
14 Jan Hive Styles
Langstroth vs. Top-Bar Hives
Choosing the right hive is a critical decision for beekeepers, as it affects not only the management of your bees but also the health of the colony and the honey harvest. Two of the most popular hive types are Langstroth boxes and top-bar hives, each offering distinct advantages and challenges. I use both. Below, we explore the benefits and disadvantages of both to help you decide which hive suits your needs.
Consider your goals. If honey is a goal, this needs to be considered with your hive style as the different styles create different paths for honey production and extraction.
Langstroth Hives
“Langs” come in 8- or 10- frame boxes. Additionally they come in ‘deep’ (the bottom box) or ‘medium’ (the top box) sizes. The top box, whatever the size is commonly referred to as a honey super. Whether you get 8- or 10- frames, you need to stay consistent with your equipment sizes so that everything is interchangeable. Notice, you will also need a bottom board, an inner cover, and a top cover.
Benefits:
Langstroth hives are the most widely used hive design in commercial and hobby beekeeping. Their stackable, modular structure allows for easy expansion as your colony grows, making them ideal for those focused on honey production. Frames within the boxes are removable, which simplifies inspections and ensures comb uniformity, reducing the risk of cross-comb and making harvesting honey more efficient. Additionally, their popularity means equipment, tools, and resources for Langstroth hives are readily available and often standardized.
Disadvantages:
While highly efficient, Langstroth hives can be heavy and labor-intensive to manage. The full boxes, often weighing up to 60 pounds when filled with honey, require physical strength to lift and move. Langstroth hives can also be more expensive to set up, with initial costs for the hive and accessories typically exceeding those of other hive styles. For beekeepers who prefer a more natural approach, the uniform frames may feel less aligned with the bees’ instinctual comb-building habits.
Honey Extraction:
The Process: Langstroth hives are designed with removable frames, making honey extraction straightforward and efficient. To harvest honey, you begin by removing the capped frames from the hive. A hot knife or uncapping tool is used to remove the wax seal covering the honey cells. Once uncapped, the frames are placed into a honey extractor, a centrifugal device that spins the frames to remove honey while leaving the comb intact. The honey is then filtered to remove debris before it’s jarred.
Advantages: Langstroth hives are ideal for beekeepers looking to maximize honey production. The reusable frames allow the bees to conserve energy by not having to rebuild comb after each harvest. This efficiency often results in higher yields. The use of extractors also speeds up the process and ensures that the honey retains its quality.
Challenges: While efficient, honey extraction from Langstroth hives requires specialized equipment, such as extractors and uncapping tools, which can be costly. Additionally, the process can be labor-intensive, as full honey frames can weigh several pounds and require careful handling.

Langstroth

Top Bar
Top-Bar Hives
Top-bar hives, one of the oldest hive designs, trace their origins back thousands of years to ancient Greece and Africa. They were developed as a simple, horizontal hive design that allows bees to build comb naturally along wooden bars. This low-tech, accessible method of beekeeping has remained popular among small-scale and subsistence beekeepers worldwide for its ease of use and minimal equipment requirements.
This style can be purchased, or can be made on your own using lumber. The benefits for the beekeeper is that there is less heavy lifting, and they are cheaper in the short term. Depending on your goals, the weather, and the temperament of the hive – these aren’t favored styles for honey production. Here’s a video of a friend of mine building a top bar hive, and another buddy doing the same :).
Benefits:
Top-bar hives offer a more natural and less invasive beekeeping experience. Designed with horizontal bars instead of vertical frames, these hives allow bees to build their comb naturally. Inspections are easier on both the beekeeper and the bees, as only one bar is disturbed at a time. Top-bar hives are also more accessible, requiring no heavy lifting, and they often have a lower startup cost. This makes them appealing for small-scale or backyard beekeepers looking for an eco-friendly approach.
Disadvantages:
The natural comb in a top-bar hive can be more fragile and prone to breakage during inspections or honey extraction. Harvesting honey is less efficient compared to Langstroth hives, as the comb is usually destroyed in the process. Additionally, the smaller size of a top-bar hive may limit honey production, making it less suitable for those aiming for large harvests. Equipment and resources for top-bar hives can also be harder to find, as they are less common in the beekeeping industry.
Honey Extraction:
The Process: In a top-bar hive, honey is harvested by removing individual bars with attached natural comb. Unlike Langstroth frames, the comb in a top-bar hive is often cut off entirely. The comb is then crushed and strained to separate the honey from the wax. Some beekeepers may also choose to press the comb to extract the honey.
Advantages: Top-bar hives offer a simpler, low-tech approach to honey extraction. Since no specialized equipment is needed, the cost of extraction is minimal. This method also encourages a more sustainable relationship with the bees, as harvesting is typically done on a smaller scale, disturbing the colony less than mass harvesting from Langstroth hives.
Challenges: The comb in a top-bar hive is destroyed during the extraction process, which means the bees must rebuild it each time. This can reduce honey production, as the colony expends energy on wax production instead of storing nectar. The extraction process can also be messier and more time-consuming compared to using an extractor.
Which Hive Is Right for You?
The choice between Langstroth and top-bar hives ultimately depends on your beekeeping goals and personal preferences. If you prioritize high honey production and scalability, Langstroth hives are an excellent choice. However, if you value simplicity, accessibility, and a natural beekeeping experience, a top-bar hive may be better suited to your needs. By understanding the benefits and challenges of each design, you can create an environment that works well for both you and your bees.
