Zero, the ghost dog from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, is one of the most popular Squishmallows plush toys in the entire Disney-licensed lineup. Whether you're starting a Squishmallows collection or hunting down a specific variant, this guide covers everything you need to know about the Zero Squishmallow — from sizes and features to care tips and where to buy one.
Key Takeaways
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The Zero Squishmallow plush first dropped in 2021 as part of the Halloween Squad and has since been released in multiple variants, including Zero with Bone and Zero with Candy Cane.
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The 8-inch size is the fan-favorite starting point—big enough to display, small enough for travel, and the most widely available at retail stores.
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Zero works as both a Halloween and Christmas display piece, making it one of the few Squishmallows with true year-round holiday appeal.
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Buying from an authorized seller protects you from the counterfeits and quality issues common with third-party resellers.
Product Details
- Name: Zero the Ghost Dog Squishmallow from The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Type: Official Disney Licensed Merchandise
- Color: Primarily white, with big black eyes. His iconic pumpkin orange nose is prominent against the center of his face. The band around his neck is light pink.
- Available Size/s: 5”, 8”, 12”
- Squishdate: 2021
- Squad: The Nightmare Before Christmas Squad
- Model/SKU Number: KTY-600631-C
Short Bio
Jack Skellington’s best friend Zero is finally available in Squishmallow form. This loyal ghost dog pet will do anything to make Jack happy, including becoming an accomplice in his ultimate plan to put a Halloween twist on Christmas Town.
Like a regular pet dog, Zero loves going on walks and playing fetch. He’s also always there to lend a helping hand whenever Jack needs help or be a loveable companion whenever his master feels lonely.
You don’t want to miss out on having an official Disney-licensed Zero Squishmallow if you’re a huge fan of the franchise!
Key Features
Material
The Squishmallow characters by Kellytoy are made from quality materials like super-soft spandex and polyester stuffing. These materials ensure that the plushie stays beautiful as the years go by, and easy to clean in case of staining.
Appearance
Squishmallows did a great job modeling Zero in plush form after their signature look. Instead of a long, pointed nose with a glowing pumpkin tip, they kept him simple and cute by keeping only the pumpkin-orange tip. Zero has a pumpkin-shaped nose and floppy ears that stay true to the character while fitting the cute rounded Squishmallow shape.
In terms of Squishmallow size, his ears are still long and floppy, with a pink band around his neck. There are no long tails here — his bottom is beautifully rounded, perfect for cuddles and snuggles. His fur is bone white, with large, black eyes and a shy smile.
The 8-inch plush version is what most collectors consider the sweet spot — it's large enough to appreciate the embroidered details but compact enough to display alongside the rest of the Nightmare Before Christmas collection. Collecting the Zero Squishmallow often comes down to balancing size and rarity, since larger items like the 12-inch tend to see more limited runs at stores.
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Other Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows
If you like The Nightmare Before Christmas, you should check out these other Squishmallow characters.
Jack Skellington
Jack Skellington is the tale's protagonist who came upon the idea for Halloween Town to take over Christmas. Of course, his plan ultimately fails, but not before he learns what the true meaning of the holiday is.
Jack Skellington in Squishmallows form is adorably spooky, with his iconic suit, bat bowtie, and large, round eyes.
Sally
Sally is a humanoid ragdoll and is Jack’s love interest in the franchise. She is incredibly sweet and cares about those she loves deeply. Her Squishmallows form proudly shows off her patchwork dress and flaming red hair (of course, she’s still as squishy as ever).
Oogie Boogie
Your collection wouldn’t be complete without Oogie Boogie. Oogie Boogie is wicked and resentful of the Halloween traditions — he thinks the holiday should be more wicked and harmful (isn’t that scary?).
He is made from a burlap sack, the inside teeming with thousands of bugs, two spiders, and a snake. You can get his Squishmallow form in either green or beige.
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Awards
Squishmallows by Kellytoy was declared the winner of the 2022 TOTY (Toy of the Year) Awards and the coveted 2019 Plush Toy of the Year Award at the Creative Child Awards.
More Characters
The squad also includes The Mayor, Lock, Shock, and Barrel. In 2024, Jazwares expanded the Squishmallows collection further with Dr. Finkelstein and Vampire Teddy — two fan-requested plush toys that round out the Halloween Town crew. If you're looking to track down the full set, check out our Squishmallow master list for a complete breakdown.
Building out the full NBC squad? We've got a Buy More, Save More deal that makes stacking your Squishmallows collection a lot easier on the wallet.
Care Instructions
Zero the Ghost Dog’s pristine white color will get dirty and grimy in time, no matter how careful you are with it. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to clean it!
According to the Squishmallows website, gentle spot treatment is the best way to clean Zero. However, we discovered that he has no problems going through a round in the washer.
When washing this Squishmallow, make sure to set the cycle to cool and gentle, place him inside a roomy pillowcase, and run him with your other beddings if you have them available. Take note to use a gentle detergent.
Once that’s done, tumble dry him on low and gentle (not hot) or air dry him, so he doesn’t get damaged. Fluff him up with your fingers to get him back to his original shape and ready for more cuddles with you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Rarest Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallow?
Zero is one of the more popular NBC Squishmallows plush toys, but he's not actually the hardest to find. The rarer plush items in the squad tend to be Lock, Shock, and Barrel (sold individually), the beige Oogie Boogie variant, and some of the larger 12-inch sizes that see limited runs at retail stores. Check out our rarest Squishmallows guide for more on what makes certain Squishmallows hard to track down.
How Many Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows Are There?
The NBC Squishmallows squad has grown a lot since the original 2021 release. There are now 11 unique characters — Jack Skellington, Sally, Zero, Oogie Boogie (green and beige), The Mayor, Lock, Shock, Barrel, Dr. Finkelstein, and Vampire Teddy. Factor in size variants, holiday editions, and redesigned plush versions (like Zero with Bone or Sally with a black cat), and the total climbs to over 30 individual Squishmallows in the Nightmare Before Christmas lineup.
Is Zero from Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows a Boy or Girl?
According to the Disney Wiki, Zero from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas is a boy. His structure has also led fans to believe he may have been a dachshund when he was still alive.
What Size Zero Squishmallow Should I Start With?
The 8-inch Zero Squishmallow plush is the most popular product size among collectors and fans. It's large enough to show off the embroidered details — the pumpkin nose, floppy ears, pink collar — but small enough to display on a shelf, toss in a backpack, or line up alongside other NBC squad members without taking over the room. Zero Squishmallow is available in various sizes including 5-inch, 8-inch, and 12-inch, so you can always add more to your set once you've picked a starting point.
Where Can I Buy a Zero Squishmallow?
Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows show up at major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Walgreens, usually starting around August each year. Stock moves fast at stores during the Halloween season, so don't wait too long to buy. You can also buy the 8-inch Zero Squishmallow plush directly from authorized online sellers with free shipping. We carry the Zero plush toy year-round, which is a big advantage over seasonal stores where these items tend to sell out quickly.
Squish 'Em
Take Zero the Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallow home and add the 8-inch plush to your collection.
One of the best things about the Zero Squishmallow is that he pulls double duty — Zero Squishmallow is popular during the Halloween and Christmas seasons, so you can display this plush with your fall decor and then move him right into your holiday setup. Few collectibles cross over between holidays naturally, and that's what makes Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise so appealing year-round. It's the perfect plush item for kids and adult fans who love both seasons.
We carry the official Disney-licensed Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Squishmallows, with 100 percent authenticity guaranteed. Unlike third-party sellers, where damaged tags, compressed plush toys, and counterfeit products are common concerns, buying from an authorized seller means you know exactly what you're getting.
We offer free shipping to all states in the contiguous United States, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee. And if you're picking up more than one NBC squad member, our Buy More, Save More offer helps you grow the collection for less.
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