9 Types of Beehives: Which One is Best for You?

Selecting the right type of beehive is an important decision that can influence your beekeeping success. You must consider factors like local climate, beekeeping goals (honey production, pollination, conservation), budget, and personal preference. 

Whether you’re a hobbyist or looking to venture into commercial beekeeping, the right hive can make all the difference.

To help you make an informed decision on what type of beehive may be best for you, I’ve compiled this comprehensive guide that includes all 9 most popular types of beehives available today.

But first, let’s learn some history!

The evolution of modern beehives

Traditional beehives, often made from natural materials like straw and mud, were the norm for centuries. 

However, as our understanding of bee space, hive management, and the importance of hive ventilation grew, so did the designs of the hives. 

The introduction of the Langstroth hive in the 19th century marked a significant shift towards modern beehives. With its removable hive frames and emphasis on bee space, this design revolutionized beekeeping. 

Related: Why is the Western Honeybee Valuable? Exploring Its Ecological and Economic Impact

Over time, other designs like the Warre hive and the Horizontal top-bar hive emerged, each with its unique features and benefits. Today, with innovations like the Flow hive, beekeeping continues to evolve, blending tradition with modernity.

How to choose the right type of beehive for you

Selecting the right type of beehive is more than just a choice; it’s a decision that can determine the success or failure of your beekeeping venture. 

The right beehive caters to the specific needs of the bee colony, ensuring optimal honey production and the overall health of the bees. Whether you’re a seasoned beekeeper or a newbie, understanding the nuances of different beehive designs is crucial. 

Related: How to Install Package Bees in Cold Weather: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beekeepers

It’s not just about the honey; it’s about creating a conducive environment for the bees, ensuring their safety from predators, and facilitating easy access for beekeepers. 

The right beehive strikes a balance between durability, ventilation, and moisture control, among other factors.

That’s a lot to consider, right? Here’s a comprehensive comparison table to help you better visualize some features of these 10 popular beehives:

And now, let’s discuss each.

Langstroth hive: the American standard

The Langstroth hive, often dubbed the “American Standard,” has been a game-changer in the world of beekeeping. 

Its design, rooted in a deep understanding of bee space and hive dynamics, has made it a favorite among amateur and professional beekeepers.

Langstroth hive features and design

Invented by Reverend Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth in the 1850s, the Langstroth hive’s design was a revolutionary step in modern beekeeping. 

One of its standout features is the removable hive frames, which allow beekeepers to inspect and manage the hive without causing significant disruption to the bee colony. 

The design emphasizes the importance of bee space, the optimal gap that bees naturally maintain between their combs.

Related: 11 Amazing Tips for How to Chose the Best Place to Put a Beehive 

This understanding ensures bees don’t glue frames together with propolis or build comb between them, making hive management more straightforward. 

The hive’s modularity is another commendable feature. It consists of boxes stacked upon one another, each containing frames for honey storage or brood rearing. 

This modularity allows for easy expansion, ensuring the hive can accommodate a growing bee colony. 

Its popularity in America and many parts of the world is a testament to its efficient design and benefits in honey production and hive health.

Langstroth hive’s pros and cons

Like other type of beehive, the Langstroth hive comes with its set of advantages and disadvantages:

Pros:

• Efficient hive management: The removable frames make inspecting, managing, and harvesting honey easier without disturbing the bees.
• High honey yield: The design promotes efficient honey production, leading to higher yields than other hive types.
• Expandability: The modular design allows for easy expansion, accommodating growing bee colonies.
• Adaptability: Suitable for various climates, from the cold northern regions to the warmer southern areas.

Related: Introduction to Beekeeping: A Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Honeybees

Cons:

• Weight: When filled with honey, the hive can be quite heavy, making it challenging to lift and manage.
• Maintenance: Regular inspections and potential interventions are required to prevent issues like swarming or diseases.
• Cost: Typically more expensive than simpler designs like the Top-Bar hive, especially when considering additional equipment and tools.

Warre hive: the people’s hive

The Warre hive, affectionately known as “The People’s Hive,” is a testament to the philosophy of natural beekeeping. 

Designed by Emile Warre, this hive type emphasizes creating a more natural environment for bees, closely mimicking how they would live in the wild.

Warre hive’s unique characteristics

When it comes to popular types of beehives, the Warre hive stands out due to its distinct design and underlying philosophy. 

Unlike the Langstroth, which focuses on beekeeper convenience, the Warre hive prioritizes the natural behaviors and preferences of the bee colony. 

One of its defining features is the use of top bars instead of full frames, allowing bees to build their honeycomb in a more organic pattern. The hive boxes are smaller than those in a Langstroth, promoting vertical expansion as the colony grows. 

Related: Beekeeping Density: How Many Beehives Per Acre of Land is Ideal?

As new boxes are added to the bottom, not the top, it aligns with the natural tendency of bees to move upward. 

The quilt box, filled with straw or wood shavings, sits at the hive’s top, providing insulation and moisture control. This design ensures a cozy environment for the bees, especially during colder months. 

Emile Warre’s philosophy was to interfere as little as possible, promoting a “hands-off” approach to beekeeping. This means fewer inspections and a more natural life cycle for the bees.

Warre Hive benefits and drawbacks

Every hive design comes with its set of pros and cons, and the Warre hive is no exception:

Pros:

• Natural environment: The design closely mimics the natural living conditions of wild bees.
• Low maintenance: The “hands-off” approach means fewer inspections and less disturbance to the bees.
• Insulation: The quilt box provides excellent insulation, making it suitable for colder climates.
• Cost-effective: Typically cheaper than the Langstroth hive and requires fewer tools.

Cons:

• Honey yield: Due to its design and philosophy, honey yields might be lower than in more interventionist hive types.
• Less flexibility: The lack of frames can make certain beekeeping tasks, like splitting hives or managing diseases, more challenging.
• Heavy lifting: Adding boxes to the bottom requires lifting the entire hive, which can be strenuous.

Top Bar hive: simplified beekeeping

The Top Bar hive, as its name suggests, is characterized by its horizontal design and the use of top bars instead of full frames. This hive type has gained popularity among beekeepers who prefer a more natural and hands-on approach to beekeeping.

Understanding the Top Bar hive’s design

The Top Bar hive is a horizontal hive, meaning it expands sideways rather than vertically like the Langstroth or Warre hives. Its design consists of a single long box with wooden bars placed across the top. 

Bees hang their honeycomb from these bars, creating a natural and organic comb structure. There are no pre-made frames or foundations, allowing bees to determine the size and shape of their comb. 

Related: 5 Natural Treatments for Chalkbrood in Honey and Mason Bees

This design promotes natural beekeeping, as it closely mimics how bees build their nests in the wild. 

The hive often includes a viewing window, allowing beekeepers to observe the bees without disturbing them. Ventilation is achieved through mesh bottoms or holes, ensuring a well-aerated environment for the bee colony. 

The hive’s simplicity is its standout feature, making it an excellent choice for beginners or those looking for a more hands-on beekeeping experience.

Why choose a Top Bar hive?

The Top Bar hive offers several advantages, but like all other types of beehives, it comes with some downsides too:

Pros:

• Natural comb building: Bees determine their comb’s size and shape, promoting healthier brood and better hive ventilation.
• Ease of management: The horizontal design means no heavy lifting of boxes, making hive inspections more straightforward.
• Cost-effective: Typically cheaper to set up and requires fewer tools and equipment than other hive types.
• Hands-on experience: Ideal for those who want a closer connection with their bees and the beekeeping process.

Cons:

• Lower honey yields: The design might produce less honey compared to, let’s say, the Langstroth.
• Comb fragility: Without frames, the comb can be more fragile and might break during inspections.
• Space limitations: The horizontal expansion might limit the growth potential of larger bee colonies.

Flow hive: the modern revolution

When it comes to a more modern approach to beekeeping, few innovations have garnered as much attention and debate as the Flow hive. 

A modern twist on traditional beekeeping, the Flow hive promises a simpler and more humane approach to honey harvesting.

Introduction to Flow hive

The Flow hive, a brainchild of father-son duo Stuart and Cedar Anderson, revolutionizes the way honey is harvested. This innovation’s heart is a specially designed hive frame that extracts honey without opening the hive or disturbing the bees. 

The frames consist of partially formed honeycomb cells. When the cells are filled with honey and capped by the bees, a simple turn of a lever splits the cells, allowing the honey to flow down into a collection channel and out of the hive. 

This design not only simplifies the honey extraction process but also minimizes the stress on the bee colony. 

Made from durable materials, the Flow hive ensures longevity and offers excellent hive ventilation. Its transparent side panels allow beekeepers to observe the bees and monitor honey production without opening the hive. 

This modern approach to beekeeping emphasizes both efficiency and the well-being of the bees, making it a popular choice among new-age beekeepers.

Why choose a Flow hive?

The Flow hive, with its groundbreaking features, offers several advantages but also has its set of considerations:

Pros:

• Humane honey harvesting: Allows honey extraction without disturbing the bees.
• Efficiency: Simplifies the honey extraction process, reducing labor and time.
• Observation: Transparent panels enable beekeepers to monitor the hive without intrusion.
• Innovative design: Offers a modern approach to traditional beekeeping practices.

Cons:

• Cost: The innovative design and features come with a higher price tag than traditional hives.
• Learning curve: Requires understanding and adapting to the new extraction method.
• Debate among purists: Some traditional beekeepers have reservations about its impact on bee behavior and honey quality.

Golden hive: a less-known, yet sustainable design

The Golden hive, though less commonly known than the likes of the Langstroth or Top Bar hives, is a unique design that has its roots in natural beekeeping principles. 

It’s a hive that has been gaining attention for its distinct features and the philosophy behind its creation.

Golden hive quick overview and important features

The Golden hive is designed with the bee’s natural behaviors and preferences at its core. 

One of its standout features is the hexagonal shape of its cells, which closely mimics the natural honeycomb pattern bees create in the wild. 

This design promotes healthier bee behavior and more efficient use of space within the hive. 

The hive’s construction materials often include sustainable woods, ensuring durability and providing a natural environment for the bees. 

Ventilation is a key feature, with the design ensuring optimal airflow, crucial for maintaining the right temperature and moisture levels. The hive’s modularity allows for vertical expansion, accommodating the growth of the bee colony. 

One of the unique characteristics of the Golden hive is its emphasis on natural beekeeping. 

There’s minimal intervention, allowing bees to follow their natural life cycles and behaviors, which many believe leads to healthier colonies and better honey production.

Why choose a Golden hive?

The Golden Hive, with its unique design and philosophy, offers several advantages but also comes with its set of challenges:

Pros:

• Natural design: The hexagonal cells promote natural bee behavior and efficient use of space.
• Sustainable materials: Often made from sustainable woods, ensuring durability and a natural environment.
• Optimal ventilation: Designed to maintain the perfect temperature and moisture levels for the bees.
• Low intervention: The design promotes natural beekeeping, leading to healthier bee colonies.

Cons:

• Less common: Being a less common design, finding resources or expertise on Golden Hive management might be more challenging.
• Potential for lower honey yields: Due to its design and philosophy, honey yields might be lower than more interventionist hive types.
• Cost: The use of sustainable materials and unique design might make it more expensive than other hive types.

Dome hive: a unique design of great promise

The Dome hive, a relatively newer entrant in the world of beekeeping, is turning heads with its unique design and approach. 

Drawing inspiration from nature and ancient beekeeping practices, the Dome hive blends tradition and innovation.

Characteristics and benefits

The Dome hive, as the name suggests, boasts a dome-shaped design, reminiscent of ancient skep hives but with modern modifications. This shape provides a continuous space for the bees, allowing them to build their honeycomb in a more natural pattern. 

The design ensures optimal hive ventilation, maintaining the right temperature and moisture levels crucial for bee health. 

Made often from natural materials like straw or clay, the Dome hive offers excellent insulation properties, making it suitable for various climates. The hive’s entrance is typically at the bottom, providing easy access for bees and added protection against predators. 

One of the standout benefits of the Dome hive is its aesthetic appeal. Its unique design makes it not just a functional hive but also an artistic addition to any garden or beekeeping space. 

The hive promotes natural beekeeping with minimal intervention, allowing bees to follow their instinctual behaviors, leading to healthier colonies.

Dome hive’s pros and cons

The Dome hive may be a newer design, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with some negatives. 

Pros:

• Natural design: The dome shape allows bees to build comb organically, promoting healthier bee behavior.
• Aesthetic appeal: Its unique design makes it a beautiful addition to any space.
• Optimal ventilation and insulation: The design and materials ensure the right temperature and moisture levels.
• Protection: The entrance design offers added protection against potential threats.

Cons:

• Maintenance: Due to its unique design, regular inspections and maintenance might be more challenging compared to conventional hives.
• Honey harvesting: Extracting honey can be more labor-intensive, given the continuous comb structure.
• Cost: The use of natural materials and the intricate design might make it pricier than other hive types.

Smith hive: a better option for colder climates?

Originating from Scotland, the Smith Hive, also known as the “National Hive,” has carved a niche in the beekeeping community. Its design and features have made it a popular choice, especially in regions with colder climates.

The Smith hive’s unique design 

The Smith hive stands out with its compact design, tailored to withstand the colder climates of its Scottish origins. 

The hive is characterized by its shorter frames, which differ from the standard Langstroth or Warre frames. This design ensures better retention of heat, crucial for the survival of the bee colony during colder months. 

The hive’s brood box is deeper, allowing for a more substantial brood area, ensuring a healthier and more robust colony. The Smith hive often comes with a varroa mesh floor, aiding in hive ventilation and pest control. 

Its modularity, similar to the Langstroth, allows for easy expansion, accommodating the growth of the bee colony. 

The hive’s popularity can be attributed to its adaptability to local climate conditions, especially in regions with prolonged winters. 

Is the Smith hive your best bet?

The Smith hive’s design ensures minimal disturbance to the bees, promoting natural beekeeping practices and healthier colonies.

Here are some of the advantages and downsides of this type of beehive:

Pros:

• Climate adaptability: Tailored for colder climates, ensuring better heat retention and bee survival.
• Compact design: The shorter frames and deeper brood box promote a healthier bee colony.
• Pest control: The varroa mesh floor aids in ventilation and pest management.
• Natural beekeeping: The design ensures minimal disturbance, leading to healthier bee behaviors.

Cons:

• Frame compatibility: The unique frame size might pose challenges in sourcing replacements or additional frames.
• Weight: The deeper brood box, when filled, can be heavy and challenging to manage.
• Limited popularity: Being more region-specific, it might be harder to find resources or expertise on Smith Hive management outside its native regions.

The Beehaus hive

Another less-known type of beehive is the Beehaus. Drawing inspiration from traditional and contemporary hive structures, the Beehaus hive offers a blend of functionality and ease of use.

Introduction to Beehaus hive

The Beehaus hive, with its elongated design, is a product of modern engineering combined with a deep understanding of bee behavior. 

Unlike traditional hives that expand vertically, the Beehaus grows horizontally, making it easier for beekeepers to manage and inspect. 

Made from durable and insulating materials, it ensures optimal temperature regulation, which is crucial for honey production and bee health. 

The hive’s design incorporates both brood and honey sections in one unit, simplifying hive management. One of its standout features is the central divider, which can be moved to adjust the space according to the bee colony‘s size. 

This ensures efficient use of space and resources. 

The Beehaus hive also has a varroa mesh floor, aiding in hive ventilation and pest control. 

Its elevated design not only provides protection from dampness and predators but also offers ergonomic benefits, reducing the strain on beekeepers during inspections and maintenance. 

Pros and cons of Beehaus hive

The Beehaus hive is a testament to how modern design can enhance traditional beekeeping practices, making it more accessible and enjoyable. Yet, as with any type of beehive, it poses certain challenges, too.

Pros:

• Ergonomic design: The elevated and horizontal structure reduces strain during inspections and honey harvesting.
• All-in-one structure: Combines brood and honey sections, simplifying hive management.
• Adjustable space: The movable central divider allows for efficient space utilization.
• Pest control: The varroa mesh floor aids in ventilation and pest management.

Cons:

• Size: Its elongated design might require more space compared to traditional hives.
• Initial cost: The modern design and features might make it pricier than other hive types.
• Learning curve: Adapting to the Beehaus design might require some learning and adjustments for traditional beekeepers.

Kenyan Top Bar hive: simple and sustainable beekeeping

The Kenyan Top Bar Hive, often abbreviated as KTBH, is a unique hive design that has gained popularity for its simplicity and emphasis on natural beekeeping. Originating from Africa, this hive type offers a blend of tradition and functionality.

Kenyan Top Bar hive’s core features

The Kenyan Top Bar hive stands out with its horizontal design, characterized by a series of top bars from which bees build their honeycomb downwards. 

Unlike conventional hives with full frames, the KTBH allows bees to construct their comb in a more natural pattern. 

The hive’s design is often trapezoidal, ensuring optimal space utilization and promoting the natural curvature of bee combs. 

Made from local and sustainable materials, the KTBH is both eco-friendly and cost-effective. Its design ensures optimal hive ventilation, which is crucial for bee health and honey production. 

The hive’s design also promotes minimal disturbance, allowing bees to follow their natural behaviors, leading to healthier colonies and better honey yields.

Is Kenyan Top Bar hive a good option?

One of the standout advantages of the KTBH is its simplicity. With fewer components and no need for additional equipment like extractors, it’s an excellent choice for beginner beekeepers or those looking for a hands-on experience. 

But that doesn’t mean this type of beehive is perfect in all regards. Here are some of its pros and cons:

Pros:

• Simplicity: Fewer components and no need for additional equipment make it beginner-friendly.
• Natural beekeeping: The design allows bees to build comb organically, promoting healthier bee behavior.
• Cost-effective: Made from local materials, it’s often cheaper than other hive types.
• Minimal disturbance: The horizontal design ensures less disruption during inspections.

Cons:

• Honey harvesting: Extracting honey can be more labor-intensive, given the continuous comb structure.
• Comb fragility: Without frames, the comb can be more fragile and might break during inspections.
• Space limitations: The horizontal design might require more space than vertical hives.

A classic in the world of beekeeping: the Dadant hive

The Dadant hive was named after its inventor, Charles Dadant. With its unique design and features tailored for optimal honey production, it has become a favorite among many beekeepers.

Dadant hive’s overview and characteristics

The Dadant Hive is often considered a modification of the Langstroth, but with a deeper brood chamber. 

This design ensures a larger space for the queen to lay eggs, promoting a robust and healthy bee colony. The hive typically consists of 11 frames in the brood box, offering ample space for bees to build their honeycomb. 

The deeper design of the brood chamber ensures better insulation, which is crucial during colder months. 

Above the brood box, beekeepers can add honey supers, tailored for efficient honey production. The Dadant hive’s modularity allows for easy expansion, accommodating the growth of the bee colony. 

Made from durable materials, the hive ensures longevity and protection against external elements. 

Its design emphasizes ease of hive management, with features that simplify inspections and honey harvesting. The hive’s entrance is strategically placed, providing easy access for bees and added protection against predators.

Why choose a Dadant hive?

The Dadant hive has some pretty cool features that make it stand out from the rest, but it’s not without its challenges, too:

Pros:

• Optimal brood space: The deeper brood chamber ensures a larger space for the queen to lay eggs.
• Ease of management: The design simplifies hive inspections and honey harvesting.
• Modularity: Allows for easy expansion, accommodating the growth of the bee colony.
• Durability: Made from robust materials, ensuring longevity.

Cons:

• Weight: The deeper brood box, when filled, can be heavy and challenging to manage.
• Frame size: The unique frame size might pose challenges in sourcing replacements or additional frames.
• Space requirement: Given its design, it might require more space compared to other hive types.

Frequently asked questions