Langstroth beehive component:

The Langstroth beehive is a popular hive design used in modern beekeeping. It consists of vertically stacked boxes or “supers” with removable frames that hold the beeswax comb. The dimensions of a Langstroth hive can vary slightly depending on the region and manufacturer, but here are the typical dimensions for each Langstroth

Langstroth beehive dimensions

Deep Hive Body (Brood Box):

External dimensions: 19 7/8 inches (50.48 cm) long, 16 1/4 inches (41.28 cm) wide, and 9 5/8 inches (24.45 cm) tall.

Internal dimensions: 19 inches (48.26 cm) long, 14 3/4 inches (37.47 cm) wide, and 9 1/2 inches (24.13 cm) tall.

Medium Super (Honey Super):

External dimensions: 19 7/8 inches (50.48 cm) long, 16 1/4 inches (41.28 cm) wide, and 6 5/8 inches (16.83 cm) tall.

Internal dimensions: 19 inches (48.26 cm) long, 14 3/4 inches (37.47 cm) wide, and 6 1/4 inches (15.88 cm) tall.

Shallow Super (Honey Super):

External dimensions: 19 7/8 inches (50.48 cm) long, 16 1/4 inches (41.28 cm) wide, and 5 11/16 inches (14.45 cm) tall.

Internal dimensions: 19 inches (48.26 cm) long, 14 3/4 inches (37.47 cm) wide, and 5 9/16 inches (14.13 cm) tall.

Frames:

Frame dimensions: The Langstroth hive frames are standardized and typically measure 19 inches (48.26 cm) long and 9 1/8 inches (23.18 cm) tall.

Frame spacing: The standard frame spacing within the boxes is 1 3/8 inches (3.49 cm) between frames.

How should I choose Langstroth: 10 Frame or 8 Frame

The 10 frame Langstroth hive has gained popularity among vendors worldwide. In this type of hive, each of the hive bodies accommodates 10 frames across. In recent years, 8 frame Langstroth hives have emerged and gained widespread availability. However, does the number of hive frames truly make a difference when deciding which hive to purchase? Indeed, it is worth considering as each version of these hives has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Having fewer frames results in a lighter weight as there are fewer hive bodies and supers involved. Additionally, it’s crucial to note that parts and accessories for the 10 frame and 8 frame hives are not interchangeable. Therefore, one of your critical decisions to make when considering the Langstroth hive should be the number of frames.

Both the 8 frame and 10 frame Langstroth hive have limitless potential for honey production. Their modular design, combined with interchangeable hive parts, enables beekeepers to add additional medium honey supers as their bee colonies thrive and expand. The bigger the colony, the more the honey produced. Therefore, you need not worry about honey production capacity when considering either of the hive versions. The only aspect that will be impacted is the selection of accessories and parts to be utilized in the hive.

The number of frames differs between the 8 frame and 10 frame hive boxes. In the 10 frame version, there are 20 deep frames and 10 medium frames. On the contrary, the 8 frame Langstroth hive consists of 16 deep frames and 8 medium frames. One advantageous aspect of both versions is the easy availability of replacement parts, add-ons, and gadgets. To explore our rankings of the top beekeeping starter kits, you can click here.