Best beehive

Humans figured out how to collect honey from bees about 10,000 years ago. Not long after that, we started beekeeping in pottery jars. Then came our attempts to maintain colonies in hollowed-out logs, vessels, and finally wooden boxes.

Beekeeping is a fun hobby that pays for itself over time. To start, you'll need the best beehive you can afford, starter bees, and a bit of protective garb to prevent stings. And time. You'll need to block out some time in your schedule to maintain your structure and swarm, and to eventually harvest honey.

It doesn't matter if you're new to bee keeping or you consider yourself a seasoned veteran. We're here to help you find the best beehive for your needs. From big and tall hives to deep hives to insulated bee homes, we've combed through them all and rounded up the best options.

Hoover Hives' 10-frame Langstroth-style house is dipped in 100-percent beeswax, which means you don't have to paint or seal it yourself. The craftsmanship is excellent, with dovetail joints on all the corners, evenly applied wax, and no sharp edges. Directions are included, and assembly is a cinch. This beehive has two fairly deep brood boxes, one medium super, 30 pine frames, and 30 CellTech plastic foundations.

You won't find a better bargain than the Honey Keeper box kit. This is a 20-frame set with foundations that includes ten medium and ten deep frames, plus a metal roof. It's a two-tier hive made of solid wood and constructed with care. Corners are dovetailed, and there's a telescoping cover, bottom board, and entrance reducer to control ventilation and temperature, and a queen excluder. It's everything you need to make your buzzy friends feel at home.

If you're starting out or working on growing your existing bees colony, the BeeCastle eight-frame complete kit is the way to go. There are 78 pieces, all coated in beeswax, that arrive with this safehouse. You can put the whole thing together in under an hour with only a hammer. Two deep brood boxes come with this hive, plus eight dovetail pine frames, a foundation sheet, a medium super box, a solid bottom board, and a telescoping top cover with a metal cap. BeeCastle has also added an inner cover, queen excluder, entrance reducer, and even nails for assembly.

Skip the worrisome directions and go the easy route with the pre-assembled complete beehive kit from Mann Lake. This kit arrives on your doorstep pre-painted, already put together, and ready to go. The only thing you need to do is take it out of the box and add bees. This hive kit comes with ten frames, a solid painted bottom board and telescoping cover, and an unpainted entrance reducer.

Beginners and seasoned beekeepers will appreciate this beehive from Apimaye. It has seven frames in Langstroth-style, arrives pre-assembled, and doesn't need a lick of paint. This is the model to get when extreme weather is an issue in your neighborhood. This house is insulated to withstand cold and hot weather without moisture buildup. You'll get a screened bottom board, split hive entrance with entrance reducers, a division/uniting board, and two top feeders. 

There's just something about handmade items that stands out, and the Busy Bees 'n' More starter beehive kit is a gorgeous piece of artistry. Handcrafted of Eastern White Pine, this Amish-made beehive includes all the necessities. There's a deep hive body, one medium super, a telescoping top cover, a plastic queen excluder, ten plastic foundations, ten wood frames, and a screen bottom board. All you need to do is slap on a coat of paint and add your swarm.

So, what's the best beehive?

As you can see, there's no such thing as a standard beehive. They take on different shapes and forms and are made of varying materials. The best beehive on our list, and our staff pick, is from Hoover Hives. It's pre-built with two deep brood boxes, dipped in beeswax, and ready to house your bees.

Beginner beekeepers and those short on time will appreciate the craftsmanship and the price of the Honey Keeper beehive. It's a 20-frame unit with a metal roof. The only thing it needs from you is a coat of paint and bees.

If you don't enjoy the process of assembly, you're going to love the ten-frame hive kit from Mann Lake Everything is pre-assembled and already painted. The only thing left for you to do is welcome your swarm.

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