This month

Your first hive: beekeeping supplies for beginners

Everything to get bees in a box and through the first year: hive, frames, suit, smoker, hive tool, feeder and a mite test, grouped by category.

Hives & kits 27Frames & foundation 4Protective gear 11Hive tools & smokers 26Honey harvest 15Bee health & feeding 22Books & gifts 9
Beginner beekeepers in veils watching an instructor open a hive in a fenced backyard
Photo: uacescomm, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

What beekeeping supplies a beginner actually needs

Beekeeping supplies for a first hive fit on one short list: a hive with frames, protective gear, a smoker and hive tool, a feeder and a way to count mites. Everything on this page is tagged for year one, grouped by category below. Bees are not sold here; packages, nucs and queens come from local or regional suppliers, and Penn State Extension advises ordering packages by early winter for spring delivery.

Plan for two hives if you can. With two colonies of the same size, you can compare them and move a frame of brood from the strong one to help the weak one.

Hives & kits

All 27 in hives & kits

Frames & foundation

All 4 in frames & foundation

Protective gear

All 11 in protective gear

Hive tools & smokers

All 26 in hive tools & smokers

Honey harvest

All 15 in honey harvest

Bee health & feeding

All 22 in bee health & feeding

Books & gifts

All 9 in books & gifts
Varroa mite threshold calculatorTurn an alcohol wash or sugar roll count into mites per 100 bees and check it against the Honey Bee Health…First-hive shopping list builderChoose how many hives, packages or nucs and the hive style, and get an itemized beekeeping starter list with…Hive inspection logA free hive inspection record: queen and eggs, brood pattern, stores, queen cells, temperament, mite count…Seasonal beekeeping checklist by regionA month-by-month beekeeping to-do list for six US regions, from extension calendars. Tick tasks off as you…

The first-hive checklist

  1. Choose a hive style

    A 10- or 8-frame Langstroth kit is the easiest to get help with. Compare kits in best beehive for beginners and best starter kits; see all options in hives and kits.

  2. Add a spare box of frames

    A growing colony needs room quickly in spring. Keep one extra box with frames per hive from frames and foundation.

  3. Get a suit that fits

    Most beginners start with a full suit plus gloves. See best beekeeping suits or the suit vs jacket comparison.

  4. Smoker, hive tool, brush

    An 11- or 12-inch smoker and a J-hook or standard hive tool cover every inspection; see hive tools and smokers.

  5. Feeder and food

    A new package has no stored honey, so it usually needs syrup at first. Compare beehive feeders.

  6. A mite tester

    Count mites from the first summer with an alcohol wash. The mite threshold calculator compares your count with HBHC 9th-edition thresholds.

First-hive shopping list builderPick hives, package or nuc and hive style to get an itemized list with quantities. Add your own prices if you like.

Choosing a hive style? See Langstroth vs top bar, Flow Hive vs Langstroth and the Flow Hive 2 review.

Your first year, in order

  1. Winter: read a beginner book, join a local club, order bees, assemble and paint the hive.
  2. Spring: install the package or nuc (see how to install a package), feed, inspect every 7–10 days at first.
  3. Summer: add boxes as frames fill, start monthly mite counts and watch for swarm signs.
  4. Fall: treat if counts are over threshold with an EPA-registered product per its label, fit mouse guards, check stores.
  5. Winter: leave the cluster alone and heft the hive to check weight.

Timing shifts by region; the seasonal calendar shows each month for six US regions, and how to start beekeeping covers the full timeline.

Mistakes beginners make

  • Expecting honey in year one. A new colony often needs everything it makes to build comb and survive winter.
  • Skipping mite counts because the bees look fine. Varroa damage often shows only in fall.
  • Buying a “Flow Hive” from a non-Flow seller; see how to spot a fake Flow Hive.
  • Not checking local rules. Some states require apiary registration; see beekeeping laws by state.

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Your first hive: questions

What do you need to start beekeeping?
A hive with frames, a suit or jacket with veil, gloves, a smoker, a hive tool, a feeder, a mite tester and bees from a local supplier.
How many hives should a beginner start with?
Two is the common advice. It lets you compare colonies and share resources if one struggles.
How much does it cost to start beekeeping?
It depends on hive style, assembled or not, and package or nuc. Our cost to start beekeeping guide breaks it down, and the shopping list tool totals your own prices.
Where do you buy bees?
From local or regional suppliers and beekeeping clubs, as a package or a nuc. Order early; many suppliers sell out before spring.
How long until the first honey harvest?
Often the second season. A first-year colony may produce surplus in a strong nectar flow, but leave it enough stores for winter.
Do you need a permit to keep bees?
Some states require apiary registration and some towns limit hives. Check your state department of agriculture and local ordinances.