Start with the size, then pick the Pokémon
The first thing to decide is where the plush is going to live. A mini under 15cm fits in a coat pocket, a pencil case or a Christmas stocking. A small plush, 15 to 24cm, is what most people mean by a Pokémon soft toy: big enough to hug, small enough to take everywhere. Medium plush, 25 to 39cm, is the largest group in the shop and suits a bed or a sofa. Past 40cm you're into large plush, and 60cm and over is what we call giant.
Plenty of brands list sizes in inches, so here's a rough guide. 20cm is about 8 inches, 30cm is close to 12 inches and 45cm is roughly 18 inches. A "12 inch" plush you've seen somewhere else is a medium in our filters.
Some designs come in several heights. Our Giant Pikachu, for example, starts at 20cm and goes all the way up to 65cm, so you can pick the same face at a size that suits the room.
The five characters with their own pages
A handful of Pokémon have so many plush that they get a page of their own. Pikachu is far ahead of everyone else, and Pikachu plush toys is the place for the giant and sleeping versions, plus Pikachu in costume. Eevee is second. The Eevee plush toys page also holds its eight evolutions, which is handy if you're trying to collect the whole family.
Fans of the original Fire starter's final form should go to Charizard plush toys, where the Mega and Gigantamax forms live. Snorlax plush toys lean towards big, round cushions you can actually rest on. And Gengar plush toys is all grins and purple fur, a popular pick around Halloween.
Psyduck and Mimikyu are the two we send out most often after those five, with Jigglypuff and Lapras never far behind.
Collecting a starter and its evolutions
A lot of people don't buy one plush. They buy a line. Pick a starter Pokémon, then add the middle stage and the final evolution, and you have a small set that tells a story on a shelf. Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard is the classic example from Kanto, and the Bulbasaur and Squirtle lines are just as easy to complete.
Later games are covered too. Piplup from Sinnoh, Greninja from Kalos, Scorbunny from Galar and Sprigatito from Paldea all have plush in the range, so a fan who started with Scarlet and Violet isn't stuck with Kanto characters they've never played with.
Shiny colours, Mega forms and Legendaries
Collectors tend to look past the standard colours. A shiny plush says so in the name, and some are quite a change: Shiny Rayquaza is black where the normal one is green. Mega Evolutions, from the X and Y games, give familiar Pokémon a sharper look, and Mega Charizard is the one people ask for most.
Legendary and Mythical Pokémon make a good present for an older fan who already owns the obvious ones. Mewtwo and Mew are the usual starting point, while regional forms such as Alolan Vulpix add something a little less common to a collection.
What's new this year
New designs come in through the year. The latest are grouped in Pokémon Plush 2026 and Pokémon Plushies 2026. Several old favourites have had a refresh, with a new face or a softer fabric, so if you already own a Snorlax or a Jigglypuff from a few years ago, the 2026 version won't look like a duplicate.
Plush for bedtime and the sofa
Some plush are made to be slept on rather than looked at. Sleeping Pokémon plush are shaped in a curled-up pose, so they lie flat on a pillow and don't tip over in the night. Sleeping Pikachu and Sleeping Eevee are the usual picks for a child's bed. If you'd rather have something to lean on during a long gaming session, look at our Pokémon cushions & pillows, which include plush cushions shaped like Snorlax and Gengar.
Buying a cuddly toy as a gift
For a young child, go for a Pokémon they already know from the cartoon or the games, at 20 to 30cm. It's light to carry and still fits in bed. Some plush have small parts like claws or sewn-on accessories, so read the safety note on the product page before buying for a baby or toddler. Care instructions are there too, as some plush can go in the washing machine and others are hand wash only.
Teenagers and adult fans are a different story. They usually already have a Pikachu, so a Legendary, a shiny or a giant plush tends to go down better. Prices start from £11.90, which makes a mini an easy add-on to a birthday card or a party bag.
In December, small plush fill a lot of our Pokémon stocking fillers, and the bigger ones sit with bundles and sets in Pokémon Christmas gifts. UK tracked delivery takes 8 to 10 working days, at £3.99 or free on orders over £45, and you have 14 days to return anything that isn't right.