BE@RBRICK sizes range from the 7cm 100% (blind box entry level) to the 70cm 1000% (flagship floor statement), with the 28cm 400% standing as the collector standard and the most liquid size on the secondary market. Choosing the right scale depends on display space, budget, and whether you are buying for daily enjoyment, portfolio building, or trophy display.
This guide breaks down every BE@RBRICK size produced by Medicom Toy Tokyo since the line debuted in 2001, pricing dynamics across the scale ladder, and which size delivers the best risk-adjusted returns for collectors. Gauntlet Gallery, founded in 2012, draws on a database of 160,000+ comparable sales to inform every BE@RBRICK acquisition and listing decision.
The BE@RBRICK Size System Explained
BE@RBRICK figures are produced by Medicom Toy Incorporated in Tokyo and have been issued at multiple percentage-based scale points since the line first appeared at the 2001 World Character Convention. The percentage refers to the figure's size relative to the original 7cm baseline. A 400% BE@RBRICK is four times the height of a 100%, and a 1000% is ten times the baseline.
Not every release is produced at every scale. Most collaborations are issued as either standalone 100%/400% sets, standalone 1000% pieces, or rarer 400% + 1000% paired releases. The 50%, 200%, and 70% sizes appear in select Series and special releases but are far less common than the three canonical sizes.
The Standard Size Ladder
| Size | Height | Format | Typical Use Case | Liquidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 7cm (2.75in) | Blind box, paired with 400% | Entry level, shelf clusters | Moderate |
| 400% | 28cm (11in) | Single boxed figure | Desktop, display shelf | Highest |
| 1000% | 70cm (27.5in) | Single boxed flagship | Floor display, gallery | Lower volume, higher ticket |
| 50% | 3.5cm | Keychain, multi-pack | Accessory, novelty | Low |
| 200% | 14cm | Limited series | Mid-shelf display | Low |
100% BE@RBRICK: The Entry Point
At 7cm tall, the 100% is the original BE@RBRICK form factor and remains the most accessible entry point into the line. The 100% is almost always sold either as part of a blind box Series (the numbered Series releases that run sequentially) or as a paired set with a matching 400% figure under a single collaboration banner.
For a new collector, the 100% offers exposure to artist collaborations at a fraction of larger-scale pricing. The format also enables shelf clustering: collectors frequently build out groups of 10, 20, or more 100% figures from a single Series to display as a cohesive grid. The drawback is that 100% figures rarely appreciate on a standalone basis once separated from their paired 400% counterpart.
400% BE@RBRICK: The Collector Standard
The 28cm 400% is the most important size in the entire BE@RBRICK ecosystem. It is the format most frequently issued for major artist collaborations, the format with the deepest secondary market liquidity, and the format that anchors the majority of price discovery across the category.
The 400% sits at the intersection of display practicality and investment scale. It is large enough to function as a desktop or shelf statement piece, yet small enough to ship, store, and trade with relative ease compared to the 1000%. Authenticated 400% collaborations from blue-chip partners regularly clear four-figure prices on the secondary market, and trophy releases reach five figures.
From a portfolio standpoint, the 400% has historically delivered the strongest compound annual growth rate balanced against liquidity. When collectors ask which single size to prioritize, the answer in nearly every case is the 400%.
Why 400% Outperforms on Liquidity
Three structural factors drive 400% liquidity dominance:
- Production scale. Medicom issues 400% figures at higher unit counts than 1000% pieces, creating a deeper float and more frequent transaction data.
- Display universality. The 28cm scale fits virtually any home, office, or gallery environment.
- Shipping economics. A 400% box ships internationally without the freight surcharges and damage risk associated with a 1000%.
1000% BE@RBRICK: The Flagship
The 70cm 1000% is the flagship of the BE@RBRICK line and the size that commands the highest absolute prices at auction. A 1000% is a piece of furniture as much as it is a collectible. The size demands dedicated floor space, considered lighting, and in most cases a buyer who treats the figure as a permanent installation rather than a rotating display item.
Pricing on 1000% releases reflects this scale. Trophy 1000% collaborations from blue-chip partners regularly clear five and six figures at major auction houses, with the strongest releases reaching well into the high five-figure to low six-figure range for pristine, fully documented examples.
For collectors with the budget and the wall, a 1000% is the format that delivers the strongest single-piece visual impact and the highest absolute price appreciation on trophy releases. The trade-off is lower transaction frequency, longer time to liquidate, and meaningfully higher authentication stakes given the dollar value.
The 400% + 1000% Paired Set Premium
When a collaboration is issued as a matched 400% and 1000% set, the combined pair commands a significant premium over the sum of the individual figures sold separately. Collectors prize complete pairs because the visual rhymes between the desktop 400% and the floor-anchor 1000% deliver a curated, intentional display.
The premium for a complete, authenticated, original-box paired set can run materially above the standalone sum, and the spread widens as the release ages and pairs are broken up on the secondary market. For investors, sourcing complete pairs at the time of release is one of the highest-confidence plays in the category.
Authentication: OneCOA and the NFC Chip Era
BE@RBRICK authentication has matured significantly. Newer Medicom releases ship with embedded NFC chips and are documented under the OneCOA standard, which links the physical figure to a digital certificate of authenticity. Gauntlet Gallery authenticates every BE@RBRICK passing through inventory against original-release documentation, packaging signatures, and where applicable the OneCOA NFC record.
For a full breakdown of authentication chains, common counterfeit indicators, and market value drivers across all BE@RBRICK sizes, see our complete BE@RBRICK collector guide.
Which Size Should You Buy?
The answer depends on your collecting goal:
- First BE@RBRICK and learning the market: Start with a 100%/400% paired release from an artist you genuinely care about. You get scale variety, lower total ticket, and an education in pricing dynamics.
- Building a portfolio with liquidity: Concentrate on 400% figures from blue-chip collaborations. The 400% is the single most-traded scale and offers the cleanest combination of price appreciation and exit flexibility.
- Trophy display and maximum visual impact: A 1000% from a major collaboration is unmatched. Plan the display space first, then source the piece.
- Highest-confidence investment play: Acquire complete 400% + 1000% paired sets at release, store both with original packaging intact, and hold.
Whichever size you choose, authentication and provenance are the only variables that protect your downside. Buy from operators who can document the chain.
Shop Authenticated BE@RBRICK at Gauntlet Gallery
Every BE@RBRICK in our inventory is authenticated against the OneCOA standard where applicable and benchmarked against our 160,000+ comparable sales database. Browse the current Gauntlet Gallery collection to see what is available across the 100%, 400%, and 1000% scale ladder.
