Invented by Lorenzo Langstroth in 1851, the “Langstroth Style” beehive is easily the most widely used type in the United States, for both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers. Designed with needs of both the beekeeper and honeybee colony in mind, the Langstroth beehive style revolutionized beekeeping by allowing easier hive management, without harming the colony.
The Langstroth design’s features made hive management tasks much easier, in a way that other designs had never previously been able to do. Its removable frames cause less disruption to bees working inside the hive and give bees the ability to build straighter and stronger honeycombs. This efficient frame design allows bees to ensure proper bee space and increase their honey production.
Langstroth hive setups are available in either 8-frame or 10-frame sizes. Ten frames are more commonly used, but eight frame hive setups are gaining popularity due to their lighter weight and closer match to natural bee habitat. Each hive size, whether 8 frames or 10, consists of varying box sizes, known as supers. Deep hive bodies are typically used on the bottom to hold developing brood; medium and shallow boxes are added on top to hold honey.
It may have been quite a while since the Langstroth beehive design was introduced, but its scalability and adaptability gave beekeepers a usable design that clearly stands up to the test of time. It’s now considered the standard size for beekeeping equipment across the industry, making it a good choice for those wanting to easily add hive setups or boxes, and purchase the right size components, regardless of manufacturer.
The Langstroth hive became the most popular for many reasons, but it’s always good to consider the pros and cons so that you can decide what’s best for you and your bees!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Common; easy to find a mentor | 10 frame hives are wider than bees’ natural habitat |
| Interchangeable equipment | Can be harder for bees to move up mediums in winter due to large gaps |
| High honey production | Large storage for unused components is necessary |
| Easy to find equipment and supplies | Inspections are invasive |
| Foundation and frames prevent “cross-combing” | Foundations contain chemicals and are less natural |
| Fairly inexpensive | Heavy |
Read More
An Introduction to the Common Types of Beehives
The Practicalities of Setting Up a Beehive
What to Know About Langstroth Beehives
A Detailed Look at the Langstroth Beehive *
* Colony Member-Only Content
