Skip to Content

Complete List of Beekeeping Supplies

Beekeeping is fun but you need to be prepared with the necessary supplies to have a successful beekeeping year. You can read more about bees on our beekeeping for beginners page.

There are a few things I wish I had known before getting bees and one of them was the cost of those little creatures. If you are contemplating getting bees you should be well aware of what you will need to have ready and what the whole endeavor will cost.

Here you will find a complete list of what you will need to be ready for your delightful bees.

  • BEES

There are many options when first purchasing bees.

*We get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here for more info about cookies collected and our privacy policy.

Kelley Bees has bees available every spring. I personally have purchased bees from apiaries in our general area because I know that the bees are adapted to our area and the people I purchase them from are willing to help if I have questions.

You have two bee choices:

-Package of bees. You can see how I installed my package of bees

-Nucleus Colony. Nucleus colonies by definition are “small honey bee colonies created from larger colonies. The term refers both to the smaller size box and the colony of honeybees within it. The name is derived from the fact that a nuc hive is centered on a queen, the nucleus of the honey bee colony.” The idea is that the small hive already has a laying queen, brood, and developed comb and can get going faster in the spring. You can see how I installed my nucleus colony.

I have personally purchased both and each has done well.

Also available in our free resource library is a “Beekeeping Supplies and Cost Projector”. Feel free do your research, fill it in and print it out so you have an idea of what it will cost you to get your bees.

Button

 

  • HIVE

You have three hive choices:

-Warre Beehive

-Top-Bar Hive

-Langstroth Hive Beehive. This is the hive I use. I bought my hive unassembled because it cost much less to ship. This is what I bought: Hive Body. My only note in constructing your hive is to use every last nail they send. I didn’t realize how sticky propolis is, and some of my frames aren’t fastened together well enough. And of course, you will want to paint the outside of your hive to protect the wood from the weather.

This is a good overview of the pro and cons of each hive: Pros and Cons 

  • BEE SUIT

I personally would ask around and see if anyone in your area has a suit they don’t use anymore. I had two old bees suits and veils given to me and although they don’t look like a shiny, new suit, they get the job done…and they were free! I’m about 5’2″ and my suits fit a 6′ man, so I use rubber bands at my ankles to keep them from covering my shoes and dragging. The bees won’t mind if your suit is new, and you have more items to purchase anyway!

If getting a used suit isn’t possible you can find suits like this: bee suit with veil and that will be great!

  • GLOVES

Gloves are an important aspect of your apparel. I have really small hands and through Western Bee Supplies, I was able to buy an XXS, or child’s glove, that fits really well. 

I have also read that using these Nitrile Exam Gloves are great because they are so much smaller and technically sting proof. However, in my research, it sounds like they are not sting proof but do help limit stings. I was amazed when a bee stung right through my big gloves, it wasn’t a full sting but it did nick me. I may have to try the exam gloves, I’m curious as to how they would work. 

  • HAT/VEIL

Out of all of the protective gear, the veil may be the most important. When a bee senses danger, they will actually head for the eyes of their victim. You want your pretty eyes and all the sensitive areas of your face and neck protected from the bees. Remember, you are disturbing their home and bees have a strong sense to protect the brood and their stores of honey. 

  • SMOKER

Smoke masks the pheromones released when bees feel they are under attack or when a bee has been injured. It also gives them the impression that their hive is on fire, so they fill up on honey in an attempt to move to another location. 

So, a smoker, s an important tool to have. My smoker is very, very old. It was passed down to me with the bee suits. So, again, I would encourage you to ask around and see if there is anyone who no longer keeps bees and is willing to pass it along. 

  • HIVE TOOL

A hive tool is also very important. Propolis is so very sticky. You will use this to help get the frames unstuck and out of the hive box so that they can be inspected. It will scrape off and cut propolis.

  • BRUSH

A brush like this one isn’t as necessary but does come in handy when you want to gently remove bees from a frame to inspect or when preparing to remove the honey.

  • FEEDER

In our area, we usually have very long winters, and there can be a lull in the spring when the weather is warm but the flowers and farmland aren’t in full bloom. It is a good idea to feed your bees with an entrance feeder to help get them through to bloom or to help them get stocked up in the fall for winter. 

  • SUGAR

Keep your eye out for sales on sugar! You can stock up for your bees! You will feed your bees a mixture of water and sugar when you are feeding them. You can find out more in the post Feeding Bees in the Spring.

  • BEE PRO

Bee Pro is a high protein pollen substitute that supplies the lipids, minerals, and B-complex vitamins honeybees need to produce larval food. Learn how to feed Bee Pro in a patty to give your bees the boost they need to produce healthy larva. 

  • QUEEN EXCLUDER

A queen excluder does just that: it excludes the queen from going up into the honey supers. If she does…you will have a royal mess in your honey because she will lay her brood in the middle of your honey frames. 

  • SHALLOW HONEY SUPERS

If you plan on honey, you need honey supers! When the honey flow is on, and your bees have filled up their deep boxes, you will add the honey supers on top of the queen excluder, if you choose to use one. 

  • UNCAPPING KNIFE

This heated uncapping knife will help you take off the wax as you are harvesting honey.

  • EXTRACTOR

An extractor is a big purchase. Do your diligent homework before making your final decision. I lucked out on this one as well. I got a used extractor and a huge pile of honey supers for next to nothing. 

  • HONEY CONTAINERS

Once that honey is extracted, you must contain it! Little bear containers are cute, 16 oz containers are more practical, 3 lb containers with a handle make so much sense but if you love your honey as much as we do…go big with a two-gallon bucket.

  • MITE CONTROL

This is definitely a subject you will need to research. There are many different opinions but it is very likely that your bees will get mites and mites will kill your hive. Many use essential oils, but Apivar and Apistan are both options as well. 

  • FOUL BROOD CONTROL

Foul Brood is another disease you do not want your bees to get. Again, do your best to researching this disease. One option is Tetra Bee Mix. You can read more about Foul Brood and Mite Control here

 

Phew! That’s quite a list, isn’t it? The purchase of these supplies can be spread out a bit. You need your bees and a hive to put them in and the equipment to care for them but the equipment for extracting and storing honey can be bought a bit later.

And one of the last but most important things you will need is TIME. Your bees will need diligent care and attention. Don’t forget to add that to your list!

Bees | Bee Care | Complete list of Beekeeping supplies | Bee Cost projector | A complete list of beekeeping supplies: you should be well aware of what you will need to have ready and what the whole endeavor will cost.

 

If you are on a journey to self-sufficiency, you may be interested in our free resource page for homesteaders. It is password protected and updated weekly. So take a moment and sign up below. You will receive an email shortly and will be able to download and print all the helpful resources.

Seriously, our free resource page is worth looking into. It has a great selection of tips, and checklists that have helped me out greatly. This page is password protected and is updated almost weekly! How much better can it get?? 😉 Sign up below! Happy learning! 

Get access to 50+ resources (more is added!) to help you gain confidence, save time, stay organized, and restore hope. Your password-protected page will be updated on an almost weekly basis and weekly emails from A Life of Heritage will keep you in the know. 🙂 We want to bless YOU with this information!

All you have to do is:               

  1. Sign up below
  2. Find your confirmation email (in inbox or junk/spam folder) and confirm subscription
  3. The Welcome email will hold all the details and password for logging in to your resource page
  4. Add [email protected] to your contacts to ensure that you receive future emails and updates to our resource page

 

I also would love to know what would help you. What can we add to our resource page to make your life that much easier? Email me your ideas: [email protected]

If you would like a sneak peek into our resource page: 

Free Resource Page for Horse Owners

Free Resource Page for Homesteaders

Free Resource Page for God Seeker

Beekeepers need to be prepared with the supplies they need to be a successful beekeeper! This list of beekeeping supplies and cost projector will help you out immensely!

I accept the Privacy Policy

Beth Bosshart

Friday 24th of February 2023

Am becoming a new bee keeper,would love to see and use your list.

Arabella

Wednesday 10th of November 2021

Excited to learn from your wealth of knowledge

Delci Plouffe

Friday 25th of March 2022

I hope you're doing well with your bees!

Randy and Rhonda Morrow

Thursday 7th of January 2021

Hello, so happy to have come across your site. Have been getting info to start raising bees and was thrilled to know of someone close by. Don't know if you remember us . We always have the alpacas at the Winter Fair and have spoken with you both many times.

Delci Plouffe

Thursday 7th of January 2021

Hello neighbors!! :) Bees are so cool to get started in! And someday I gotta add a couple of alpacas to my place!

Patricia

Monday 6th of April 2020

Very interesting information,very helpful and easy to understand. Specially for beginners and people who are wanting to join this amazing community of bee keepers. Thank you

Kim Moran

Monday 16th of March 2020

Looking to get some information before I delve into this. I have a few years before I plan on starting. We are moving to Texas and I want to start raising bees at that point.

Delci Plouffe

Friday 20th of March 2020

That's so exciting to think about! I wish you all the best!