How to Build a Beehive

Building a beehive can be a rewarding project—and you may even save a little money. But making a good home for honey bees involves more than simply nailing pieces of wood together. You need to know the correct dimensions, understand bee space and consider sturdy construction. In this guide, I’ll show you what you need to know before you build a beehive of your own, including choosing a hive style, finding reliable plans, selecting wood and deciding which hive parts are worth making yourself.

In all honestly, hive construction is not my thing. I can do it but I am not good at it. If you are new to beekeeping, take a few minutes to become familiar with the parts of a beehive before you begin.

Standard Dimensions Matter

Honey bees will fill empty spaces – even if you didn’t intend for them to do so. If your spacing inside the hive is wrong, they may build extra comb or store bee propolis -making the hive parts difficult to remove later.

Much of this comes down to bee space, the amount of room honey bees naturally leave open inside the hive.

If you are unfamiliar with the concept, my guide to bee space explains why it is so important when designing and building beekeeping equipment.

Following standard dimensions also has another advantage: your homemade hive parts should work with commercially made boxes, frames and other equipment you may want to add later.

You Don’t Have to Build Every Part

If you have a lot of carpentry skills, you may want to build every part of the hive. But, you don’t have to commit to complete construction.

Hive bodies (often called deeps or brood boxes) are relatively simple to make. However, some of the smaller components (such as frames) are time consuming and require precise cuts.

For many beekeepers, a combination works best: build the simpler wooden components and purchase the more complicated pieces.

I have built plenty of hive boxes over the years, but making every single frame? No thank you.

The goal isn’t to prove that you can make every piece yourself. It is to end up with a sturdy, functional hive that works well for both you and your bees.

Choosing the Type of Beehive You Want to Make

There are several different types of beehives to consider. In the United States, the standard Langstroth hive is the most common choice.

However, top bar and other horizontal hives have gained in popularity. Each style has advantages and requires different construction plans, equipment and management techniques.

If you are a beginner, consider what other successful beekeepers in your area are using. Having a local mentor who is familiar with your type of hive can be a big help.

Building a Langstroth Hive

A Langstroth hive is the most common style used by beekeepers in the United States. It consists of stacked boxes containing removable frames. As the colony grows in population, additional boxes are added to provide more room.

The biggest advantage of this hive style is standardization. When you follow the correct Langstroth hive dimensions, homemade boxes can be used with commercial frames and other components.

Langstroth hives are available in both 8-frame and 10-frame sizes. I use 10-frame equipment in my apiary, but 8-frame hives are popular too.

Those smaller boxes are lighter to lift—and when a honey super is full, a few pounds can make quite a difference!

Top Bar and Other Horizontal Hives

Not every beehive is built as a stack of boxes. Top bar, Layens and other horizontal hives allow the colony to expand sideways rather than upward.

In a top bar hive, bees generally build natural comb suspended from wooden bars instead of using the removable rectangular frames found in a Langstroth hive.

This style appeals to some beekeepers because of its simple design and easy access without lifting heavy boxes.

Other horizontal designs, such as the Layens hive, use removable frames but differ from a standard Langstroth in both construction and management.

If you are considering a horizontal hive, choose your design before looking for building plans. Dimensions and construction methods vary considerably between hive styles.

It is also a good idea to find an experienced beekeeper who successfully manages the type of hive you plan to use. This matters more than you may realize.

Start with Good Beehive Plans

Once you have chosen a hive style, a good set of beehive plans is critical. There are many free plans available online, as well as plans you can purchase.

Look for a design that provides clear measurements, a materials list and assembly instructions.

Download or print a copy to keep nearby while you work. Read through the entire plan before buying lumber or making the first cut.

This gives you a chance to identify anything that is unclear and make sure you have the tools needed for the project.

For a Langstroth hive, pay attention to whether the plans are for 8-frame or 10-frame equipment and which size box you are building. Deep hive bodies, medium supers and shallow supers have different dimensions.

Also, don’t assume that every set of plans you find online is correct. Compare the measurements with standard hive dimensions before you start. It is much easier to find a mistake on paper than after the boards are cut.

Choosing Wood for Your Beehive

You don’t need expensive lumber to make a good beehive. Pine is one of the most common choices because it is readily available, relatively inexpensive and easy to work with.

Cypress is another good option. It is naturally resistant to decay and may last longer, but it usually costs more and can be harder to find.

Whatever wood you choose, look for boards that are reasonably straight and free of large knots in places where you need to make joints. Warped lumber makes it difficult to build square boxes that fit together properly.

Avoid chemically treated lumber for hive bodies and other parts that come in close contact with the colony.

Regular untreated lumber is a better choice. The exterior can be painted or otherwise protected from the weather after construction.

What About Plywood?

Plywood can be useful for some beekeeping projects, but it is not my first choice for hive bodies that will remain outdoors year after year. The exposed edges can absorb moisture and begin to separate over time.

I do use plywood for some temporary equipment and other bee-related projects where it makes sense. As with most things in beekeeping, use the material that is appropriate for the job.

Basic Tools for the Job

For most basic hive projects, you will need a saw, measuring tape, carpenter’s square, drill and a hammer or nailer. Clamps are helpful for holding pieces securely while you assemble the boxes.

You will also need nails or screws and a good-quality wood glue for assembly.

And, of course, use appropriate safety equipment for the tools you are working with. Eye and hearing protection are much easier to put on than new eyes and ears are to come by 😉

Basic Process for Building a Beehive

With your plans, lumber and tools ready, it is time to begin construction. The exact process varies depending on the type of hive you are making, but the basic steps are much the same.

Remember, the goal is not fancy furniture. You want sturdy hive components that fit together properly and will hold up to years of use.

Measure and Cut the Wood

Using your beehive plans as a guide, carefully measure and mark each piece before making any cuts. My husband always says, “Measure twice—cut once.” This is especially good advice when building beekeeping equipment.

Keep the cut pieces organized as you work and check your measurements along the way. A small mistake is much easier to correct before everything is assembled.

Assemble the Hive Components

Once your pieces are cut, you are ready for assembly. Work on a flat surface and use a carpenter’s square to help keep hive boxes square as you put them together.

Fit the pieces together according to your plans and secure the joints with nails or screws. Clamps can be useful for holding everything in position while you work.

And don’t forget the glue! I always use a good-quality wood glue on joints when assembling hive components.

Nails and screws provide strength, but glue helps create a sturdy joint that can withstand years of weather and hive inspections. When I have failed to use glue – it always come back to haunt me years later.

Check the Fit

Before considering a piece finished, make sure everything fits the way it should. Hive boxes should sit squarely on top of one another without large gaps, and frames should hang freely inside the box.

Finding a poor fit now is much easier than discovering the problem after thousands of bees have moved in.

Protect the Exterior

Once construction is complete and the glue has dried, the exterior wood should be protected from the weather.

Most beekeepers paint their wooden beehives because a good exterior finish helps the equipment last longer.

A quality exterior latex paint is a common choice. Paint only the outside surfaces that are exposed to the weather and allow everything to dry thoroughly before putting the hive into use.

As for color, the bees really don’t care. Choose something you like—or use whatever suitable leftover paint you already have. The important thing is protecting the wood, not impressing the bees.

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