Ranking of hottest Christmas toys: What would they cost with inflation in 2025?
When shoppers went wild for Cabbage Patch Kids
Cabbage Patch Dolls became the toy to have in 1983, prompting long lines and even some near-riots at stores across the United States. Here's how local news covered the craziness from coast to coast.
Over the decades, one thing never changes during the holidays – one toy in particular always seems to be the "it" toy that’s on every child’s wish list.
From Cabbage Patch Kids to Tickle Me Elmo, these toys have caused lines, fights and black markets – but they don’t always break the bank.
A Teddy Ruxpin doll from 1985.
The hottest toys at Christmas have come with various price tags over the years.
With a look at the CPI inflation calculator, here’s what the hottest toys of yesteryear would cost if they hit the market at the same retail price today:
Most popular Christmas toy 2025 prices with inflation
By the numbers:
The prices for the hottest toys in their respective years has the following buying power in 2025:
- Rubik’s Cube: $1.99 in 1980, $7.49 in 2025
- Cabbage Patch: $21 in 1983, $67.33 in 2025
- Teddy Ruxpin: $69.99 in 1985, $207.98 in 2025
- Beanie Babies: $5 in 1995, $10.58 in 2025
- Tickle Me Elmo: $28.99 in 1996, $59.37 in 2025
- Tamagotchi: $17.99 in 1997, $36.23 in 2025
- Furby: $29.99 in 1998, $59.43 in 2025
- Guitar Hero: $90 in 2007, $139.18 in 2025
- Hatchimals: $49.99 in 2016, $67 in 2025
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For perspective:
A Cabbage Patch doll would cost about the same as a Hatchimal if they both hit the market at their respective prices (1983, 2016) today: about $67.
Teddy Ruxpin, which was the hottest selling toy in 1985, would cost over $200 if it debuted on the market today.
The Source: Information in this report was taken from an aggregate of various archives of best-selling toys, and from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI inflation calculator. This story was reported from Detroit.