Complete Langstroth Beehives

Complete Langstroth Beehives

Start a new colony or expand your apiary with a complete Langstroth beehive from our range of assembled wooden and insulated plastic hives. Available in several configurations, these modular hives provide the principal components needed to house and manage a honey bee colony.

Choose from traditional wooden Langstroth hives and colourful ANEL plastic Langstroth beehives, including single-brood, double-brood and three-deep configurations. Selected starter bundles also include frames and a top feeder, helping new and experienced beekeepers assemble a compatible hive system with fewer separate purchases.

What is a Langstroth beehive?

The Langstroth hive is a modular beehive based on removable frames and consistent bee space. Developed during the nineteenth century, it has become one of the most widely used hive designs worldwide.

A typical 10-frame Langstroth hive has a deep brood box in which the queen lays and the colony raises young bees. Medium or shallow supers can be added above the brood area to provide space for surplus honey. Because the boxes are modular, the hive can be expanded as the colony grows and the nectar flow develops.

Depending on the model selected, a complete Langstroth hive may include:

• A ventilated or solid hive floor

• One or more deep brood boxes

• One or more medium honey supers

• A queen excluder

• An inner cover or crown board

• A weather-resistant roof

• Frames, foundation or a feeder in selected bundles

Contents vary between products, so check the individual listing carefully before ordering.

Plastic or wooden Langstroth hive?

A wooden Langstroth beehive offers a traditional appearance and provides a breathable home for the colony. Wooden equipment may require a suitable external paint or treatment to protect it from British weather. Our assembled models remove the need to construct boxes from flat-packed components.

ANEL plastic Langstroth hives provide a durable, lightweight and low-maintenance alternative. Their insulated, moulded components are supplied ready assembled and are available in a range of colours. Matching ANEL floors, roofs, brood boxes, supers, feeders and other accessories make it easy to expand or replace parts within the same system.

The best choice depends on your preferred material, lifting requirements, existing equipment and approach to hive management.

Choosing a Langstroth hive configuration

A hive with one deep brood box and medium supers provides a familiar starting configuration. The brood chamber houses the colony, while supers can be added or removed as honey-storage requirements change.

A double-deep Langstroth hive provides additional brood and food-storage space. Some beekeepers use this configuration for large colonies or overwintering, although two deep boxes contain more frames to inspect.

Three-deep configurations provide even greater total hive capacity but may be managed differently according to whether the boxes are intended for brood, stores or honey production. Remember that a deep box filled with honey can be very heavy.

Langstroth dimensions and compatibility

Not every product described as “Langstroth” is identical. Regional designs can differ in external dimensions, wall thickness, rebates and the number of frames held. Wooden and moulded plastic components from different manufacturers should not automatically be assumed to fit together.

Before purchasing additional parts, confirm:

• Whether your equipment is made for a 10-frame Langstroth hive

• The external dimensions of each hive body

• Whether you require deep, medium or shallow frames

• Compatibility between the floor, boxes, inner cover and roof

• Whether frames and foundation are included

• Whether the components are assembled or flat packed

Where possible, use matching components from the same manufacturer or confirm compatibility before ordering.

Langstroth hives for UK beekeepers

Langstroth hives are suitable for beginners, hobby beekeepers and commercial apiaries. Their removable frames support routine inspections, swarm management, colony expansion and centrifugal honey extraction. The widespread hive format also provides access to a broad selection of frames, foundation, feeders and replacement parts.

Gwenyn Gruffydd is an official UK distributor of ANEL Langstroth beehives. We are a family-run beekeeping business in West Wales, managing more than 400 hives and offering practical support before and after your purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Does a complete Langstroth hive include bees?

No. “Complete hive” normally refers to the beekeeping equipment rather than a colony of live honey bees. Bees must be purchased or transferred separately unless the product listing explicitly states otherwise.

Are frames included with a complete Langstroth hive?

Not always. Some hive packages contain the main floor, boxes, covers and roof but exclude frames and foundation. Selected starter bundles include frames and feeders. Check the contents list for the individual product.

How many frames fit in a Langstroth hive?

The complete hives in this collection are generally designed around a 10-frame Langstroth format. Other Langstroth systems may hold eight, nine or ten frames, so confirm the specification before buying parts.

How many brood boxes does a Langstroth hive need?

Many colonies begin with one deep brood box. A strong colony may later require a second brood chamber, depending on the beekeeper’s management method, colony size and local conditions.

What is the difference between a National and Langstroth hive?

National and Langstroth hives use different box and frame dimensions. National hives are especially common in Britain, while Langstroth hives are widely used internationally. Their parts are not interchangeable.

Do plastic Langstroth hives need painting?

The ANEL moulded plastic hives are designed as low-maintenance equipment and do not require the same external treatment as timber. Follow the manufacturer’s care instructions and avoid coatings or chemicals that are unsuitable for the material.