towel to soak up any excess water. Let them dry in an open area where air or wind can circulate. A hairdryer on low heat can also work. Never use the washing machine or dryer. Always read the label before attempting to clean your Pokemon plush.

Are older Pokemon plushies worth more?

In most cases the answer is yes. Older or rare Pokemon plushies can fetch thousands of dollars.

What is the rarest Pokemon plush?

This is an often debated question. Some of the most valuable plushies include some of the giant size plushies like Tyranitar, Blaziken Pokedoll, Shiny Suicune, Raikou and Entei lottery plushies and more.

What is the largest Pokemon plush ever made?

This is up for debate as there are lots of bootleg or fake plushies that have been made, but for officially licensed Pokemon plush toys, it would probably be the giant sized Lapras made by Premium Bandai that you could actually ride on. It measured over 6 feet long and weighed more than 10kg. In addition, there was also a giant Wailord plush from the Pokemon Center that measured a whopping 57" (145cm) long, a giant Gardevoir that was 63" (160cm) tall, a giant Furret plush that was nearly 6 feet tall (180cm) and several of the Eeveelution plush toys and older giant plushies like Tyranitar were also very large.