10 Free Bee Hive Stand Ideas and Plans [Langstroth, Layens, and Top Bar Hives!]
Welcome! This article contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.
Free bee hive stand ideas and plans to DIY! If you’re a beekeeper or plan to become one, you know that bee hives should get elevated to a height that affords safety for the bees and a comfortable working height for the beekeeper. A sturdy weatherproof hive stand will ensure your bee hives have the necessary protection from pests, predators, and the elements.
Beehive stands come in various designs for Langstroth (quadratic), Layens (horizontal), and top bar (trapezoidal) beehives. You can make a durable and attractive beehive stand at a cost that fits your budget. We’ve compiled a bee hive stand ideas and plans guide to suit your beehive boxes, apiary aesthetic, DIY skills, and those ever-so-choosy bees.
What’s Inside:
- DIY Bee Hive Stand Ideas and Plans
- 1. Traditional Bee Hive Base Stand with Angled Landing Board
- 2. Classic Two-Hive All-Wood Beehive Stand
- 3. Heavy-Duty Multi-Hive Timber and Cinder Block Beehive Stand
- 4. Ant-Proof Multi-Hive Stand Using 4×4 Beams and Cinder Blocks
- 5. Ant-Proof Multi-Hive Stand Using Galvanized Pipes and Wood
- 6. Instant Rustic Beehive Stand Using a Pallet and Rocks
- 7. Cheap Beehive Stand Using a Pallet and Gum Poles
- 8. Simple Ant-Proof Hive Stand Using Threaded Steel Pipes and Wood
- 9. Easy-Leveling Beehive Stand Using Steel Fence Posts and Galvanized Pipes
- 10. All-Wood Horizontal and Top Bar Bee Hive Stand
- Bee Hive Stand Ideas – FAQs
- Make a Stand for the Best Way to Bee
DIY Bee Hive Stand Ideas and Plans
Beehive stands can get made from several materials, including rot-resistant wood, cinder blocks, steel and PVC pipes, wood and steel posts, and paint. Ideally, beehive stands should provide a robust, level, ergonomic platform at least 18 inches from the ground to protect the hive from predators.
Bees are sublimely creative creatures! And beekeepers aren’t too shabby when making innovative beehives that enhance the colony’s living space.
Beehives provide a solid footing for hives that get heavier by the day. They’re the base of all productive apiaries!
Here’s our guide for 10 easy DIY bee hive stand ideas and plans:
- Traditional Bee Hive Base Stand with Angled Landing Board
- Classic Two-Hive All-Wood Beehive Stand
- Multi-Hive Heavy-Duty Timber and Cinder Block Beehive Stand
- Ant-Proof Multi-Hive Stand using 4-inch by 4-inch Beams and Cinder Blocks
- Ant-Proof Multi-Hive Stand Using Galvanized Pipes and Wood
- Rustic and Easy Beehive Stand Using a Pallet and Rocks
- Cheap Beehive Stand Using a Pallet and Gum Poles
- Simple Ant-Proof Hive Stand Using Threaded Steel Pipes and Wood
- Easy-Leveling Beehive stand Using Steel Fence Posts and Galvanized Pipes
- All-Wood Horizontal Bee Hive Stand
Let’s also discuss these beehive bases and stands in more detail below.
Sound good?
Let’s begin!
1. Traditional Bee Hive Base Stand with Angled Landing Board
Build a bottom frame with a 45-degree beveled landing board for your Langstroth beehives, giving the bees a comfortable doorway and the hive a high-quality traditional look.
Avoid using treated wood. Use natural cedar, oak, or pine and finish it with latex paint or a non-toxic wood preservative.
Download the PLANS | Watch the VIDEO
2. Classic Two-Hive All-Wood Beehive Stand
Here’s an attractive and easy-to-build two-hive design using 2×4 and 4×4-inch timber with a plywood tabletop in the center.
You’ll need a saw, drill, screwdriver, wood screws, and a wood sealer. Complete the set-up with a river stone and brick bed for the stand and hives. One of the easiest bee hive stand ideas to build!
3. Heavy-Duty Multi-Hive Timber and Cinder Block Beehive Stand
Do you want a super-sturdy platform for your array of beehives? This design uses 6×4 plus 6×2-inch wooden beams. The cinder blocks lay horizontally to provide a low center of gravity, load-carrying capacity, and longevity.
The design allows you to raise the height of the beehive stand by stacking additional cinder blocks if you prefer to work on your bees without bending your back.
Read More!
- Backyard Beekeeping [Complete Guide for Beginners]
- How to Attract Bees to Your Garden [Complete Guide]
- How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
- 17 Simple Outhouse Plans You Can DIY Cheaply
4. Ant-Proof Multi-Hive Stand Using 4×4 Beams and Cinder Blocks
If you don’t want to do any woodwork, this is one of the bee hive stand ideas that will suit you down to the ground. Two 4×4-inch timber beams, six cinder blocks, and four galvanized steel termite guards will prevent ants from invading your beehives.
The designer uses a tarp on the ground to prevent weeds from growing underneath the bee hives. He also applies natural grease to the undersides of the termite guards to deter ants.
5. Ant-Proof Multi-Hive Stand Using Galvanized Pipes and Wood
An ant-proof multi-hive wooden beehive stand with a cement foundation will give your bees the best of all worlds – security, space, and good looks.
This design uses lengths of 4×2-inch timber to make the frame, accommodating super-frames for an easy hive inspection. Galvanized steel legs are adjustable for easy leveling, while plastic funnels on the legs keep the oil-ant-traps clear of debris and water.
6. Instant Rustic Beehive Stand Using a Pallet and Rocks
With a free wooden shipping pallet and four large rocks, you can create a sturdy and appealing stand for two beehives. The beehive rocks should hold the pallet level at least 18 inches from the ground.
Ideally, locate the pallet bee hive stand in a position free of shrubs and long grass to prevent insects from gaining access to the hives.
7. Cheap Beehive Stand Using a Pallet and Gum Poles
For more permanent and elevated pallet bee hive stand ideas, use old gum poles cut to length to create a comfortable working height.
You’ll need a saw, a hammer, nails, and a digging tool for fence posts.
Watch the VIDEO | View the PLANS
8. Simple Ant-Proof Hive Stand Using Threaded Steel Pipes and Wood
Here’s a nifty single beehive stand with an ant-proofing solution. A wood frame assembled horizontally creates a sturdy frame to attach four galvanized iron flanges and four threaded pipes with flange footers.
Plastic footer tubs filled with cooking oil and inverted plastic funnels (apply grease to the funnel’s interior) on the steel pipes present an impenetrable barrier to pesky ants and other crawling insects.
9. Easy-Leveling Beehive Stand Using Steel Fence Posts and Galvanized Pipes
To erect a sturdy bee hive stand on a slope, consider this design – steel fencing posts got driven deep into the ground, acting as legs for two long horizontally galvanized pipes that can be easily leveled and secured with U-bolts.
Driving the fence posts into the ground will be much easier using a post-pounder.
10. All-Wood Horizontal and Top Bar Bee Hive Stand
Horizontal (Layens) and top-bar beehives typically have four wooden legs attached to the body of the hive box, providing a stable subframe for the bee hive. When the legs rot or break, you can build a hybrid beehive stand to support both horizontal and top bar beehives.
A traditional wooden frame with wood sealant and sturdy wooden legs treated with clean motor oil (to prevent rot and termite infestation) will allow you to position your top bar or horizontal beehives in optimum locations.
You don’t need to be a master woodworker, either!
When researching the best beehive stand, we stumbled upon this lovely 20-frame beehive kit. It has a solid wood construction that will last for years. We love the removable frames and galvanized cover. You'll also notice it has a heavy-duty bottom board to help protect the bee colony and the beehive from wetness on the ground.
Bee Hive Stand Ideas – FAQs
We scoured all the best farms and apiaries we could find to help brainstorm creative beehive stands and ideas. We’ve also put a ton of thought into how to assemble your beehive stand without fuss. We hope the following questions help you and your bees!
Bees are disturbed by lawn mowers operating near the hive during nectar (or pollen) dearth. In other words – when pollen is not getting produced by flowers. To avoid agitating the bees while mowing, create a grassless patch under and around the beehive stand using gravel and weed barrier fabric.
You can also try pacifying the colony when you mow by smoking the hive and adding sugar water to the feeders.
The best way to secure beehives to the beehive stands is to use ratchet straps extending over the top of the hive and underneath the beehive stand cross-members. Foundationless beehive stands can anchor to the ground using rebar pegs and wire.
Make a Stand for the Best Way to Bee
The health and productivity of your bee colonies depend on several factors! And beehive stands play a critical role in the sustained propagation of bees and the production of honey.
Our bee hive stand ideas and plans cover a broad spectrum of apiary applications, and the beauty is they’re adaptable. You can create your perfect beehive stand by combining various design elements from these plans for a custom build, or take one beehive stand idea and stick to it!
What about you? Which beehive stand do you like the most? Or – maybe there’s a beehive stand design idea that we overlooked?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks so much for reading.
Have a great day!
