The best beekeeping starter kits contain everything you need for starting your apiculture hobby or business. The necessary items in most starter kits for beekeeper startups are gloves, an apiarist (beekeeper) suit, a hive tool, a smoker, a bee brush, and a beehive. Choosing the best beekeeper starting kit is more cost-effective than buying individual items.
If you’re just starting out as a “honey farmer,” it can be challenging to know the best kit to buy. You probably already have an idea of the essential apiculture equipment. However, some packages contain many additional items that may or may not be necessary for your beekeeping. But some kits may lack everything you need for keeping bees. Even choosing the best type of beehive to get started could leave you scratching your head.
This article reviews the top four beekeeping starter kits currently available. Our unbiased review looks at the pros and cons of each starter kit for beekeeping. This review will help you make an informed decision before choosing which beekeeping kit to buy.
Summary of the Best Starter Kits for Beekeepers
| Product | Av. Rating | Hive size | Best Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mann Lake Beekeeping Kit | 4.5 | 10 Frames | Pre-assembled beehive | |
| Little Giant Beginner Hive | 3.9 | 10 Frames | Value for money | |
| Harvest Lane Honey Beekeeper Kit | 4.1 | 10 Frames | Cheapest price | |
| Legacy DIY Starter Beekeeping Kit | 5.0 | 10 Frames | Everything you need to get started | |
The Best 4 Beekeeping Starter Kits
Let’s look at some of the best beekeeping kits that are currently for sale.
1. Mann Lake Basic Beekeeping Starter Kit
Mann Lake beekeeping kit is an affordable way to get started with apiculture. The kit contains everything you need to start your bee colony. The high-quality beehive is also assembled and painted, making it very easy to get started keeping bees. With the kit, you get leather gloves, a smoker, hive tool, and Alexander bee veil. The Langstroth beehive contains 10 frames and has a pre-waxed Rite-Cell foundation to get started quicker.
This beekeeper kit doesn’t contain a bee feeder. As a bonus, you get a free book on beekeeping to help make a success of your new hobby or business.
Pros:
- One of the best value-for-money beekeeper starter kits
- Pre-assembled and pre-painted beehive
- 10 frame kit is compatible with other Langstroth beehives
- Overall high-quality design
Cons:
- Need to buy more accessories such as feeders and supers
2. Little Giant Premium Beekeeping Beginner’s Starter Kit
In general, the beekeeping starter kit is of good quality. However, some users say that the accessories break easily and need replacing. However, to get started, this beehive kit is excellent value for money.
Pros:
- Everything that amateur beekeepers need to start a bee colony and collect honey
- Comes complete with all the necessary tools
- A beekeeping guide will help you get started
Cons:
- Some parts of the kit don’t work well together
- You’ll need to buy a super box as your colony expands
3. Harvest Lane Honey Beginner Beekeeping Kit
The Harvest Lane Honey beekeeping starting kit is the cheapest one you’ll find. The kit contains some of the accessories that you need to get started. You get a hive tool, bee smoker, fuel pellets, and a bee brush.
Also included is a quality Langstroth beehive—the standard in beekeeping circles. The hive comes pre-assembled and pre-painted. So, you’re ready to start attracting bees to your new hive.
This beekeeper’s kit is ideal if you already have a few essential beekeeping accessories. However, sets of beekeeping tools are relatively cheap to buy. So, this starting kit may still work out less expensive than some costlier kits.
Pros:
- Good quality Langstroth beehive
- Come assembled and painted, ready to use
- The accessories are good quality
- Low cost and good value for money
Cons:
- Lacks some of the necessary tools that beginners need to get started
- The bottom board in the hive isn’t great
4. Legacy DIY Beehive Starter Kit
The Legacy beekeeper’s starter kit is a perfect choice to get started with your bee colony. The 10-frame beehive comes assembled and painted and is of good quality.
Along with the Langstroth hive, you get protective gloves, a hat-less veil, hive tool, entrance feeder, and smoker with fuel. The telescoping, protective roof also keeps your bees safe from inclement weather.
One of the nice things with the Legacy beehive starter kit is the inclusion of a beginner’s book and educational DVD.
Pros:
- Comes with a complete range of accessories
- No assembly or painting required
- Instructions and educational material provided
- High quality 10 frame box that’s compatible with other Langstroth hives
Cons:
- High price
Beekeeping Starter Kits-In Conclusion
Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby, and starting off with the right equipment is a must. All of the beekeeping starter kits in this review contain most of the accessories you need to develop your bee colony and start harvesting honey.
From all of the beekeeping kits in this review, our top recommendation is the BuildaBeehive kit. This start kit for beekeepers contains everything you need without forking out for more tools.