The LEGO Group began to massively ramp up their focus on licenses and partnerships in the mid-2000s, and this change was a massive contributor to them becoming one of the largest toy brands in the world in the decade that followed. There are a handful of partnerships that they created during that time that stand out, and one of the most popular is the partnership with Nickelodeon to bring Spongebob Squarepants into the world of LEGO.
LEGO Spongebob Squarepants is a theme of LEGO sets based on the popular cartoon show by Nickelodeon, Spongebob Squarepants. The theme was initially released in 2006, and from the initial release through 2012, there were 14 sets released in the theme, with the final wave of sets left the shelves in December 2013.
In this article, we will walk through a list of every LEGO Spongebob set ever released, and give you the complete overview of this incredible LEGO theme. So with that said, let’s dive in!
Krusty Krab 3825
RRP: $19.99
Year Released: 2006
Pieces: 295
Minifigures: 3
The first set released in the Spongebob Squarepants LEGO theme was Krusty Krab in June 2006. The set was released with a handful of others, but this one had the lowest set number, and therefore claims the number 1 spot!
The original Krusty Krab set comes complete with 295 pieces and 3 minifigures, including Mr. Krabs, Spongebob, and Squidward. Just one of these minifigs is exclusive to this set, and that is Mr. Krabs (there was a second version of the minifigure released later in 2009, but this one doesn’t exist elsewhere).
The centerpiece of the set is The Krusty Krab restaurant. For a 2006 LEGO set, the design is not bad! The sign at the front of the restaurant looks amazing, and is more prominent than the version released in 2009. The set is built on a large baseplate, which takes away a little from the design, but helps with playability as the minifigures and accessories can be added nicely to complete the set. The interior is quite empty, but the table, stools and ketchup and mayonnaise stand are nice additions.
Build-a-Bob 3826
RRP: $29.99
Year Released: 2006
Pieces: 445
Minifigures: 0
Out of all of the LEGO Spongebob sets ever released, the LEGO Build-a-Bob set released in 2006 is one of the most unique. It is simply a large buildable version of Spongebob Squarepants, with Plankton by his side.
With 445 pieces in the box, there is enough detail in this set to create a fairly accurate portrayal of the Spongebob character. When fully built, it is quite large and is certainly an eye-catching piece when displayed on a shelf. The eyes have a spinning feature which adds an element of fun, and the mouth can also be moved.
The main downside is that this set was released too early in the history of LEGO buildable characters, because they have come a long way over the years. The use of mostly simple bricks throughout the entire build is something that could be improved upon, and I would be interested to see what a buildable Spongebob Squarepants set would look like if it was designed today.
Adventures in Bikini Bottom 3827
RRP: $39.99
Year Released: 2006
Pieces: 579
Minifigures: 3
The third set to be released in the first wave of Spongebob LEGO sets is Adventures in Bikini Bottom 3827. Released in June 2006, this set depicts Spongebob’s pineapple house
This set is complete with 579 pieces and 3 minifigures, including Spongebob, Patrick, and Squidward. Also included is Gary, the tiny buildable sea snail. The use of dish-pieces for Gary is creative and a lot of fun.
The core focus of the set is the pineapple house, which can be opened up to make the interior accessible due to the use of hinges. Inside the house is a basketball hoop, ladder with a jumping ledge, and Spongebob’s bed which can be activated to launch him into the air. We also get Squidward’s house, which has a basic design, but looks well as part of the overall set.
The Chum Bucket 4981
RRP: $34.99
Year Released: 2007
Pieces: 337
Minifigures: 1
The Chum Bucket is a LEGO Spongebob set that was released in August 2007.
The set is complete with 337 pieces and 1 minifigure, which is Spongebob (with a shocked expression). This variant of the Spongebob Squarepants minifig is exclusive to this set and doesn’t appear in other sets. Despite the single minifig in the set, there are actually a total of 4 characters included, with Plankton, Robot Spongebob, and a robot.
The main event of the set is the Chum Bucket itself, of course. The building exterior looks faithful to the show, and uses stickers over a handful of plate pieces to achieve the look. The interior has some detail, including Karen the computer, a small counter to store the Krabby Patty, and an area for Robot Spongebob to sit.
Mrs. Puff’s Boating School 4982
RRP: $49.99
Year Released: 2007
Pieces: 393
Minifigures: 3
LEGO Mrs. Puff’s Boating School is a LEGO set that is centered around the important boat driving school from the popular cartoon. The set was released in August 2007 and it retired in December 2008, which gave it a shelf life of just under a year and a half.
This set has 393 pieces and 3 minifigures, including a very unique version of Spongebob with a funny expression, Patrick, and of course, Mrs. Puff. Two of the minifigs are exclusive to this set, including Spongebob and Mrs. Puff. In addition to the minifigs, the main focus of the set is the buildable driving school, which consists of a small building, a tower, a wooden walkway, and the driving track.
The Bikini Bottom Express 3830
RRP: $19.99
Year Released: 2008
Pieces: 210
Minifigures: 3
After the initial release of Spongebob sets in 2006, there were a trickle of sets in 2007, with The Chum Bucket and Mrs. Puff’s Boating School, and more sets were released in 2008. The first set in the 2008 wave was The Bikini Bottom Express, which launched in January 2008.
This set is made up of 210 pieces and 3 minifigures, including the Bikini Bottom Express Bus Driver, Patrick, and of course, Spongebob Squarepants. Just one of the minifigs is exclusive to this set, and that is the bus driver. The version of Spongebob included is the same as the minifig from the 2006 sets.
The set centers around the Bikini Bottom Express bus, which is a great model overall. It is bright orange and red, and the white wheels add a nice contrast. The front of the bus is a large window panel, and at the back there are some fins and a propeller. The top of the bus can be opened for the minifigures to be added inside. Overall it’s a fun set that works well.
Rocket Ride 3831
RRP: $29.99
Year Released: 2008
Pieces: 279
Minifigures: 3
LEGO Rocket Ride is a Spongebob Squarepants LEGO set that was released in January 2008 and retired in December 2009.
This set is complete with 279 pieces and 3 minifigs, including Patrick, Spongebob, and Sandy Cheeks. None of the three minifigs are exclusive to this set, despite them being dressed in space suits, because they all appeared in a magnet set just over a year later. However, none of these three minifig variants appear in any other ordinary set from the theme.
The main event of this set is Sandy’s Rocket, which comes from a much loved episode of the Spongebob show. The rocket is quite large, and can be opened up for access to the interior, which includes two floors inside and is complete with a computer, bed, and other accessories.
The Emergency Room 3832
RRP: $29.99
Year Released: 2008
Pieces: 236
Minifigures: 3
LEGO The Emergency Room is an important entry into the series of Spongebob LEGO sets. Centered around a hospital and an ambulance, this set plays an central part for anyone who wants to build out their bottom-of-the-sea world of Spongebob. It was released in August 2008 and retired just four months later, in December 2008.
The set is complete with 236 pieces and 3 minifigs, including a unique variant of Spongebob with a bandage on his head, Patrick, and a Bikini Bottom Doctor, which is also exclusive to this set. Also included is the buildable hospital, which overall is well designed but is missing some detail, and the ambulance which can be opened at the back to fit Spongebob on his stretcher.
Krusty Krab Adventures 3833
RRP: $24.99
Year Released: 2009
Pieces: 209
Minifigures: 3
LEGO Krusty Krab Adventures is a 2009 set in the Spongebob Squarepants LEGO theme that centers around The Krusty Krab fast food restaurant from the popular show. It is the second set to focus on The Krusty Krab, with the first depiction having been released in 2006.
This set is complete with 209 pieces and 3 minifigures, including Mr. Krabs, Patrick, and Spongebob. This variant of Spongebob is unique to this set (with a massive grinning face), and Mr. Krabs is also exclusive, as the character of Mr. Krabs appeared in one other set but it was a different version of the minifig.
The core focus of the set is The Krusty Krab restaurant. There are interesting details added throughout, ranging from the sign on top of the restaurant (which should really be placed to the left side), to the cash register and burger stove within. However, the set would have been better as a slightly higher-priced version so that more detail could be added. The set was poorly received by fans of the series because many believed it wasn’t really an upgrade from the original Krusty Krab set released in 2006.
Good Neighbors at Bikini Bottom 3834
RRP: $39.99
Year Released: 2009
Pieces: 425
Minifigures: 3
The next set in this list of LEGO Spongebob Squarepants sets is Good Neighbors at Bikini Bottom. This set was released in January 2009, and it stayed on the shelves for almost 3 years, finally retiring in December 2011.
This set has 425 pieces in the box, with 3 minifigures, including Spongebob, Squidward, and Patrick. None of the figs are exclusive to this set. The set also contains Spongebob’s house, the pineapple under the sea. Patrick has a boat, and we also get a grill with a burger, sun lounger, and other accessories.
Heroic Heroes of the Deep 3815
RRP: $14.99
Year Released: 2011
Pieces: 95
Minifigures: 3
The next LEGO Spongebob sets to be released after the 2009 sets were over two years later. There were no sets released in the theme during 2010, and two sets released in 2011, starting with Heroic Heroes of the Deep. This was a small set centered around the minifigures in the box, and also included a boat.
The set is complete with 95 pieces and 3 minifigures, with all of them being unique to this set. Included are Spongebob, Patrick, and Plankton, with Spongebob and Patrick dressed in superhero outfits.
Glove World 3816
RRP: $19.99
Year Released: 2011
Pieces: 169
Minifigures: 4
The Spongebob LEGO theme would not be complete without some depiction of the popular theme park, Glove World, that Spongebob and Patrick love to visit in the show. This set was released in August 2011 and retired in December 2013, which gave it a shelf life of over two years. Despite it being an important entry to the theme, overall this set was not highly regarded, according to the ratings.
This set is complete with 169 pieces and 4 minifigures, including a unique variant of Spongebob (with a giant grin on his face), Sandy Cheeks, Patrick (with ice cream splatters on his torso), and the Ice Cream Vendor. All four figs are exclusive to this set and don’t show up in any other.
In addition to the minifigs, we get a small buildable ferris wheel fairground ride, and the ice cream stall.
The Flying Dutchman 3817
RRP: $24.99
Year Released: 2012
Pieces: 241
Minifigures: 3
The Flying Dutchman is the first of the Spongebob LEGO theme to be released in 2012. It centers around the ghost character of the same name from the show. The set was released in January 2012 and retired in December 2013, which gave it a shelf life of just under two years.
The set is complete with 241 pieces and 3 minifigures, including Spongebob and Patrick, both dressed in pirate costumes, and Flying Dutchman. All three minifigs are unique to this set. Also included is the pirate ship (which is small, but really well designed), an island dock, and a cannon.
Bikini Bottom Undersea Party 3818
RRP: $49.99
Year Released: 2012
Pieces: 471
Minifigures: 4
The final set to be released in the list of LEGO Spongebob sets was Bikini Bottom Undersea Party. Although it was released at the same time as The Flying Dutchman, this set wins the title of being the last in the series due to the higher set number. It centers around a party taking place in Bikini Bottom.
The set is complete with 471 pieces and 4 minifigures, including Spongebob, Squidward, Mrs. Puff, and Patrick. All of the figs are wearing party outfits, and are exclusive to this set.
In addition to the minifigs, the set features Spongebob’s pineapple house, Patrick’s house, and a handful of fun rides and activities, including a seesaw, merry go round, DJ table and speakers, and other accessories.
Final Thoughts
LEGO Spongebob Squarepants is a theme that is packed with fun sets that faithfully depict scenes from the popular cartoon. Fans of the Spongebob series will undoubtedly want to pick these sets up as part of their LEGO collection. Just be ready to pay above market prices, since these sets have grown in value since they were discontinued.
If you want to check out more awesome lists of old LEGO themes, check out this list we made that walks through every LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean set ever released!
