Bee Hive Sizes
National Hive
- Features
- Most popular in UK
- Frames fit several designs.
- Super full of honey not too heavy.
- External dimensions 460mm by 460mm
- Brood box height 225mm
- Super height 149mm
- Weight Full Super 11.4kg
- Bee spaceBottom
- Number of cells in brood box 60,000
- Area in brood box14,194 sq cms (1.42 sq metres)
- Frame type DN4 or DN5 and SN4 or SN5
- Frames Size
- Top bar 432mm * 22mm
- Bottom bar 356mm
- Deep side bar216mm *35mm
- Shallow side bar140mm * 35mm
- Number of frames in brood box:
- 11 and a dummy board.
- 9 or 10 frames on castellated spacers in the super
- 8 frames with wide ends in the super
Deep National Hive
- Features
- Similar to National
- Brood box deeper than National
- More space for prolific bees.
- Takes a National Super.
- Also known as:
- External dimensions 460mm by 460mm
- Brood box height 315mm
- Super height 149mm
- Weight Full Super 11.4kg
- Bee space Bottom
- Number of cells in brood box 93,500
- Area in brood box 20,719 sq cms (2.07 sq metres)
- Frame type 14*12 and SN4 or SN5
- Frame Size
- Top bar 431mm *22mm
- Bottom bar 356mm
- Side bar 305mm *35mm
- Number of frames in brood box:
- 11 plus a dummy board.
- 12 is possible but too tight.
- 11 frames on narrow ends in brood body
- 9 or 10 frames on castellated spacers in the super
- 8 frames with wide ends in the super
WBC (William Broughton Carr)
- Features
- Invented by William Brougton Carr
- The classic design seen in children's books
- consists of a national with a secondary outer wall.
- Outer sections known as "lifts".
- Double wall makes temperature more constant.
- Double wall makes inspection more difficult.
- External dimensions 505mm by 505mm
- Brood box height 225mm
- Super height 149mm
- Weight Full Super 11.4kg
- Bee space Bottom
- Number of cells in brood box 45,000
- Frame type DN4 or DN5 and SN4 or SN5
- Area in brood box 12,902 sq cm (1.29 sq metres)
- Number of frames in brood box:
- 10 Hoffman frames in brood or super
- 10 frames on narrow ends in brood body,
- 9 Manley in super,
- 8 or 10 on castellated spacers,
- 8 wide ends frames in super.
Commercial
- Features
- Deeper than National
- Useful for colonies with prolific queens.
- A super full of honey is very heavy.
- Beekeepers use commercial brood and National supers.
- External dimensions 465mm by 465 mm
- Brood box height 267 mm
- Super height 162mm
- Weight Full Super 11.4kg
- Bee spaceBottom
- Frame type Commercial Deep and Commercial Shallow
- Area in brood box 19,353 sq cm (1.94 sq metres)
- Number of cells in brood box 70,500
- Frame Size
- Top bar 438mm*27mm
- Bottom bar 406mm
- Deep side bar 254mm*35mm
- Shallow side bar 152mm*35mm
- Number of frames in brood box:
- 11 Hoffman frames in brood and super
- 10 Manley frames in super.
Langstroth
- Features
- Worldwide the most poopular.
- No standard Langstroth dimensions
- USA sizes not same as UK sizes
- California sizes not same as rest of USA!
- External dimensions 508mm by 413mm
- Brood box height 240mm
- Jumbo brood height 298mm
- Super height 146mm
- Weight Full Super 13.6kg
- Bee space Top
- Number of cells in brood box 61,400
- Area in the brood box 17,742 sq cm (1.77 sq metres)
- Number of frames in brood box:
- 10 Hoffman frames in brood or super,
- 8 Manley frames in super
Smith
- Features
- Developed by Willi W Smith of Scotland.
- A hive simple to make
- Suitable for harsh Scottish weather
- Easy to move to another location
- Often moved to heather moors.
- External dimensions416mm by 463mm
- Brood box height225mm
- Super height 149mm
- Weight Full Super 11.4kg
- Bee spaceTop
- Frame type Smith DN1 or Smith DN4 and Smith SN1 or Smith SN4
- Frame Sizes
- Top bar 394mm or you can use National DN4/DN5 and shorten the lugs.
- Bottom bar 356mm
- Deep side bars 216mm
- Shallow side bars 140mm
- Area in brood box14,192 sq cm 1.42 sq metres)
- Number of cells in brood box 50,000
- Number of frames in brood box:
- 11 Hoffman in brood body or super
- 10 Manley frames in the super
Dadant
- Features
- Largest of the hives here
- Sizes can vary
- Being large not easy to inspect
- Not very popular
- External dimensions 508mm by 470mm
- Brood box height 299mm
- Super height 168mm
- Area in brood box24,126 sq cm (2.41 sq metres)
- Number of cells in brood box 85,000
- Frame Sizes
- Top bar 483mm
- Bottom bar 446mm
- Deep side bars286mm
- Shallow side bars 159mm
- Number of frames:
- 11 Hoffman frames in super or brood box or
- 10 Manley frames
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