Short answer
Put your Bearbricks on shelves or in a closed display cabinet out of direct sunlight, use LED lighting, and group the figures by theme, size or colour. A 400% (approx. 28 cm) needs a shelf height of at least approx. 30 cm, and a 1000% (approx. 70 cm) works best as the centrepiece of the collection. Dust with a soft brush or microfibre cloth.
Your first Bearbrick usually finds its own place. It is at figure number five or ten that it gets interesting: where should they go, how do you stop the shelf looking like a stockroom, and how do you keep them looking good? Here are the solutions we see working for collectors – with photos from customers' own collections.
Inspiration from customers' collections
The photos here are from customers' own collections. What good displays have in common is space between the figures, an idea behind the order, and light falling on the figures rather than on the wall behind them.
Shelves: how much space do you need?
Shelves are the easiest and cheapest solution. The most important thing is to know the measurements:
| Size | Height (approx.) | Shelf height we recommend | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 7 cm | At least 10 cm | Narrow shelves, desk, in front of larger figures |
| 200% | 14 cm | At least 18 cm | Ordinary bookcases and wall shelves |
| 400% | 28 cm | At least 30–32 cm | Bookcase compartment, display cabinet, sideboard |
| 1000% | 70 cm | More than 70 cm | Floor, low sideboard, tall display cabinet |
A little headroom makes the figure look as if it was placed there on purpose. If you have lots of 100% figures, a small tiered riser – where each row stands slightly higher than the one in front – is a good way to show them all on one shelf. See the measurements for every size in our size guide.
Be careful with glass shelves: they look great, but a detailed 400% can look heavy on a thin pane of glass. Check the load capacity, and fix tall bookcases to the wall.
Display cabinet: protect against dust
A closed display cabinet with glass doors is the best solution if you want to avoid dusting every week. The figures are protected, and the glass gives the collection a more finished look. Measure the internal height between the shelves before you buy, and remember that many display cabinets have adjustable shelves – so you can create one tall compartment for 400% and several low ones for 100%.
If the cabinet will stand in a room with lots of daylight, glass or acrylic with a UV filter can protect the colours further.
Lighting: LED, no direct sun
Direct sunlight is the biggest enemy of a Bearbrick collection, because the colours can fade over time. Avoid windowsills and shelves where the sun shines for several hours a day.
- Use LED: LED lights give off little heat and emit almost no UV radiation. LED strips along the front edge of the shelf or small spotlights at the top of a display cabinet work well.
- Light from the front or above: Light from behind creates silhouettes, and then the details in the print disappear.
- Warm or neutral white: This reproduces colours most naturally. Chrome and glossy surfaces look stunning under spotlights, while matt figures benefit from softer light.
How to group your collection
By theme
The most obvious method: one shelf of Disney, one of art, one of music. It makes the collection easy for guests to read. Find figures for each theme on the page with all Bearbrick themes, or read our guides to Disney, BAPE and art Bearbricks.
Art Bearbricks are particularly good for a themed shelf, because they work like small paintings side by side:
By colour
A row of figures in the colours of the rainbow is one of the most photogenic displays. Grateful Dead Dancing Bears come in several colours, so four figures in blue, orange, pink and yellow give you a colour line straight away.
400%
Grateful Dead - Dancing Bears (Costume Ver. Blue)
$287.00
View figure →
400%
Grateful Dead - Dancing Bears (Costume Ver. Orange)
$287.00
View figure →
400%
Grateful Dead - Dancing Bears (Costume Ver. Pink)
$287.00
View figure →
400%
Grateful Dead - Dancing Bears (Costume Ver. Yellow)
$287.00
View figure →
By series and shape
Medicom Toy also makes figures in other animal shapes, such as Nyabrick (cat) and Rabbrick (rabbit). If you display the same colourway in two shapes, or the same figure in two colours such as Batman Hush in black and blue, the shelf gets a common thread.
By size
Large figures at the back or in the middle, small ones at the front and sides. That creates depth, and no figure hides behind another.
100% and 400% from the same set
Many designs are sold as a set with a 100% and a 400%. The small figure easily gets lost if it stands alone on a big shelf. Instead, place it in front of or next to its big twin – then it is immediately clear that they belong together, and the difference between 7 and 28 cm becomes part of the display. Chrome sets work especially well this way, because the small figure reflects the light from the big one.
See all Bearbricks with a chrome finish and all 400% Bearbricks.
A 1000% as the centrepiece
A 1000% Bearbrick of approx. 70 cm pulls a whole wall together. Place it on the floor next to the bookcase or on a low sideboard, and let the 400% figures stand around it. Choose a 1000% in a theme that recurs in the rest of the collection, so it ties everything together. Remember a stable, level surface and a spot away from walkways – read more in our guide to 1000% Bearbricks.
Displays in different rooms
- Living room: This is where a 1000% or a full shelf of 400% figures makes the biggest impact. Place the collection where it can be seen from the sofa, but not in direct sunlight from the window.
- Home office: A 100% or a 100% + 400% set on the desk or the shelf behind you, where it also shows on video calls.
- Hallway: A single 400% on a console table or a small shelving unit gives a warm welcome. Avoid a 1000% here, where people walk close by.
- Bedroom and children's room: Keep the figures high up and stable so they do not become toys. Bearbricks are collectible figures, not toys for young children.
Music Bearbricks suit a spot by the record player, and cartoon figures look great in a colourful room. See music Bearbricks, cartoon Bearbricks and Disney Bearbricks.
Dust and care
- Standard figures: Dust with a soft brush or a microfibre cloth. Avoid water and cleaning products.
- Chrome: Shows fingerprints. Use a dry, clean microfibre cloth, and hold the figure by the feet when you move it.
- Flocked: The soft surface traps dust. Brush gently with a soft brush instead of wiping.
- The box: Keep it. It protects the figure when you move house, and it affects the resale value.
A display cabinet cuts dusting down to a few times a year. On open shelves, every other week is a good starting point.
How to photograph your collection
A great display deserves a good photo. Shoot in daylight from a window, but without the sun hitting the figures directly. Hold the camera at the figures' eye level rather than shooting from above, and clear the shelf of anything that is not part of the collection. A calm background – a white wall or a dark back panel in the display cabinet – brings out the colours. Take both a shot of the whole collection and close-ups of individual figures, so the details in the print come through.
More customer collections
More photos from customers' own collections – see how others have arranged their displays at home.
If you are missing the next figure for your shelf, start with the newest Bearbricks or the most popular Bearbricks. If you are new, you will find help in the guide to your first Bearbrick, and in the price guide you can see what the figures cost today. If you want to start a collection for someone else, we have suggestions in the Christmas gift guide and the birthday guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you display Bearbricks?
On shelves or in a closed display cabinet out of direct sunlight, with LED lighting from the front or above. Group them by theme, size or colour, and give the figures some space.
How tall does a shelf need to be for a 400% Bearbrick?
A 400% is approx. 28 cm tall, so the shelf height should be at least approx. 30–32 cm. See all measurements in the size guide.
Can Bearbricks handle sunlight?
Direct sunlight can make the colours fade over time. Keep them away from windows with direct sun, and use LED lighting, which emits almost no UV.
How do you clean a Bearbrick?
Dust with a soft brush or a microfibre cloth, and avoid water and cleaning products. Brush flocked figures gently, and wipe chrome with a dry microfibre cloth.
Where should you put a 1000% Bearbrick?
On the floor, a low sideboard or in a tall display cabinet, on a stable, level surface. Read more in the guide to 1000% Bearbricks.
