Ranking 21 Best SpongeBob SquarePants Characters

Who rules Bikini Bottom?

Who is the best character under the sea? Let's find out!

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21. Barnacle Boy

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Voiced by the late Tim Conway, Barnacle Boy was a worthy entrant to this list. He plays straight man to Mermaid Man and him being the "boy" of the duo while also being a senior citizen is a hilarious gag.

Best line: "You don't even remember breakfast, you old coot."

20. Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen

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He was No. 1! Well, not on this list. Turns out the fish Mr. Krabs made up in his head actually existed, and it gave us one of the best fake names ever: Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen. The character didn't get a lot of screen time, but his name made him a memorable character for sure.

Best line: "That's disgusting! We just want the hat back!"

19. Larry the Lobster

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A great body builder and lifeguard. Larry the Lobster is one of the most fun side characters of the bunch. Besides Larry, voice acting ace "Mr. Lawrence" also voices Potty the Parrot, Plankton, and the Realistic Fish-Head.

Best line: "Dude! You're ripped!" or "Breathe, darn you!"

18. Grandma SquarePants

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Grandma SquarePants' first episode was pretty memorable. She knew what she was doing when SpongeBob tried to act all "manly" in front of her and the results were hilarious. Voiced by Marion Ross from Happy Days, she serves as the perfect comforting voice. 

Best line: "And remember, you can kiss your grandma and still be an adult."

17. Squilliam Fancyson

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From the Bubble Bowl to the Fancy Five-Star Restaurant, Squilliam is another one of those characters that, when he shows up, you know you're getting a fire episode.

Best line: "I hope the audience brings plenty Ibuprofen."

16. Karen

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Behind every tiny man is a great computer wife...or something like that. Karen, voiced by Jill Talley, is a lovely character to bounce off of Plankton's evil deeds, especially when he needs his ego checked and she puts him in his place.

Best line: "Plankton: 1% Evil, 99% Hot Gas." 

15. DoodleBob

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In one of the most ridiculous SpongeBob episodes ever, SpongeBob uses a surface dweller's pencil to create the abomination DoodleBob. He speaks gibberish and is an all around menace. What's not to like?

Best line: "Me-Hoy-Minoy!"

14. Man Ray

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Voiced by John Rhys-Davies, Man Ray was my favorite Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy villain. His exchange with Patrick about dropping his wallet might be one of the top SpongeBob moments ever. Although he has appeared in far less episodes, he made his first appearance count.

Best line: "Excuse me sir, but I do believe you've dropped your wallet."

13. King Neptune

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There couldn't have been a better choice for the voice of King Neptune than actor John O'Hurley. He somehow might be the most over-the-top character under the sea, and that's saying a lot since there are some wacky personalities in Bikini Bottom.

Best line: "Make poses with me!" or "Why it tastes so good, I think I'd like to try it a second time!"

12. Mermaid Man

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Eeeeevil! The late Ernest Borgnine voiced the aged hero in the first few seasons and his knockoff Aquaman style is hilarious. The old and dynamic duo had some great episodes, along with some classic moments. Plus, who wouldn't want to take a spin in the invisible boatmobile?

Best line: "He's absorbing it like some kind of...EVIL SPONGE!"

11. Pearl

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Pearl is terribly underrated as a character. In the early seasons, she brought an interesting dynamic with other characters since she was the only teenager on the show. Especially all her interactions with her father Mr. Krabs and SpongeBob. 

Best line: "Ew, when you say it, it sounds so un-coral."

10. Gary the Snail

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Gary has never said a word (well, I guess in SpongeBob's dreams) but he has a lot of character/personality. I could do an entire post on that creepy episode of SpongeBob turning into a snail. Gary seems like a lovely pet and SpongeBob adores the ground he slithers on.

Best line: "Meow" or "Beware of your wandering eye, you little poriferan."

9. Patchy the Pirate

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Head of the SpongeBob SquarePants Fan Club, Patchy is incredibly likeable and is always present for special occasions. SpongeBob voice actor Tom Kenny plays Patchy...because who else could be SpongeBob's biggest fan?

Best line: "No, you silly livers...ha, ha...NO!"

8. Sandy Cheeks

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Sandy Cheeks, voiced by Carolyn Lawrence, kicks butt as this karate-loving, pro-science rodent. She befriended SpongeBob and has some fun interactions with all the critters in Bikini Bottom with some classic moments like the entire Alaskan Bull Worm episode and the home sick episode. Not bad for a squirrel from dumb old Texas.

Best line: "We could be tighter than bark on a tree!" or "Stupidity isn't a virus, but it sure is spreading like one."

7. The Flying Dutchman

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Howl into the night with the Flying Dutchman! Awooo! When actor Brian Doyle-Murray guests stars as the Dutchman, he always brings the scary and the chuckles. A very funny character that might be the best side character outside of the core sea critters. 

Best line: "Yes, but they're my dorks."

6. Mr. Eugene Krabs

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Maybe the character with the most one-liners, Mr. Krabs is money for the show. Voiced by the incredible Clancy Brown, Mr. Krabs' obsession with money, hatred for Plankton, and all around stinginess never gets old. The episodes with the treasure map and his millionth dollar are easily two of my favorites.

Best line: "I can think of ten good reasons to never let go of a dime, boy." or "What is today but yesterday's tomorrow?"

5. Patrick Star

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Is there a better friend than Patrick? He's not the brightest, but is great for some side-splitting laughs. He might be the king of quotable moments on the show. "Star" is literally in his name, so it shouldn't be shocking that he is a fan-favorite.

Best line: "Oh, east? I thought you said weast."

4. Sheldon J. Plankton

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Mr. Lawrence has outdone himself with Plankton. He's evil. He's diabolical. He is small. From the "FUN" song to switching places with Mr. Krabs, Plankton has been part of some classic shenanigans and is the loveable villain of Bikini Bottom in his quest for the Krabby Patty secret formula.

Best line: "I feel all tingly inside, should we stop?"

3. Mrs. Puff

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Mrs. Puff is CRIMINALLY underrated. Her loathing of SpongeBob is hilarious and all the boating episode in the first three seasons are too funny. She's always ready to snap on SpongeBob and Mary Jo Catlett always brings the right energy to the character.

Best line: "You need six hundred to pass, you got six."

2. Squidward Tentacles

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The perfect counter to all of SpongeBob's shenanigan's, the Squidward-centered episodes always end up being the best episodes. A very relatable character thanks to a wonderful performance by Rodger Bumpass. There's no heart to SpongeBob without Squidward.

Best line: "We serve food here, sir." or "Why must every eleven minutes of my life be filled with misery?"

1. SpongeBob SquarePants

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It's not even close. SpongeBob is the best character by a long shot. I know adults relate to Squidward now that they are older, but SpongeBob is the perfect blend of all kinds of humor. He can be annoying, snarky, but at the end of the day, is all around likeable. He is the lead character for a reason and there is something very pure about how Tommy Kenny portrays the goofy squared sponge.

Best line: "Jeez Squidward, maybe Santa will bring me a dictionary so I can understand what you just said."

Who is your favorite SpongeBob SquarePants character? I only selected 21 characters, so did someone get snubbed? Comment below!