Are you looking to buy a honey bee hive to start your beekeeping hobby? You may be doing the world a favor. For the past few decades, bees have been experiencing honey bee colony collapse disorder at alarming rates. This phenomenon entails worker bees out in search of food disappearing and leaving behind the queen bee and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining bees.
From 2017 to 2018, studies show that beekeepers lost an estimated 30.7 percent of their managed bee colonies. And 69 percent of scientists consider this rate to be unacceptable. Honey bees are partly responsible for the pollination of about 35 percent of the world’s crop production. So, keeping your honey bee hive may help boost bee numbers.
A honey bee hive often refers to a man-made enclosed structure that allows honey bee species to live and raise their young. These hives not only house bees within them, but enhance the pollination of crops nearby and the production of honey. Honey bee hives are also instrumental in the mitigation of honeybee colony collapse disorder.
There are a lot of honey bee hives available on the market today. They vary in design and size. The materials used to make these hives also vary widely. And different communities around the world have their versions that are unique to their regions.
Are you wondering what you should look for in a honey bee hive? Well, what you buy depends on what appeals to you. In addition, you should consider the space that you have available. Of course, the price you are willing to pay and the materials that you prefer should factor into your decision. The size of the hive and how practical it is for your beekeeping purposes also matters. But you’ll find a wide variety of hives for honey bees. And you will likely find something you like either online or offline.
If you are going to become a beekeeper, then the price of a honey bee hive is something you need to consider. Of course, these products vary a lot in terms of price. You can find beehives ranging from $$ to $$$. So, whether you have a low or high-end budget, you are likely to find the right home for your future bee colony.
When selecting the best honey bee hive, we went through several types of beehives. We evaluated these hives based on affordability, design, and functionality. In addition, we considered practicality, customer ratings, and other reviews.
The following products are our choices of the best honey bee hives. We found those that would suit a variety of design tastes, a wide range of budgets, and most hobby beekeepers’ needs.
If you are looking for an already assembled bee hive, then the Apimaye beehive is definitely worth considering. It’s one of Amazon’s choice products. Standard features of this hive include a screened bottom board with pollen trap and drawer. These help in fighting off small hive beetles, and Varroa mites. Other design features include the queen excluder, top feeders, frame spacers, an entrance reducer, and division uniting board.
The beehive from Apimaye also comes with an original orange top. Also, it includes 20 plastic frames. They are all easy to snap on for setting up a swarm comb. Beekeepers only need to add the wax foundation to the frames, and the beehive is good to go. Also, the hive has insulation to help it withstand extreme weather. Its design helps prevent moisture buildup within the hive.
On Amazon, this hive has a rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars. The price ranges from $$$ to $$$. Customers love its sturdy design and fantastic insulation against the cold. Also, they like that they don’t have to assemble or paint it.
This Mann Lake beehive is one of Amazon’s choice products. It is a starter hive that made in the USA with quality pine. Its design features include one painted 10-frame 9.625-inches hive body and ten 9.125-inch assembled wood frames with yellow-waxed RiteCell foundation.
The aluminum top lid protects the hive from the elements. The solid bottom board comes painted, as does the telescoping cover. This hive also includes an unpainted entrance reducer. The hive comes completely assembled. This makes it ready for beekeeping.
On Amazon, this honey beehive kit has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. It costs $$$ to $$$. Customers love it because it comes already assembled. In addition, they find it suitable for beginners.
The Lang bee house features a high-quality fir wood auto frame. The materials used are food-grade, eco-friendly, and safe. The hive has observation windows as part of its design. It comes in several parts designed for easy assembly.
These parts include the roof, bottom board, brood box, super box, queen excluder, inner cover, seven auto frames, seven tubes, and one key. Also, the hive set includes one user manual and assembly instructions.
On Amazon, this wooden bee house has a rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars. Its price ranges from $$$ to $$$. Customers love it because it is easy to assemble. Also, it can accommodate deep frames.
VIVO Complete Beekeeping 20 Frame Beehive Box Kit, 10 Medium, 10 Deep,…
- Complete 20 Hive Frame Langstroth style beehive box kit with 10 medium frames and 10 deep frames with hexagonal surface…
- Hive Box is made with pine wood and is recommended to be treated with chemical-free paint or a wood preservative. Comes…
- Easy To Assemble box kit comes with all the necessary hardware for sturdy construction and a step-by-step manual
This VIVO 20-frame Langstroth-style beehive comes with ten medium frames and ten deep frames. In addition, it includes foundation sheets that have hexagonal-shaped surfaces. The hive box is made of unstained New Zealand pine wood. It requires chemical-free paint or wood preservative before use.
This honey bee hive comes in parts that require assembly. In addition to the 20 frames, the other parts include deep frame box, plastic hive excluder, and a sturdy bottom board with an entrance reducer. Also, this kit includes a medium frame box, inner cover, and a metal outer telescoping cover. The outer cover keeps out the elements and gives you easy access to the hive. This comes with a step-by-step manual that enhances the ease of assembly.
On Amazon, this beehive has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Its price ranges from $$$ to $$$. Customers love it because it comes with all the required parts so they can easily assemble their hive.
The BestEquip honey bee hive is made from pine wood, which has a strong resistance to corrosion. It comes with seven frames. The high-quality wood is durable. The clear end-frame view allows you to see whether the honey is ready for harvesting without having to open the hive.
This honey bee hive is compatible with existing colonies. You can shorten the frames to suit the hives you already have. Its plastic components are food-grade, BPA-free, and safe for both bees and consumers alike. A user manual has also been included with this product.
On Amazon, this honey bee hive has a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars. It costs $$$ to $$$. Customers love it because it comes with a queen excluder, Also, it is easy to assemble.
The SummerHawk Ranch hive is built from Canadian Hemlock Wood, which is sustainably sourced. The hive has utilized finger-joint construction for easy assembly. The frames have a pre-waxed plastic honeycomb foundation. Also included are a ventilated inner cover and two ventilated jar screens.
The hive was designed to include six one-pint mason jars and six one-quart mason jars with their lids. In addition, it has a quick-check viewing window. The design of the hive makes it an excellent option for beginner beekeepers. Also, it is ideal for any location including rooftops and backyards.
On Amazon, this honey bee hive has a rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. Its price ranges from $$$ to $$$. Customers love it because it comes pre-assembled and they can have it up and running in no time.
A Hive of Busy Bees
- Williams, Effie M. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 64 Pages – 06/22/2009 (Publication Date) – Church Classic Books (Publisher)
This honey bee hive comes with 16 high-quality pre-cut frames and eight high-quality super pre-cut frames. They are all made of pine, which is long lasting. The 24 plastic foundations are all made of food-grade plastic. That makes them safe for consumers and bees alike. The foundations are coated with Real Bee’s wax.
The hives are made by Amish craftsmen, who are known for their construction of high-quality and sturdy wood products. Other parts included with this hive are a screened bottom board, entrance reducer, telescoping top cover, and inner cover. Fortunately, all the parts are easy to assemble.
On Amazon, this hive has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Its price ranges from $$$ to $$$. Customers love it for its ease of assembly.
Happybuy Bee Hive 20 Frame Beehive Box 10 Deep and 10 Medium Frames…
- Complete kit – Includes everything needed to build a Langstroth style beehive. Solid construction – Hive super is…
- Telescoping roof top – Built with a galvanized metal cap to keep the elements out.
- Hive safety – Entrance reducer and bottom board help keep your bee hive safe from insects and predators.
This Happybuy beehive is made of pine wood and can accommodate ten frames. The pine material is high grade, stylish, and is durable. The size of the hive makes it easy to remove the honeycomb.
This hive has several parts. They include a pre-assembled metal telescoping roof that will keep out the elements and solid bottom board to keep out unwanted insects. Other components include an entrance reducer, one deep brood box, and an inner cover. It’s easy to assemble and install.
On Amazon, this beehive has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Its price ranges from $$ to $$$. Customers love it because it is easy to assemble and because of its high quality.
Bee Hive – Deluxe Garden Hive (Fully Assembled) – Perfect Copper Top…
- YOU’VE JUST FOUND THE EASIEST WAY TO START BEEKEEPING. Perfect Fully Assembled Garden Hive for Beginners and Pro…
- OUR TOP-OF-THE-LINE 8-FRAME GARDEN BEE HIVE GIVES YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED (EXCEPT THE BEES!) TO WORK LIKE THE PROS. Easy…
- YOU GET IT ALL WITH GARDEN HIVE. TWO – 9 5/8″ 8-Frame deep hive supers w/ all the frames and plasticell foundations, ONE…
This garden beehive is great for beginners and pro beekeepers alike. It consists of two supers, each having eight frames of 9.625-inches depth. The beehive features plasticell foundations and a cedar hive stand. Other parts include one solid bottom board, one inner cover, and a copper top cover.
The hive comes wholly assembled with paint on the outside of the brood boxes only. These hives are relatively lightweight at a total of 32 pounds each. This means they are easy to move around. They come with a money-back guaranty as well as a full replacement warranty for components.
On Amazon, this beehive has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Its price ranges from $$$ to $$$ Customers love it because it comes fully assembled.
As a hobby beekeeper, your needs are not the same as those of other people with a similar hobby. Different people have different preferences and needs as far as honey bee hives are concerned. Our list has some of the best bee houses available for people like you. Find a honey bee hive that is within your budget, whose design appeals to you, and what works for your level of experience as far as beekeeping is concerned.