Beehives are essential structures for beekeeping, providing a safe and organized environment for honeybee colonies. Various designs exist, each with specific dimensions and characteristics tailored to the needs of the bees and the preferences of beekeepers. This overview highlights the dimensions, frame sizes, and capacities of several popular beehive types, including National, Langstroth, Commercial, Smith, and Dadant hives, offering insights into their unique features and functionalities.
The National beehive features an external dimension of 18 1/8" square and a brood body depth of 8 7/8", accommodating 50,000 worker cells with a brood area of 2,200 square inches. In contrast, the Langstroth hive, larger at 20" x 16 ¼", has a brood body depth of 9 7/16" and supports 61,400 worker cells across a 2,750 square inch brood area. The Commercial hive, with an external dimension of 18 5/16" square and a brood body depth of 10 ½", boasts the highest capacity of 70,500 worker cells and a brood area of 3,000 square inches. The Smith hive, similar in size to the National hive, has a brood body depth of 8 7/8" and a brood area of 2,200 square inches, while the Dadant hive, the largest of the group at 20" x 18 ½", features a brood body depth of 11 ¾" and can house 85,000 worker cells in a 3,740 square inch brood area. Each hive type also has specific frame sizes and configurations, influencing the number of frames that can be accommodated, which is crucial for effective hive management. Below are the various hive sizes.
National Beehive Dimensions and statistics
External dimension - 18 1/8" square
Brood body depth - 8 7/8"
14” x 12” brood body depth - 12 ½"
Super depth - 5 7/8"
The brood area is 2200 sq. ins.
No. of worker cells 50,000
Bottom Bee Space
Frames sizes
Top Bars – 17” long
Bottom bars – 14” long
Deep side bars – 8 ½” long
14” x12” side bars – 12” long
Shallow side bars – 5 ½” long
Foundation sizes
Deep – 13 7/16” x 8”
14 x 12” – 13 7/16” x 11 ½”
Shallow – 13 7/16” x 5”
How many frames in each box:
11 Hoffman (self-spacing) frames in either a brood body or super. Although it is possible to fit in 12 frames, it is easier for manipulation to use 11 frames and a dummy board.
11 frames on narrow ends in the brood body
10 Manley frames in the super
9 or 10 frames on castellated spacers in the super
8 frames on wide ends in the super
Langstroth Beehive Dimensions and statistics
External dimension – 20” x 16 ¼”
Brood body depth – 9 7/16”
Jumbo brood body depth 11 ¾””
Super depth - 5 ¾”
The brood area is 2750 sq. ins.
No. of worker cells 61,400
Top Bee Space
Frames sizes.
Top Bars – 19” long
Bottom bars – 17 9/16” long
Deep side bars – 9 1/8” long
Jumbo side bars – 11 ¼” long
Shallow side bars – 5 3/8” long
Foundation sizes
Deep – 16 ¾” 8 5/8”
Jumbo – 16 ¾” x 10 ¾”
Shallow – 16 ¾” x 4 7/8”
How many frames in each box:
10 Hoffman frames in either a brood body or super.
8 Manley frames in the super.
Commercial Beehive Dimensions and statistics
External dimension – 18 5/16” square
Brood body depth – 10 ½”
Super depth – 6 3/8”
The brood area is 3000 sq. ins.
No. of worker cells 70,500
Bottom Bee Space
Frames sizes.
Top Bars – 17 ¼” long
Bottom bars – 16” long
Deep side bars – 10” long
Shallow side bars – 6” long
Foundation sizes
Deep – 15 7/16” x 9 ½”
Shallow – 15 7/16” x 5 ½”
How many frames in each box:
11 Hoffman frames in either a brood body or super.
10 Manley frames in the super.
Smith Beehive Dimensions and statistics
External dimension – 16 3/8” x 18 ¼”
Brood body depth - 8 7/8”
14” x 12” brood body depth - 12 ½”
Super depth - 5 7/8”
The brood area is 2200 sq. ins.
No. of worker cells 50,000
Top Bee Space
Frames sizes.
Top Bars – 15 ½”” long
Bottom bars – 14” long
Deep side bars – 8 ½” long
14” x12” side bars – 12” long
Shallow side bars – 5 ½” long Foundation sizes
Deep – 13 7/16” x 8”
14 x 12” – 13 7/16” x 11 ½”
Shallow – 13 7/16” x 5”
How many frames in each box:
11 Hoffman (self-spacing) frames in either a brood body or super. Although it is possible to fit in 12 frames, it is easier for manipulation to use 11 frames and a dummy board.
10 Manley frames in the super.
Dadant Beehive Dimensions and statistics
External dimension – 20” x18 ½”
Brood body depth – 11 ¾”
Super depth – 6 5/8”
The brood area is 3740 sq. ins.
No. of worker cells 85,000
Top Bee Space
Frames sizes.
Top Bars – 19” long
Bottom bars – 17 9/16” long
Deep side bars – 11 ¼” long
Shallow side bars – 6 ¼” long
Foundation sizes
Deep – 16 ¾” x 10 ¾”
Shallow – 16 ¾” x 5 ¾”
How many frames in each box:
11 Hoffman frames in either a brood body or super.
10 Manley frames in the super.