What Beekeeping Equipment Do I Need?

To get started beekeeping, you’ll need a hive, a queen and a colony, a hive tool, and a smoker. You should also invest in protective wear, like a full suit with a veil and gloves. If this is a new hobby, invest in a beekeeper's kit that will meet these basic needs. Then remember—once your honey is ready, you will also need tools for extracting, processing, and bottling your harvest.

How Many Acres Do You Need to Raise Bees?

It’s estimated that each colony of honeybees needs access to at least one acre of flowers, blossoming trees, and other vegetation to flourish. However, this number can vary based on the availability of fruit, vegetable, flower, and other pollinating plants. Required acreage also depends on the ecosystem of the land, with open meadows being the most hospitable for bees.

What Is the Best Time to Start Beekeeping?

Spring is the best time to start beekeeping because it allows your new colony time to increase in size, gather pollen, and create and store honey before winter. That said, you should pay attention to local weather conditions and start your hive only after the last frost and when the weather gets warmer. To ensure you’re ready to start, take time to order equipment and learn about beekeeping before purchasing your bees and moving them into their new hive. You may also want to let neighbors know that they may experience increased bee activity in their yards.

How Do You Get Bees Cheap?

You can sometimes source free or inexpensive bee colonies through a local beekeeper's group. Other beekeepers may have more hives than they want, and might be looking to offload a few. Join a local beekeeper's Facebook group or forum to stay up on things. Of course, you can always keep your ear out for a local swarm. Catching a swarm and relocating it to a new hive can be tricky, but it's free, and it's also one of the healthiest ways to procure a new colony.

How Profitable is Bee Farming?

Unless you plan to venture into a commercial operation, farming bees in your backyard for honey will only make you about $300 to $500 a hive, on a good year. You also want to account for the honey you keep for yourself, which will shave profits further. Most hobbyists are usually happy making enough money to support their efforts. Still, if you want your apiary to turn a profit, invest in several hives and consider selling products made from beeswax, as well.

Best Bee Supply Companies of 2023

As the pace of life quickens, homesteading, urban farming, and country living are becoming increasingly popular in certain circles. The flourishing agrarian movement has people growing organic veggies, raising backyard chickens, and beekeeping as both a professional and hobbyist undertaking. Beekeeping, in particular, requires specific equipment that may not be available at your local hardware or farm and ranch store. Luckily, you can source most of the items you need online through bee supply companies.

Whether you’re a hobbyist, or an enthusiast hoping to turn your hives into a profitable business, our list of the best bee supply companies will get you started on your backyard farming endeavor.

Best Bee Supply Companies of 2023

Best Overall: Mann Lake Ltd.
Best for Hobbyists: Dadant & Sons, Inc.
Best for Protective Wear: Humble Bee
Best for Small-Scale Processing and Selling: Betterbee
Best Customer Support: Good Land Bee Supply

Best Overall: Mann Lake Ltd.

Key Specs

Product Offerings: Bees, hives and components, protective gear, beekeeping tools, honey extraction equipment, and pest control
Free Shipping? Yes, on most orders over $150
Customer Support: Phone and chat

Why We Chose It

Mann Lake Ltd. has a long history in the business, an ample selection of well-made beekeeping supplies (even some that are made in the U.S.A), and online beginner resources.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Wide selection of supplies, including live bees
Caters to hobbyists and commercial beekeepers
Provides helpful online resources

Cons:

Expensive
Reports of shipping delays and order issues

Overview

Founded in 1983, Mann Lake Ltd. is a Minnesota-based beekeeping supplier, with flagship stores in California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Oregon, and Kentucky, as well as online. Mann Lake’s website features everything you need to start a beekeeping hobby or business, and many of the company’s products are made in-house.

Mann Lake offers a large selection of equipment for every stage of the beekeeping process—from setting up a hive, to building and maintaining a colony, to extracting and bottling honey. Customers report that the supplier’s equipment is well-made and durable.

Beginners can choose from several set-ups, like simple hive kits or complete beekeeping kits, which include everything from wood frames to protective clothing. You can even buy live bees for nationwide delivery or local pick-up. (Note: Sourcing local bees eliminates colony stress from shipping.)

Mann Lake also features educational videos and a directory of beekeeping associations to put you in touch with other enthusiasts.

Best for Hobbyists: Dadant & Sons, Inc.

Key Specs

Product Offerings: Bees, hives and components, protective gear, beekeeping tools, honey extraction equipment, and soap and lip balm-making supplies
Free Shipping? Yes, on most items
Customer Support: Phone, email, or fax

Why We Chose It

Dadant's flexible beginner kits and informative online resources provide the best equipment and go-to for hobbyists.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Online learning center with extensive resources for beginners
Flexible beginner kit options
Offers candle-making, soap-making, and other honey-related craft supplies

Cons:

Live bees only ship to certain states
Inconsistencies in customer service

Overview

With a history of beekeeping dating back to 1863, the Dadant family officially incorporated Dadant & Sons, Inc. in 1948. Today, the company continues to provide high-quality beekeeping supplies, including a comprehensive selection that's suitable for both commercial apiaries and backyard hobbyists.

Dadant also sells bees online that ship to certain states in the Eastern and Western U.S. Additionally, its website provides helpful guidance on how to attract bees during swarm season, or install package bees from another supplier, should you choose to go another route.

Beginner beekeepers can take advantage of Dadant’s online learning center, which includes monthly beekeeping tips, interviews with beekeepers, and other helpful resources.

Best for Protective Wear: Humble Bee

Key Specs

Product Offerings: Protective gear, like gloves, suits, veils, and smocks
Free Shipping? Yes, on orders of at least $69
Customer Support: Online form or social media

Why We Chose It

Humble Bee carries high-quality protective wear and donates 10% of profits to local beekeeping and bee conservation organizations.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Products are high-quality and well-reviewed
Offers several payment options
Company’s founders are committed to bee conservation

Cons:

Only sells beekeeping protection
Some product reviews reflect sizing issues

Overview

Founded by two beekeepers in 2014, Humble Bee is an online supplier of protective equipment for beekeeping. Available products include gloves, jackets, base layers, and smocks, as well as full suits and veils. While Humble Bee’s selection isn’t as extensive as other companies on our list, it still provides some of the best protective equipment available. Every piece has been rigorously tested at the owner's apiaries.

Humble Bee also offers a "no questions asked" satisfaction guarantee, and all of its products come with a two-year warranty. Shipping is free when you spend $69 or more, and the company gives 10% of its profits to charities that encourage local beekeeping activities and promote bee conservation efforts.

Best for Small-Scale Processing and Selling: Betterbee

Key Specs

Product Offerings: Bees, hives and components, protective gear, beekeeping tools, honey extraction equipment, and honey processing supplies
Free Shipping? No
Customer Support: Phone and e-form

Why We Chose It

Betterbee offers a wide selection of honey harvesting and processing equipment, as well as jars, custom labels, and supplies for selling honey and bee-made products.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Wide selection of tools for making candles, soap, mead, and skincare products
Offers pre-made honey and beeswax products
Features an online information center with beekeeping resources

Cons:

Inconsistencies in online product descriptions

Overview

Like other bee supply companies on our list, Betterbee stocks an impressive inventory of beekeeping supplies, including hives, live bees, and harvesting and processing equipment. However, where Betterbee shines is with its selection of custom honey labels, containers, and supplies for making candles, soap, and skincare.

In addition to a full selection of harvesting and processing equipment, customers can choose from about two dozen labels (including custom options), as well as plastic and glass honey containers, caps, lids, and comb honey containers. Betterbee also boasts an impressive selection of candle molds and other candlemaking tools and supplies.

If you're in the area, Betterbee also sells products and bee-related crafts at its company store in Greenwich, New York.

Best Customer Support: Good Land Bee Supply

Key Specs

Product Offerings: Hives and components, protective gear, beekeeping tools, honey extraction equipment, and smokers
Free Shipping? No
Customer Support: Phone, email, and e-form

Why We Chose It

Good Land Bee Supply offers "best in class" customer support and quick responses. The company also includes client feedback in its product development.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Large selection of tools and supplies for hobbyists and larger apiaries
Offers several ways to contact customer support
Customer needs and feedback are considered in product development

What We Don’t Like:

Offers a limited selection of beginner kits
Does not offer candle-making or soap-making supplies

Overview

Good Land Bee Supply is dedicated to meeting the needs of its customers—both amateurs and professionals. Not only does this supplier make it easy to talk to a customer support member (either by phone, email, or e-form), but it's also committed to getting the right tools in your hands.

The company's website offers a curated selection of high-quality products to help you set up and maintain your hives, as well as extract and process honey. Additionally, the Good Land team makes an effort to develop its product offerings based on customer feedback. That said, the company sticks to the specific needs of the apiary, and doesn’t offer supplies for crafting candles and soaps.

Final Verdict

Mann Lake Ltd. wins our pick for best bee supply company due to its extensive inventory offerings for professionals and amateurs. It ships bees straight to your doorstep, and provides ample online resources instructing beginners on what to do when they arrive. The company offers free shipping on orders over $150, and its customer service team is available to answer questions via online chat during regular business hours. Lastly, Mann Lake Ltd. is one of the few companies on our list making many of its products in the U.S.A.

Compare the Best Bee Supply Companies

Company	Product Offerings	Free Shipping?	Customer Support	Online Resources
Best Overall Mann Lake Ltd.	Bees, hives and components, protective gear, beekeeping tools, honey extraction equipment, pest control	Yes, on most orders over $150	Phone and chat	Yes
Best for Hobbyists Dadant & Sons, Inc.	Bees, hives and components, protective gear, beekeeping tools, honey extraction equipment, soap and lip balm-making supplies	Yes, on most items	Phone, email, or fax	Yes
Best for Protective Wear Humble Bee	Protective gear, like gloves, suits, veils, and smocks	Yes, on orders over $69	Online chat or social media	No
Best for Small-Scale Processing and Selling Betterbee	Bees, hives and components, protective gear, beekeeping tools, honey extraction equipment, honey processing supplies	No	Phone and e-form	Yes
Best Customer Support Good Land Bee Supply	Hives and components, protective gear, beekeeping tools, honey extraction equipment, smokers	No	Phone, email, and e-form	No

Guide to Choosing a Bee Supply Company

Before selecting which supplier is right for you, decide whether or not you'd like to take on beekeeping as a hobby, or make a little money off of your endeavor. You should also consider the following:

Product Selection

First, does the supplier you're considering meet your product needs? If you're new to the hobby, choose a company that can offer you the complete package, including hive components, protective gear, and tools. Also, make sure it provides ample resources to get you started and has support staff on hand, should you need extra help with your selections.

If you're in it for the business, check to see if the supplier carries products you'll need to purchase regularly, or annually, like feeding supplies or pest treatment. If you choose to go "au natural" in your beekeeping process, make sure the company you align with has natural treatment methods and can advise you, should you encounter an issue.

Pricing

Next, decide on a budget for your apiary and ensure the company you choose offers pricing that will help you stick to it. That said, sometimes springing for higher quality products, like those made in the U.S. and provided by Mann Lake Ltd., may save you money in the long run. Do a thorough price check across vendors and ensure you're weighing the value-to-cost ratio before purchasing.

Nationwide Availability

Lastly, consider your location. Most companies ship apiary components and supplies nationwide. Some offer free shipping, while others do not. If the company you choose does not have free shipping, check its location to ensure your shipping costs don't outweigh that of the product.

Beekeepers may run into issues purchasing bees that may only be shipped to specific locations. Companies like Dadant & Sons, Inc. will only send live bees to select states and regions of the country. It's best to source bees locally to avoid the stress of shipping, anyway. But, should you choose to purchase package bees, make sure you live close enough to the supplier to land within its shipping window.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Beekeeping Equipment Do I Need?

To get started beekeeping, you’ll need a hive, a queen and a colony, a hive tool, and a smoker. You should also invest in protective wear, like a full suit with a veil and gloves. If this is a new hobby, invest in a beekeeper's kit that will meet these basic needs. Then remember—once your honey is ready, you will also need tools for extracting, processing, and bottling your harvest.
How Many Acres Do You Need to Raise Bees?

It’s estimated that each colony of honeybees needs access to at least one acre of flowers, blossoming trees, and other vegetation to flourish. However, this number can vary based on the availability of fruit, vegetable, flower, and other pollinating plants. Required acreage also depends on the ecosystem of the land, with open meadows being the most hospitable for bees.
What Is the Best Time to Start Beekeeping?

Spring is the best time to start beekeeping because it allows your new colony time to increase in size, gather pollen, and create and store honey before winter. That said, you should pay attention to local weather conditions and start your hive only after the last frost and when the weather gets warmer.

To ensure you’re ready to start, take time to order equipment and learn about beekeeping before purchasing your bees and moving them into their new hive. You may also want to let neighbors know that they may experience increased bee activity in their yards.
How Do You Get Bees Cheap?

You can sometimes source free or inexpensive bee colonies through a local beekeeper's group. Other beekeepers may have more hives than they want, and might be looking to offload a few. Join a local beekeeper's Facebook group or forum to stay up on things.

Of course, you can always keep your ear out for a local swarm. Catching a swarm and relocating it to a new hive can be tricky, but it's free, and it's also one of the healthiest ways to procure a new colony.
How Profitable is Bee Farming?

Unless you plan to venture into a commercial operation, farming bees in your backyard for honey will only make you about $300 to $500 a hive, on a good year. You also want to account for the honey you keep for yourself, which will shave profits further. Most hobbyists are usually happy making enough money to support their efforts. Still, if you want your apiary to turn a profit, invest in several hives and consider selling products made from beeswax, as well.

Methodology

To select the best bee supply companies, we compared several online suppliers and based our decision on factors like product selection, pricing, and nationwide availability. We also reviewed each company’s customer support options, shopper satisfaction, and online resources. We gave special consideration to those who provided ample resources for hobbyists and beginner beekeepers.