The Funniest SpongeBob SquarePants Episodes, Ranked (2024)

SpongeBob SquarePants has been making kids and adults laugh for years, thanks to its offbeat, slapstick humor and slick writing, and the funniest SpongeBob episodes both stand the test of time and demonstrate why it's among the most successful Nickelodeon cartoons so far. It's hard to find an episode that doesn't bring the laughs, but certain ones stand above the rest, and it remains to be seen if future seasons can top them. The episodes that stood the test of time are some of the wackiest and most outrageous in the entire series.

The long-running animated series has enough funny episodes to keep audiences going, and there's no shortage of laughs. Many of the funniest SpongeBob episodes were in the first two seasons, though later entries certainly never dropped the ball — as evidenced by the show's longevity. The show continues to churn out laugh-out-loud moments in the decades since its debut. If it weren't for the enormous bursts of unhinged creativity from the minds of the writers, SpongeBob may never have solidified himself as a children's pop culture icon.

20 "Bubblestand"

Season 1, Episode 2

The first season wasn't expected to have as many true classics as others, and that is because the show was still trying to find its feet at the time. However, there are big moments, and one of those is the very second episode ever. The big shining moment here was the section titled "Bubblestand." This starts off as one of the best things that happens in almost every episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. Whether he means to or not, this is SpongeBob driving Squidward nuts by doing something dumb.

In this case, it is the Bubblestand that SpongeBob sets up for fun. He then shows how great he is at blowing bubbles, which then seemingly drives Squidward into a massive rage, as he wants to blow the biggest bubble ever. With that said, there is no beating SpongeBob at something this silly, and no matter how hard Squidward tried, he could only fail. And that only makes him madder, and the hilarity grows from there as SpongeBob innocently keeps driving the point home.

19 "SB-129"

Season 1, Episode 14

In the first season's 14th episode, SpongeBob SquarePants turns into one of the most ambitious and creative animated cartoons of its generation, and it is nothing like what many fans have gotten used to over the years. It all starts off innocently, with SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Starfish trying to get Squidward to go jellyfishing with them. However, that then turns into something very weird as Squidward hides in the Krusty Krab freezer and accidentally locks himself in.

In something that makes no sense at all when one thinks about it, no one unlocked or opened the freezer for 2,000 years. That means that Squidward ended up frozen for all those years and then woke up in the future. Squidward then somehow begins traveling through time and even travels to the primitive era, where he accidentally invents jelly fishing (meaning he created the one thing he tried to avoid initially). He also ends up in another dimension and experiences complete loneliness. It was bizarre and hilarious.

18 "Employee Of The Month"

Season 1, Episode 12

In the first season of SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Employee of the Month," SpongeBob and Squidward end up locked in a competition to win the Employee of the Month award at the Krusty Krab. As most fans know, SpongeBob wins this award every single month (mostly because Squidward doesn't care). However, SpongeBob is also unwilling to give up a chance to win the award just so Squidward can get one for himself, creating the show's funny competition.

This turned into a night of battling between the two, with some crazed booby traps set up along the way. Of all the SpongeBob SquarePants funny episodes, this one is the closest it comes to straight-up slapstick humor in the form of The Keystone Kops. The two employees do everything that they can to one-up the other and mostly just make each other look as bad as ever along the way. By the end, neither of them deserves the title, but that is barely the point of the episode.

17 "Dying For Pie "

Season 2, Episode 24

In the SpongeBob SquarePants episode, "Dying for Pie," SpongeBob does something nice for Squidward. SpongeBob gives his co-worker and neighbor a present that he made — a handmade sweater using his own eyelashes. This is something that SpongeBob worked very hard on, even though it sounds like a very gross and disturbing present. Of course, Squidward sees what it is and decides to give SpongeBob a present in return.

However, believing the sweater was a gag gift, Squidward's present to SpongeBob is a bomb that looks like a pie, in revenge. This backfires on Squidward because SpongeBob loves the present and eats the bomb. Knowing that he just inadvertently killed SpongeBob, Squidward goes overboard, being as nice as possible to SpongeBob before he dies when the bomb explodes. It is deep, but the entire situation is played for laughs.

16 "Boating School"

Season 1, Episode 4

It is easy to feel sorry for Mrs. Puff, and the very first time she ever appears, viewers get an idea what her life is like thanks to SpongeBob SquarePants. She is, of course, his boating instructor at school, and he is the worst student in her class. He is also the most obnoxious, annoying, and overly attentive (without ever really learning anything) student as well. In this first appearance of Mrs. Puff, things get worse than she could ever imagine when Patrick decides to help SpongeBob pass his driving exam.

The idea of Patrick helping anyone pass any kind of exam is ludicrous at best, but, in this case, it just makes Mrs. Puff's job harder than she ever could have imagined. When Patrick decides to help SpongeBob pass by cheating by putting a microphone in his hat and giving him instructions, SpongeBob confesses out of guilt, and when Mrs. Puff tries to stop him from confessing just so she can get rid of him, it shows how much she wants him out of her life.

15 "Help Wanted"

Season 1, Episode 1

The first episode of SpongeBob SquarePants still ranks as one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes ever, and it deserves special mention for getting the ball rolling between the classic SpongeBob/Mr. Krabs duo. SpongeBob heads into the Krusty Krab to ask for a job as a fry cook, but Squidward and Mr. Krabs send him on an impossible errand to try and throw him off course. This doesn't matter at all because SpongeBob won't be deterred.

Not only does SpongeBob complete the task, but he also sets about impressing Mr. Krabs and scoring his now-famous position as Krabby Patty cook. This set up countless adventures for SpongeBob SquarePants and Mr. Krabs for the future thanks to this new role of employment for the little annoying sponge. Audiences who grew up with Ren & Stimpy felt right at home with the madcap comedy, but for newcomers and kids alike, this was a whole new level of fun.

14 "The Camping Episode"

Season 3, Episode 57

One of the silliest and funniest SpongeBob episodes is undoubtedly this season 3 episode, focusing on SpongeBob and Patrick camping out.Squidward decides to join in on the fun but becomes annoyed when he discovers that the duo is camping out only a few feet from SpongeBob's house. Nevertheless, they continue through the night in a series of madcap goofs around the campfire, until a menacing Sea Bear shows up.

Squidward expresses vehemently throughout the episode that Sea Bears aren't real, but the humor picks up when a creature with a fish's body and a bear's head attacks him multiple times. After some quick thinking, the trio quells the threat, which in turn leaves Squidward staring down the nose of a Sea Rhinoceros, for absolutely no good reason other than confused laughter.

13 "Pizza Delivery"

Season 1, Episode 5

A routine pizza delivery turns into a hilarious nightmare scenario when Mr. Krabs tasks SpongeBob and Squidward to bring the Krusty Krab's new dish to the front doors of Bikini Bottom in one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes. It's one of the first examples of the zaniness that takes place when SpongeBob is allowed to get behind the wheel of a car, which would later become a recurring gag on the show.

When SpongeBob begins using the ways of the pioneers to locate the way back to town, he ends up dancing like a fool while a hungry Squidward makes a go for the pizza. It's one blunder after another until the two finally make their way to their delivery destination. Unfortunately, the customer accuses the pair of forgetting his Diet Dr. Kelp and slams the door in their face, resulting in one of the most relatable Squidward moments as he throws the pizza in the customer's face.

12 "Graveyard Shift"

Season 2, Episode 36

Greedy as ever, Mr. Krabs decides to keep the Krusty Krab open to take advantage of late-night business in "Graveyard Shift." SpongeBob is overjoyed at the thought of working forever, while Squidward is less than enthused. To put a damper on SpongeBob's excitement, Squidward takes advantage of his fear of the dark in some creative ways.

He tells SpongeBob a story of a fry cook who once severed his hand and replaced it with a rusty spatula named the Hash Slinging Slasher. It's a great plan until both SpongeBob and Squidward start to think the infamous killer might be real. This is one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes for several reasons, including the end shot showing Count Orlok from the classic vampire film Nosferatu flicking the lights on and off, who the Krusty Krab employees probably should've been scared of all along.

11 "Survival Of The Idiots"

Season 2, Episode 29

The creation of "Pinhead" and "Dirty Dan" occurs in one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes from season 2, "Survival of the Idiots." SpongeBob and Patrick end up angering the laws of nature itself when they rouse Sandy from her winter hibernation. This ends up creating one of the most hilarious moments between SpongeBob and Sandy, showing a side of her that audiences had never seen up to that point.

After their loud antics cause Sandy to wake up in a rage, Patrick crafts a crude pair of earmuffs for her, made out of his belly button lint. The madness doesn't stop as SpongeBob and Patrick frolic in this new winter wonderland, at least until a series of unfortunate events forces them to pull all of Sandy's fur off to stay warm. The idea of the snow at the bottom of the sea is strange in and of itself, but the fun and adventures of SpongeBob and Patrick make it worth the watch.

10 "Frankendoodle"

Season 2, Episode 34

Not only is it one of the most meta installments in the kid's show, but "Frankendoodle" stands out as one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes thanks to one chaotic side character. When SpongeBob and Patrick come across a "magic" pencil that brings their drawings to life, SpongeBob decides to draw himself for the sake of a prank. He ends up creating a double named DoodleBob, who turns out to be a deranged evil copy who wants SpongeBob out of the picture — permanently.

SpongeBob mistakenly thinks he used the eraser of the pencil to get rid of DoodleBob, which is where the show pulls a fast one on the viewer. DoodleBob's arm survives, and he uses the pencil to redraw himself before going after SpongeBob. The battle ends in a particularly poetic fashion, closing the book on this quirky episode. It is another case of a SpongeBob episode that goes above and beyond what anyone would expect from a cartoon.

9 "Snowball Effect"

Season 3, Episode 46

Squidward ends up being on the receiving end of the flak once more in "Snowball Effect." Bikini Bottom is deluged with snowfall, and it's an excuse for him to instigate a snowball fight between SpongeBob and Patrick. However, when the two sign a peace treaty, Squidward becomes enraged and tries to instigate hostilities again, only going on to make things worse for himself because nothing will ever work out when Squidward is operating on anger.

The episode gets especially funny when Squidward gets in on the action, building himself a massive fort out of sheer paranoia. It's a rare display of Squidward enjoying himself, at least until his neurotic personality ends up getting the best of him, ruining the entire experience. There are a few laugh-out-loud gags in the installment, such as Patrick trying to form a snowball and making every other shape and Squidward's fireplace being put out by a thrown snowball.

8 "Hall Monitor"

Season 1, Episode 7

Rarely does power go to SpongeBob's head, but this turned out to be the case in "Hall Monitor." Irony strikes when SpongeBob is given Hall Monitor duties by a reluctant Mrs. Puff, only for the uniform to go straight to his head. After boring the entire school with a day-long speech, SpongeBob is allowed to keep the uniform on until the next day, which ends up causing him to go overboard. SpongeBob becomes overly bossy and soon doesn't even realize how bad he has become.

SpongeBob declares himself the Hall Monitor of the entire city, and his actions create complete and utter chaos in the streets. It's one laugh after another as the police begin a manhunt for SpongeBob, who doesn't realize that he's the culprit. The episode ends in eye-watering fashion when Mrs. Puff ends up in jail because of the incident. What makes this really funny is that Mrs. Puff doesn't seem to mind being in jail, because it means she is not with SpongeBob anymore, until he shows up to visit.

7 "Shanghaied"

Season 2, Episode 33

One of the best side characters in SpongeBob Squarepants, the Flying Dutchman is introduced in one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes, "Shanghaied." Upset an anchor struck his house, Squidward decides to give the shipowner a piece of his mind, with SpongeBob and Patrick in tow. What follows is one of the funniest episodes of the entire series. Squidward gets thrown into the "Fly of Despair," while Patrick and SpongeBob become a part of the Flying Dutchman's crew for all eternity.

Unfortunately, they're rotten at their jobs, which leads to some outright hilarity and some of the funniest moments in the entire series. They fail to try and escape until they snatch the Dutchman's dining sock, which causes him to agree to grant them three wishes. The episode ended with three possible, equally oddball endings, which was unusual for the show, and made for some fun chatter among the SpongeBob SquarePants fandom.

6 "Chocolate With Nuts"

Season 3, Episode 52

One of the most heavily-memed SpongeBob moments comes from "Chocolate With Nuts." After SpongeBob receives a magazine depicting the luxurious lifestyles of the wealthy, he and Patrick go door-to-door selling chocolate. From the beginning, it's a mess as customers go wild for the product, and the friends get conned by another sales representative. Eventually, they try to change tactics to get ahead with this crazed get right quick scheme of theirs.

One particular scene, seeing the pair encounter Mary and her aging mother, is one of the most highly-quoted moments of the series. Hours after jumping through hoops, an eccentric customer finally catches up with them and offers to buy all their chocolate, making them a fortune in the process. One of the highlights of the episode occurs at the end when SpongeBob and Patrick take Mary and her mother out on an expensive (and twisted) double date.

5 "No Free Rides"

Season 2, Episode 10

One of the funniest running gags of SpongeBob Squarepants began with this classic episode in season 2. SpongeBob is out to get his boating exam, which tends to end in disaster whenever he gets behind the wheel. A traumatized Mrs. Puff would rather not deal with the hassle of trying to help a lost cause, so she essentially walks him through to a passing grade. All she wants to do is get SpongeBob out of her class once and for all, but the problem is that Mrs. Puff actually has morals.

The funniest part of the episode occurs when Mrs. Puff begins regretting her decision and has nightmares about SpongeBob on the road. The episode is both shocking and hilarious for depicting SpongeBob crashing into things and running people over, prompting her to devise a desperate scheme to keep him off the road. Voice actress Mary Jo Catlett was nominated for an Annie Award for her portrayal of Mrs. Puff in one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes.

4 "Idiot Box"

Season 3, Episode 44

"Idiot Box" is one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes because of its reverse-logic theme involving SpongeBob and Patrick buying a TV, simply for the box. Squidward takes the TV, but when he hears all the fun SpongeBob and Patrick are having in the box, he's stricken with a terrible case of curiosity and a need to investigate. This is a case where SpongeBob and Patrick don't need anything to have fun other than their imaginations, but Squidward doesn't understand.

It's a hilarious look into the mind of SpongeBob Squarepants' tragically sympathetic Squidward, a character with no sense of humor and even less of an imagination. When he tries to follow suit and use that imagination to have fun, he ends up in the middle of a landfill with nothing to show for it. The episode accurately and hilariously shades in facets of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward's characters and won a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Television Animation.

3 "Arrgh!"

Season 1, Episode 17

One of the funniest SpongeBob episodes also includes an oft-repeated Patrick Star one-liner: "East? I thought you said, Weest!" When Mr. Krabs becomes too invested in a board game, he decides to try turning it into a treasure hunt, recruiting SpongeBob and Patrick to find a real-life treasure. The episode is notoriously funny for its overuse of the word "arrgh," which Patrick badly mispronounces. The simple gag of Patrick being unable to say the word right is somehow still hilarious everytime he attempts it.

Later, Patrick leads the treasure-seekers west when they are supposed to be going east, all due to a hilarious mispronunciation. The episode is especially funny for portraying Mr. Krabs as his regular greedy self, only amplified many times over for the sake of finding the treasure. "Arrgh" was critically acclaimed as well, receiving a Best Sound Editing in Television Animation accolade from the Golden Reel Awards.

2 "Rock Bottom"

Season 1, Episode 17

SpongeBob is known for its surrealist humor, and one of the funniest SpongeBob episodes leans into this element tenfold. This episode centers on SpongeBob getting stuck in a particularly scary part of the sea known as Rock Bottom, known for its inherent darkness, weird assortment of creatures, and a different way of speaking that includes blowing raspberries. He tries to hop on a bus back to Bikini Bottom, but the fates are hilariously against him at every turn, leaving him alone in the dark.

Getting home involves receiving some help from a balloon and an odd anglerfish who seems to blow raspberries for no discernible reason without saying anything else. But, the anglerfish uses SpongeBob's glove balloon to get him home. It's weird and bizarre, and one of the oddest and funniest episodes of the show. The installment, paired with "Arrgh!," received a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Television Animation.

1 "Band Geeks"

Season 2, Episode 35

One of the funniest SpongeBob episodes and one of the most memorable installments of the entire show is "Band Geeks." To show up rival classmate Squilliam Fancyson, Squidward slaps together a band to play at the highly prestigious Bubble Bowl event. It's all a ruse to get Squidward to embarrass himself, but he's nevertheless determined to make a go of it and turn the event into a success. Unfortunately, he gathers the worst, including Patrick, Sandy, and Plankton, none of whom can hold a tune.

After a series of knee-slapping, hilarious blunders, and errors, — like one of the best Patrick Star quotes, "Is mayonnaise an instrument?" — SpongeBob SquarePants steps in as composer to try and turn them around. It ends on a rare high note for Squidward, making the episode just as heartwarming as it is ridiculous. "Band Geeks" didn't go unnoticed by critics, and the episode also won a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Television Animation.

SpongeBob SquarePants

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Spongebob Squarepants is an animated comedy created by Stephen Hillenburg and starring voices from Tom Kenny, Bill fa*gerbakke, and Rodger Bumpass. The series revolves around a sea sponge that goes on many misadventures with his friends Patrick, Squidward, and Sandy Cheeks in the lands of Bikini Bottom and the surrounding sea.

Cast

Tom Kenny , Bill fa*gerbakke , Rodger Bumpass , Clancy Brown , Carlos Alazraqui , Paul Tibbitt , Dee Bradley Baker , Jill Talley , Tim Conway , Sara Paxton , Mark Fite , Mary Jo Catlett , Tom Wilson , Sirena Irwin , Lori Alan , Ernest Borgnine , Mr. Lawrence , Carolyn Lawrence

Release Date

May 1, 1999

Seasons

14

Network

Nickelodeon

Writers

Tim Hill , Stephen Hillenburg , Derek Drymon , Nick Jennings

Showrunner

Vincent Waller , Marc Ceccarelli