Mr. Krabs Costume
Dress as Bikini Bottom's money-loving boss with claws and a belt.
Mr. Krabs is the penny-pinching, Krabby Patty-flipping owner of the Krusty Krab from SpongeBob SquarePants. He is a popular costume choice for animation fans who want a funny, recognizable look. The outfit consists of a bright red base, his signature light blue collared shirt, blue pants, and oversized red claws.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $30–80
Try it on
See yourself as Mr. Krabs
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a Mr. Krabs costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Mr. Krabs costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Red bodysuit or long-sleeve shirt
A solid, bright red crewneck shirt or full bodysuit to represent his crab shell skin.
DIY: Use a plain red long-sleeve t-shirt you already own.
Light blue short-sleeve button-down shirt
A light blue, short-sleeve collared shirt worn open at the collar over the red base.
DIY: Cut the sleeves short on an old light blue dress shirt.
Blue pants or jeans
Simple medium-wash blue jeans or blue trousers to match his sailor-like pants.
DIY: Use any pair of standard blue jeans or blue scrub pants.
Black belt with a gold buckle
A wide black belt with a prominent square gold or yellow buckle worn high on the waist.
DIY: Wrap a strip of black felt around your waist and cut a buckle out of yellow cardboard.
Red crab claw mittens
Oversized red plush mittens shaped like crab claws or lobster pincers.
DIY: Cut claw shapes out of red felt, stuff them lightly, and sew or glue them onto red winter gloves.
Tall eyes headband
A headband featuring tall, vertical yellow and black eyes on stalks.
DIY: Attach painted styrofoam balls or felt eyes to yellow pipe cleaners and secure them to a red headband.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Mr. Krabs costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the red long-sleeve shirt or red bodysuit as your base layer.
- 2
Layer the light blue short-sleeve button-down shirt over the red top, leaving the top buttons open.
- 3
Put on the blue pants or jeans, tucking both shirts in neatly.
- 4
Fasten the wide black belt with the gold buckle high around your waist, over the tucked-in shirts.
- 5
Place the tall crab eyes headband securely on your head.
- 6
Slip the red claw mittens onto your hands to complete the crustacean look.
Makeup & hair
No hair styling is needed as the headband provides the eyes. If desired, apply red face paint to your face and neck to seamlessly blend in with the red bodysuit base.
Mr. Krabs for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as SpongeBob SquarePants, Squidward, or Plankton.
- group
- Form a Krusty Krab crew with SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward in their employee hats.
- kids
- Use a red hooded sweatshirt, attach felt eyes to the hood, and wear a blue t-shirt over it.
- Plus size
- Choose a loose-fitting light blue button-down shirt and comfortable elastic-waist blue pants.
- pet
- A red pet shirt with small felt claws attached to the front legs.
Tips
- Carry a few fake dollar bills or a small brown drawstring coin purse with a dollar sign on it as a prop.
- Make sure the claw mittens are easy to slip off so you can use your hands to eat, drink, or use your phone.
- Wear comfortable red or black shoes to match the lower half of the costume.
Mr. Krabs costume FAQ
- What does Mr. Krabs wear?
- Mr. Krabs wears a light blue short-sleeve collared shirt, blue pants, and a dark belt with a gold buckle over his red shell.
- How do I make DIY Mr. Krabs claws?
- You can cut claw shapes out of red felt or foam, glue the edges together leaving the wrist open, and stuff them lightly with cotton.
- Is there an official Mr. Krabs costume?
- Yes, there are officially licensed Mr. Krabs kigurumi union suits and inflatable costumes available online.
Did you know? Mr. Krabs' full name is Eugene Harold Krabs, and his design was inspired by creator Stephen Hillenburg's former manager at a seafood restaurant.