Everyone’s obsessed with this $2.50 duck—and it’s not just a toy!

Something small, bright, and quacky has captured the imagination of Australians everywhere.

People are visiting stores more than once a week, shelves are emptying in record time, and collectors are grinning from ear to ear.

For just $2.50, a humble rubber duck has become the unlikely star of a nationwide trend.

The Reject Shop's Novelty Duckies

The Reject Shop's Novelty Duckies have turned an ordinary toy into a national obsession.

Dressed in more than 25 costumes—from doctors and chefs to cowboys, superheroes, ballerinas, and fairies—these ducks aren’t just bath-time companions, they are mini treasures waiting to be discovered.

Shoppers joked about needing bigger bathrooms or declared, 'Oh my god, I need them all,' as social media filled with pictures of colourful collections.

The Science Behind the Obsession

Rubber ducks evoke nostalgia, reminding many adults of childhood bath-time memories, which creates emotional attachment that lasts into adulthood.

Professor Cathrine Jansson-Boyd explained that these feelings often trigger trendification, turning small items into status symbols that shoppers feel compelled to own.

For seniors, affordability plays a big role.

At $2.50 each, these ducks offer excitement and collectibility without stretching a pension budget, unlike some high-priced collectibles that can cost hundreds of dollars.

Cruising with Duckies

The trend has spilled beyond store shelves, particularly among cruise-goers who hide ducks for fellow passengers as part of playful scavenger hunts.

What began as a small act of kindness has grown into a popular tradition on many cruise lines.

Imagine discovering a tiny superhero duck tucked beside the ship's library or a chef duck waiting in the dining room.

More Than Child’s Play

Duck World stores reported that collectors were equally divided between tourists, gift seekers, families, and people across age groups.

Rubber ducks found their way into classrooms as teaching rewards, onto office desks as stress relievers, and even into cars for the 'Jeep ducking' trend, where Jeep owners leave ducks on other Jeeps with notes.

Teachers tagged colleagues on social media, writing, 'We should get these for our class as Christmas presents,' while others stocked up for festive gifting.

Their versatility—sparking conversation, easing stress, and acting as thoughtful gifts—adds to their universal appeal.

Small acts of kindness, like hiding ducks, boost wellbeing for all involved.

Part of a Bigger Picture

This duck mania aligns with a broader trend of affordable collectibles going viral.

Earlier shortages of Stanley-style cups and viral recipe ingredients showed that people were prioritising small, mood-boosting purchases even while budgeting carefully.

The Reject Shop has tapped into this with novelty homewares, from Amalfi Coast-style dipping bowls for $2 to camera-shaped teapots for $14.

With plans for a multi-million-dollar expansion adding 700 new stores, The Reject Shop is poised to deliver more limited-edition ranges and viral collectibles.

After successful series like Bistrot Bee and French Provincial, the retailer is now firmly competing with Kmart and Target in the affordable homewares space.

For now, it’s the $2.50 Novelty Duckies that have captured our hearts.

Whether for a cruise, a classroom, or a cheerful bathroom shelf, these little characters offer the simple joy of collecting, sharing, and spreading happiness for just a few dollars.

If you’ve enjoyed discovering the charm of these $2.50 rubber ducks, you might be surprised to learn that other childhood toys can also hold hidden value.

Tracking down these nostalgic items can be a fun hunt, much like searching for rare duck characters in stores or on cruises.

For a closer look at which toys could be worth a fortune—and how to find them—check out this insightful guide.

Read more: Those childhood toys stuck in your house could be worth a fortune—but finding them will cost you

The real question isn’t whether you need a rubber duck collection—it’s whether you’ve dared to hunt for that first elusive duck yet.