Ultimate Beekeeping Supplies: Everything You Need to Start

In any endeavor, preparation is more than half the battle. Beekeeping is no different. One of the first things you need to do when you begin this wonderful adventure is to invest in the right equipment and supplies. You have probably already flipped through a beekeeper’s catalog which might have made you feel that you need a lot of gear and equipment. In reality, you only need a few basic tools and equipment to get started.

This guide covers it all. Read on to find out essential beehive supplies and beekeeping supplies to buy.

Man demonstrating best beekeeping equipment you need to get started standing next to a langstroth beehive

Basic Honey Bee Equipment

You should easily find most of these beekeeping and beehive supplies at a beekeeping supply store near me. Here’s what you need:

Bee Suit and Veil

Bee stings hurt bad, but stings in the eyes can cause permanent damage. That is why you need a beekeeper’s veil. Most expert beekeepers do not wear veils when managing smaller hives but it is best to keep them handy.

There are various styles available in bee-keeping veils. The tie-down style is slightly time-consuming to tie and untie. So you could opt for a full beekeeping suit or the jacket style bee suit that comes with a veil. It is convenient to wear and you simply need to tuck it into your trousers to prevent bees from getting in. The full suits can be worn over your clothes. See our favorite 3 layer bee keepers suit for a shorter more convenient option and check current pricing through amazon for a bargain.

Pro tip- Wear a baseball hat inside the veil to keep the veil away from your face! This will also prevent sweating.

A Beekeeper tending his bees inside of a bee suit with a veil

Gloves

The best gloves for beekeeping are those yellow rubber dishwashing gloves. They are cheap, less clumsy, and widely available. The best part: bees cannot get through them.

Pro tip: It is a good idea to keep several pairs on hand.

Allergy Relief Items

Even if you aren’t allergic to bee stings, it is important to keep some essential honey bee supplies like an EpiPen handy. This can prevent anaphylactic shock until help arrives.

For minor stings, keep some plantain leaves to make a poultice to soothe the stung area. Alternatively, apply a paste of baking soda in water to the burning skin. Keep antihistamines in your medicine cabinet as they help relieve swelling, pain, and burning sensation.

Bee Brush

Use a bee brush to gently brush bees off your suit or clothes. You also need a bee brush when inspecting the hives for moving the bees off the frames or herding them into a box when they are swarming.

Hive Tool

Bees tend to glue everything together in their hive using resin-like propolis. To pry this seal, you need a hive tool. A hive tool is like a crowbar but it is specifically designed for prying stuck parts of the hive. You may have to try out different styles to see the ones that fit your requirements the best. (Shown in Yellow in the photo below)

Beekeeper using beehive tool to open and inspect their langstroth hive

Queen Marker, Queen Catcher, Queen Excluder

This tool helps you separate the queen when creating a super hive. Use a queen marker to mark the queen. Queen excluders are made using thin sheets of perforated materials and come with openings that allow worker bees to pass through.

Smoker and Smoker Fuel

A smoker is one of the most important beekeeping supplies for sale. You need one to open the hive and also when you reassemble it. Smoke masks the other scents and also prevents the bees from getting stressed out.

You can use any fuel available such as dried pine needles, cardboard, leaves, sawdust (from wood that is untreated), burlap, etc. Keep some green leaves on hand to place over the fuel in case the smoke gets too hot.

Traditional Bee Smoker over the top of a hive used to calm the bees in the langstroth hive

Langstroth Hive Boxes

Langstroth hive boxes come in different sizes: shallow, medium, and deep. They also come in widths of 5, 8, or 10 frame capacity. Decide the size of the box to choose based on cost and weight. A smaller box is easier to lift when it is full of honey. But you’d also need more of them per hive. The larger the box, the fewer the frames and fewer the boxes you will need for the same total internal volume of space.

A collection of Langstroth Beehive Boxes in a meadow

Frames 

After you choose the hive body size, select frames with the same depth as the depth of the hive body. You can easily purchase preassembled frames from a beekeeping store near me. They are available in 9 1/8, 7 1/4, 6 1/4, or 5 3/8 inches height. Frames come with top and bottom bars each with different designs. You can choose according to your budget.

Bees Wax Honey Bee Comb held outside the hive to show bees filling the new comb with honey

Combs

You can choose from honeycomb and brood comb. Ideally, you must buy combs made from food-grade synthetic material that resembles beeswax.

Stand, Bottom Board, and Cover

Each Langstroth box will need a stand, bottom board, and top cover.

Hive Stands

Hive stands are must-have accessories in honey bee equipment in wet areas. They help protect the hives from dampness. They also prevent grass and weeds near the hive entrance. Avoid plain, untreated wood stands as they tend to rot and fall off. You can use commercial stands or design one using concrete blocks or logs. A single hive stand can be used for a single colony or a row of colonies.

How To Build A Beehive Stand

Bottom Boards

Bottom boards form the floor of the colony. They also help your foraging bees for landing and take-off. Choose screened bottom boards to ward off varroa mites. The screens also provide extra ventilation to the bees and allow you to assess the mite population (to measure infestation and use appropriate treatment).

Inner Cover

You need this to create insulation for the bee colony from the cold. This is placed between the telescoping outer cover and the top box of the hive. A cover also improves ventilation to the hive.

Inner Cover for protecting beehives over winter with insulation

Honey Extractor

This tool will help you gently extract honey from the comb without damaging the comb. The honey extractor works by slinging honey out of the filled frames.

Beekeeper standing over a Honey Extractor with a langstroth hive frame

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Beekeepers working with apiculture equipment

Beekeeping Supplies FAQ’s

What are the basic beekeeping supplies needed to get started?

To start beekeeping, you’ll need a bee suit, veil, gloves, hive tool, smoker, Langstroth hive, frames, combs, and a bee brush. These are the essential tools to protect yourself and manage your hive effectively.

Why is a bee suit and veil important for beekeeping?

A bee suit and veil protect you from stings, especially on sensitive areas like the face and eyes. They also provide peace of mind, making it easier to handle bees calmly and confidently.

What type of gloves are best for beekeeping?

Yellow rubber dishwashing gloves are ideal because they’re inexpensive, durable, and allow for better dexterity than thick leather gloves, while still preventing stings.

What tools are needed to handle hive maintenance?

A hive tool is essential for prying apart hive components glued together with propolis. You’ll also need a smoker to calm the bees and make inspections easier.

Why is a smoker necessary in beekeeping?

A smoker helps calm bees by masking alarm pheromones. This reduces stress for the bees and makes hive inspections safer and more efficient for the beekeeper.

What are Langstroth hive boxes, and why are they popular?

Langstroth hive boxes are modular hives designed for easy management. Their standardized frames allow beekeepers to inspect, harvest, and expand their hives efficiently.

How do you choose the right size for Langstroth hive frames?

Select frames that match the depth of your Langstroth hive box. Preassembled frames in various sizes are available at beekeeping supply stores.

What should I do to prepare for bee stings?

Keep antihistamines, baking soda paste, and plantain leaves on hand for minor stings. For severe allergic reactions, always have an EpiPen readily available.

What is a queen excluder, and why is it used?

A queen excluder prevents the queen from entering the honey supers, ensuring that only worker bees can access those areas to store honey without laying eggs.

What is the role of a honey extractor in beekeeping?

A honey extractor spins frames to remove honey without damaging the comb, allowing it to be reused by the bees for future honey production.

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