Types of Hives

Hive types are the systems of boxes used to house a honey bee colony, distinguished by frame size, box arrangement and construction material. Almost all modern hives are based on the principle of the movable frame and the bee space; their real differences lie in frame size and whether the hive expands vertically or horizontally. The right type is chosen according to how the beekeeper works and the size commonly used in the area.

The common principle of hive types: movable frames and bee space

Bees treat gaps inside the hive according to their size. Gaps of roughly 6–9 mm are left open as passageways; narrower gaps are sealed with propolis, and wider ones are filled with burr comb. When this measurement was applied to hive design in the mid-19th century, frames became freely removable without being glued to the walls and to each other.

Without movable frames a colony cannot be inspected in detail: the queen, brood pattern, stores and signs of disease cannot be seen, and splitting, uniting and frame swaps cannot be done. This is the fundamental limitation of traditional fixed-comb hives.

Vertical hive systems

These are systems in which boxes are stacked on top of one another, and they make up the great majority of hives in the world. As the colony grows, supers are added on top; in winter the cluster consumes its stores moving upwards.

Langstroth hive

The Langstroth is the most widespread hive system in the world and in Türkiye. It usually holds 10 frames; the brood box and super may be the same size (deep) or the super may be shallower (medium/half-depth). Standardised parts make it easy to exchange frames and nucs.

Dadant hive

The Dadant system has a single deep brood box; the supers are shallower. The queen works in one large, undivided brood area, and the brood area is inspected in a single box. It is common in many European countries such as France, Italy and Switzerland.

Local standards and vertical top-bar hives

In some countries local sizes have become established: examples include the British National and the double-walled WBC in the UK, the Zander and Deutsch Normalmaß in Germany, and the AŽ hive placed in bee houses in Slovenia. The Warré hive is a vertical system that uses top bars instead of frames, with new boxes added from below. Details of these types are on the "Special-Size and Local Hives" page.

Horizontal hives

In horizontal hives, frames or top bars are arranged side by side in a single long body. The colony expands sideways and there is no need to lift boxes, which is an important advantage for a beekeeper who wants to protect their back. The top-bar hive (Kenyan and Tanzanian types), the deep-framed Layens hive and the long Langstroth hive are the main examples of this group.

On the other hand, horizontal hives have limited honey storage space, are difficult to move and are not suited to migratory beekeeping. Natural comb built on top bars without foundation is fragile; it cannot be spun in an extractor and is harvested by cutting or pressing.

Traditional hives and the karakovan

These are hives without movable frames, in which bees build comb directly onto the body: hollowed logs, wooden boxes, straw or willow skeps, clay and earthen tubes. In Türkiye the general name for these hives is karakovan; in the eastern Black Sea region, log and board karakovans hung in forest trees are still a living tradition.

They are cheap and can be made from local materials; however, the colony cannot be inspected, disease and varroa cannot be detected in time, and harvesting is usually done by cutting out the comb. For details, see the "Traditional Hives" and "Karakovan and Comb Honey Production" pages.

Small units: nucs, mating boxes and divided hives

• Nuc (nucleus hive): A small hive with the same frame size as the main hive, usually holding 3–6 frames. Used for splits, hiving swarms, spare queens and selling colonies.
• Mating box: A mini unit run with very few bees, set up only for a young queen to emerge, mate and start laying.
• Divided hive: Several small colonies in one body, separated by bee-tight division boards; they share warmth.

Comparison of hive types

Hive material: wood or polystyrene?

• Wood: The most common material. It breathes, can be repaired, and can be scraped and surface-disinfected with a flame. It needs well-dried, knot-free timber and regular painting of the outer surface; it is heavy.
• Foam (polystyrene, polyurethane): Light and well insulated; makes wintering easier in cold climates. It can be damaged by knocks, rodents and the hive tool; a flame cannot be used, and cleaning is done by washing with a suitable disinfectant.
• Plastic and composite materials: Easy to clean but need attention to condensation; ventilation is important.

Whatever material is chosen, the hive should be raised off the ground, the roof should be waterproof, and in humid areas insulation and ventilation should be considered together.

Which hive type should I choose?

1. Look at what is common in your area: Being able to find frames, nucs and help matters more than technical differences. In Türkiye this mostly means Langstroth.
2. Think about how you work: If you plan migratory beekeeping you need a vertical hive that can be secured and moved; in a stationary apiary a horizontal hive is also an option.
3. Take your physical capacity into account: If you cannot lift heavy loads, medium supers or a horizontal hive will make your work easier.
4. Stick to one size: Mixing different sizes makes frame swaps impossible and leaves you on your own in an emergency.
5. Consider the climate: In cold regions insulation comes first; in hot, humid regions ventilation and shade matter most.