How To Build A Beehive Stand [Beekeeper Know How]

There are a number of reasons why we need to know how to build a beehive stand. These are only necessary in certain areas, and there are different reasons why they are necessary. This will determine the design of the beehive stand, how to build a beehive stand, and how much it costs. Let’s have a look at a few inexpensive options.

Firstly

Bees have existed for a lot longer than we have – in fact when bees first started being bees, our ancestors were small, dumb, rat-like things. To cut a long story short we figured some stuff out, got opposable thumbs and now we can help the bees out a bit by using this big brain and opposable thumbs to build stands that protect the bees or the hives from various things.

Depending on where you are in the world, a beehive stand can serve different purposes. We will progress through the various options. Beekeepers should be problem solvers – there are off the shelf solutions – and there are simple things that we can recycle into beehive stands. The choice is yours!

Why Do We Need A Beehive Stand?

There are many different reasons we could need a beehive stand. Here are a few:

A Beehive Stand Protects Your Back/Knees

A brood box with a lid and bottom board is only about 14 or so inches off the ground. A hive that is on the ground will necessitate that you either bend over the hive – and that messes your back up a lot – or you have to kneel, which messes up your knees. If you kneel next to hives you invariably mess up your knees and get bursitis (I have had this from working hives, and it is really horrible).

Buy a set of knee guards such as these that you can strap over your bee suit pants. I cannot stress this enough – you do not want to get bursitis – most people will read this and think “Crazy guy rambling on about things” and then you will get bursitis and you will understand what I was going on about.

If you have bees in your backyard, a beehive stand lifts the bees up and makes working them far more pleasurable.

A Beehive Stand Stops Moisture Seeping Into Your Hive Making It Last Longer

Having your beehive raised off the ground stops moisture from penetrating into your hive. Moisture makes wood swell, and it also makes bees more inclined to get sick.

Learn more about: How Far Apart Should Beehives Be Placed?

My friend Kola has his own way of keeping bees. He makes his own boxes and does not use any hive stands at all. Each person has their own way of doing things, but you can see here that the grass is definitely going to grow into the bottom boards, followed by fungus and chaos. Again, there are no hard and fast rules – Kola has 4000 hives and produces three times as much honey per hive as any other beekeeper in the area.

A Beehive Stand Acts As A Barrier To Stop Roots, Grass and Fungi From Growing Into Your Hive

This may sound silly but it happens. Fungi form a network in the soil and will grow out of the soil into your beehive (assuming it is wooden). The fungi then make holes in the bottom board and the grass grows through the holes and then gets tangled up inside the frames and just makes a terrible mess.

Knowing how to build a beehive stand helps you provide a barrier to these forms of nature entering your hive.

A Beehive Stand Lifts The Hive Up and Can Protect Against Ants, Termites and Other Pests

In areas where ants and termites are a big problem, knowing how to build a beehive stand with legs and an ant/termite guard can help. In some cases you could place the legs of the commercially available stand in tins with water and a bit of oil on the surface – glue a lid further up the leg to stop rain from getting into your water/oil mix. This acts as a barrier to termites and ants. Ants can quickly destroy the bees in a hive, and termites can quickly eat the actual hive.

Using A Hive Stand To Limit Damage From Honey Badgers

In parts of the world where honey badgers are a problem to beekeepers, hive stands and hive straps help to keep these critters away from your hives. Read more here.

How To Build A Beehive Stand

Simple Low-Cost Beehive Stands

Crates Zip-tied Together

If you zip-tie two crates together and place them open side downwards they can support a hive. The reason I use two of them is that I have found that if you use one they can fall over. You will also not be able to stack these more than two deeps and one shallow high. Anything above that and they just collapse. When it comes to simple methods of how to build a beehive stand this one is a winner – waterproof, light and quick!

Cinder Blocks

A few Cinder Blocks (Concrete Masonry Units) make a perfectly decent stand. These can support a significant weight. When I use these I normally place a bit of black plastic sheeting below the blocks. This stops moisture from getting into the bricks, and it also kills the grass and weeds below the hive. It takes limited time and skill to figure out how to build a beehive stand from Cinder blocks.

Old Car Tyres

These are inexpensive (just go to a tyre fitment centre). When considering how to build a beehive stand with old tyres please remember that placing the same plastic sheeting mentioned above can be useful too.

A few times I have had hives that actually extended the beehive into the car tyre below the hive! This was insane as we ended up with about 10lb of honey in the car tyre below the hive. We only noticed this when loading the hive! The combs mainly broke off and fell into the tyre – the black plastic sheeting was fortunate here as it stopped the honey from getting covered in sand!

Old car tyres work for a few supers, but much like crates, they can suddenly collapse if hives get too heavy.

Wooden Pallets

If you want to know how to build a beehive stand on an extreme budget, use discarded brick pallets. You can attach a few legs to the pallet, or just prop it up on cinder blocks. Scratch around on construction sites – you may have to swop a bottle of honey or two with the builders and you will get a heap of pallets.

You can get really fancy building hive stands – if you are a good carpenter I do not need to tell you how to build a beehive stand.  If you are a bad carpenter, rather use the above methods. A badly built wooden hive stand will just collapse.  A competent carpenter will know how to build a beehive stand that will suit their budget and skill level.

I hope this has helped to show you how to build a beehive stand from simple readily available materials. By showing you how to build a beehive stand by repurposing old waste products such as car tyres or brick pallets into hive stands I hope to help the environment too. If you feel you know how to build a beehive stand, make sure your skill level is up to it. There is nothing worse than coming back to an abandoned apiary because your hive stand collapsed. If you enjoyed this please share.

Read more about: How To Make A Honey Bee Trap

FAQs

Why do I need a beehive stand?

A beehive stand elevates the hive, protecting it from moisture, pests, and overgrown vegetation, while also improving the beekeeper’s posture when managing the hive.

What materials can I use to build a beehive stand?

Common materials include crates, cinder blocks, old car tires, wooden pallets, and recycled materials like plastic or metal.

Does a beehive stand help protect the hive from pests?

Yes, lifting the hive off the ground helps protect it from ants, termites, and other pests. You can even create barriers with oil or water to further deter them.

How high should my beehive stand be?

The height typically ranges from 12 to 24 inches off the ground, but the ideal height depends on the beekeeper’s comfort and local environmental conditions.

Can I use recycled materials to build a beehive stand?

Absolutely. Old car tires, wooden pallets, or cinder blocks can be repurposed to create a sturdy and cost-effective hive stand.

How does a beehive stand prevent moisture damage?

By lifting the hive off the ground, a stand prevents ground moisture from seeping into the wood, extending the hive’s lifespan and reducing the risk of diseases.

What are some inexpensive beehive stand designs?

Zip-tied crates, cinder blocks, old tires, and discarded wooden pallets are some budget-friendly options for building a beehive stand.

Do all beekeepers use hive stands?

Not all beekeepers use hive stands, but they are highly recommended in areas prone to moisture, pests, or where terrain is uneven.

How do I prevent my beehive stand from collapsing?

Ensure the stand is built from sturdy materials and positioned on level ground. Avoid overloading with too many hive boxes and inspect regularly for signs of wear.

How can a beehive stand protect against honey badgers?

In regions where honey badgers are common, hive stands combined with hive straps can prevent them from knocking over and raiding the hives.