Best Beekeeping Starter Kits By Budget

If you are looking to start beekeeping, then you are likely going to need a good kit.

These kits mostly contain the necessities of beekeeping, which is great if you have never done beekeeping before. But where do you start? 

Well, that is where we come in. We are going to cover several great beekeeping starter kits which may be just what you need to get yourself started. 

What Will You Need to Begin Your Journey of Beekeeping?

At the most basic level of beekeeping, there are a few things that you are going to need. The equipment you simply cannot do without are as follows: 

• Protective Gear
• A Hive Tool
• Outer And Inner Covers
• A Bottom Board
• A Bee Smoker
• An Entrance Reducer
• A foundation and 10 Frames 
• A Deep Hive Box (10 frames deep)

If you want your beekeeping kit to be a bite more all-inclusive, you may find that it will include everything we have listed above and the following as well:

• Foundation And Frames For Each Extra Hive Box 
• Hive Box (Second One, 10 frames deep)
• Medium Hive Boxes (One–Two, 10 frames)
• A Bee Jacket or a Full Bee Suit

There is some optional equipment which can make the whole process of beekeeping that bit easier. If you need some optional gear, you may find that your kit will also include the following: 

• An Entrance Feeder
• A Beginner Beekeeping Guide
• Smoker Fuel

If you have never done beekeeping before, you might find that smoker fuel will be a helpful tool.

Although it is not something that you NEED to do beekeeping.

It may take a bit of learning, but as soon as you figure out how to ignite a smoker and keep the thing smoking, there will be a bunch of free fuel for you to make use of. 

Top feeders are significantly better than entrance feeders. They tend to contain more and protect your hive from unwanted guests.

The issue with top feeders is that some of them tend to need more hive bodies to properly enclose them. 

Making a decision about which feeder to go with can impact how much you spend on your beekeeping starter kit.

So, it is essential that you realize that the price of starting beekeeping can be influenced by several factors. 

For example, if your components are assembled fully and painted, this can mean that you will be spending quite a bit more on your starter kit.

But if you don’t have the time, tools, or space to assemble your components, paying a bit more for something that has already been built might be a good idea. 

Items Not Included In Beekeeping Kits

Beekeeper kits do not contain everything. So you may need to spend a little more money to get yourself fully kitted out. Below are a few things that you won’t find in a beginner beekeeping kit:

• Overwintering Equipment
• Feeding Supplies
• Tools for Extracting Honey
• A Hive Stand
• Honey Bees
• Varroa Mite Treatments

It stands to reason that to start beekeeping, you are going to need to have honey bees. These little creatures must be bought separate from the starter kits.

You will have the best luck getting them from a reputable source. We recommend that you buy your bees from a local source.

By doing this, you can save money on shipping fees and the bees will already be adapted to the climate of your home. 

If you are new to beekeeping, we also suggest that you only begin to harvest any honey during your first year of beekeeping. By doing this, there may be no need for you to use a queen excluder immediately.

On top of that, you will also not need honey extracting tools if you are not harvesting in your first year. 

Which Beekeeping Kits Come Out On Top?

In this section we are going to take a quick look at the Essential, basic and deluxe beekeeping starter kits and what you can expect with each of these tiers. 

Essential Beekeeper Starter Kit

First is the essential beekeeping starter kit. This is likely to be the most affordable of the three. So, if you are on a budget, this is a great option to consider. 

Below is a list of what you can expect to get with the essential beekeeping starter kit: 

• 10 Deep Frames & Foundations
• Entrance Reducer
• One Hive Box (10 frames deep)
• Hive Tool
• Beekeeping Gloves
• Bee Smoker
• Beekeeping Veil
• Bottom Board
• Outer and Inner Covers

Bear in mind that some essentials kits will contain different tools. So, do not be surprised if your kit comes with additional supplies.

The list above is merely a list of what you will generally get in an essential beekeeping kit. 

Basic Beekeeper Starter Kit 

The basic kit is a good choice for those of you that need a little more than what the essentials offer. It is a little more pricey than the first kit, but it is still affordable. 

We have listed what you can usually find included in the basic beekeeping kit: 

• Book and Subscription
• Beekeeping Gloves
• Beekeeping Veil
• One Deep Hive Box (10 frames deep)
• Entrance Reducer
• Second Deep Box
• Bottom Board
• Foundation for an Extra Box
• Bee Smoker
• Additional Frames
• Hive Tool
• 10 Deep Frames & Foundations
• Inner & Outer Covers

Remember that some beginner kits may include different products. So make sure to pay attention to what is included in the basic kit before you decide on one of these beginner beekeeping kits. 

Deluxe Beekeeper Starter Kit

The deluxe kit will include everything in either of the kits above, as well as a few other key pieces of equipment that will make your life easier. It does come at a higher price, it is worth it if you have the budget for it.

Below is a list of everything you can generally expect to get in a deluxe beekeepers’ starter kit: 

• Foundation for an Extra Box
• 10 Deep Frames & Foundations
• Inner & Outer Covers
• Book and Subscription
• Bottom Board
• Additional Frames
• Hive Tool
• Bee Smoker
• Full Bee Suit or Bee Jacket
• Beekeeping Veil
• One Deep Hive Box (10 frames deep)
• Two Honey Supers
• Entrance Reducer
• Queen Excluder
• Beekeeping Gloves
• Second Deep Box

Deluxe kits will contain everything you need to get yourself started with beekeeping.

Some kits may contain different pieces of equipment, but they will have a variety of fantastic products that will make beekeeping easier for you. 

Which Essential Beekeeping Kits Come Out On Top?

Are you curious to find out which essential beekeeper starter kits are the best of the bunch? If you are, then this section is going to contain all the information that you could possibly need. 

Hive Starter Kit With Ten Frames by Galena Farms

This beehive is a fantastic choice if you need the essentials to get yourself into beekeeping.

But as with everything, there are pros and cons to everything. We have listed the key points about this product below for you to check out below:

Pros

• This kit will be entirely assembled and painted on arrival.
• This product contains one ten frame deep beehive body. 
• This kit contains five or ten CellTech frames and foundations which are wax coated.
• This beekeeping kit contains a bottom board with an entrance reducer. 
• Inner cover in the outer cover for telescoping. 
• You will receive a high quality pair of leather gloves. 
• You will receive a reinforced UPR right veil protective jacket. 
• This kit comes with a bee smoker.
• You will receive a hive tool with this essential kit. 
• This kit comes with a plastic queen excluder. 

Cons

• The main downside to this product is that you need to purchase additional frames, boxes, and foundations. This can cause an issue, especially as your bee colony will grow quicker than you might think. 

This beekeeper kit is reasonably priced and contains most of the tools that you will need to keep yourself going. You can purchase it here if you like the look of this product. 

Ten Frame Langstroth Beehive by Hoover Hives

This kit is a great choice for those of you that need a high quality beekeeper kit which comes at a reasonable price.

But nothing is perfect, which is why we have listed the highlights and drawbacks of this particular essential beekeeper kit below: 

Pros

• This product will arrive 100% assembled and totally dipped in beeswax.
• You can expect a ten frame deep hive body with this kit. 
• This kit comes with five CellTech frames or foundations. 
• You will receive a bottom/lower board with an entrance reducer. 
• Inner cover in the outer cover for telescoping. 
• You will get a good quality protective jacket with a veil in this kit. 
• There will be a pair of elbow length leather gloves included with this kit. 
• You will get a good quality bee smoker in this beekeeper kit. 
• There will be a hive tool in this beekeeper kit. 

Cons

• You will not have the option to choose the size of the gloves or jacket. 
• This kit only has five frames, which means that you may need to purchase more.
• You will not be getting a full bee suit or jacket with this kit. 

If you think that this beekeeper kit is going to suit your needs, make sure to check it out in more detail here. 

Eight Frame Starter Kit By Hoover Hives

This is a fantastic kit for those of you that need something with eight frames and comes with the majority of the things you will need to get started with beekeeping. 

Below is a full list of everything that comes included with this kit: 

Pros

• This product does not require assembly, and it is entirely covered in beeswax. 
• This product is an eight frame deep hive body.
• You will get an eight CellTech plastic frames or foundation. 
• With this kit, you will get a bottom board with an entrance reducer. 
• Inner cover in the outer cover for telescoping. 
• You will get a plastic queen excluder with this kit. 
• This kit comes with a mouse guard. 
• A protective jacket with a veil comes with this beekeeper kit. 
• This product comes with a pair of elbow-length leather gloves. 
• You will be receiving a bee smoker with this kit. 
• There will also be a hive tool included with this beekeeper kit. 
• You will have access to a ‘Starting Right with Bees’ book(see also: Best Books On Bees). 

Cons

• With this product, you will not be able to choose the size of your gloves or jacket. 
• If you do not like working with eight frame boxes, this is not likely to be a good choice. 

Do you like this eight frame Hoover Hive kit? Yes? Well, then you need to check out this link to learn more about it. 

Unassembled Ten Frame Deep Beginner Kit By Dadant

This kit is a little more pricey than some of the other essential kits, but it does contain everything you need. Below are the things that will be included with this product: 

Pros

• You will receive one ten frame deep hive body. 
• There will be ten frames with a foundation included with this kit. 
• You will get a bottom board with an entrance reducer included with this kit. 
• Inner cover in the outer cover for telescoping. 
• You will receive a good quality protective veil with this kit. 
• There will be a pair of large gloves which are sting-resistant included with this kit. 
• This kit comes with smoker fuel and a bee smoker. 
• You will get a hive tool with this beekeeper kit. 
• This kit comes with an entrance feeder. 
• You will be given a ‘First Lessons in Beekeeping’ book. 
• There will also be assembly instructions included with this kit. 

Cons

• This beekeeping kit does not come pre-assembled. But instructions are included. 
• You cannot choose your glove size with this kit. 
• Entrance Feeders are not the best options in the beekeeping industry. 

The Dadant beekeeper kit is a fantastic choice for those of you that need the basics. Check out this link if you want to learn more about this product. 

Beginner Beekeeping Kit By Better Bee

If you are on a budget and need something lower on the scale, this product may not meet your requirements. But it is a fantastic kit with a variety of useful tools, as you can see below: 

Pros

• This beekeeper kit arrived pre-assembled. 
• This product has a ten frame deep hive. 
• There are 10 plastic frames with a foundation in this kit. 
• You will get a bottom board with an entrance reducer with this kit. 
• Inner cover in the outer cover for telescoping.
• You can get a helmet and veil. There are several options to choose from. 
• There will be good quality gloves made from your choice of goatskin or leather in different sizes.
• There will be a bee smoker included with this kit.
• You will receive a hive tool with this beekeeper kit. 
• There will be a beekeeping book of your choice with this kit. 
• You can purchase this kit unassembled or with eight frames if you prefer. 

Cons

• The exterior cover is quite light as it is made from polystyrene. 

This is a fantastic kit, which is perfect for those of you that need a great beginner kit. If you think that this kit will work for you, make sure to check out this product when you get the chance. 

Beekeeper Starter Kits – Basic

If you are more interested in getting yourself a good starter kit, this section is going to be perfect for you. We have listed a few products below for you to peruse:

Ten Frame Medium Hive Expansion Kit By Dadant

This kit is one of the best out there. You will receive everything and more to get yourself started. If you want to check out what stood out to us about this kite, make sure to check out the list below: 

Pros

• This kit is very highly rated and is known for being among the best basic starter kits. 
• You can combine this kit with the Master Pollinator kit to get a deluxe kit. 
• This product has a twenty frame panels with Plasticell foundation.
• There are two ten frame medium boxes included. 
• You will receive a plastic queen excluder with this beekeeper kit.
• You will have access to assembly instructions for building this beekeeper kit.

Cons

• This beekeeper kit does not arrive pre-assembled. 

If you think that this Dadant beekeeper kit is something that you would like to invest in, make sure to check out this product when you get the chance. 

Master Pollinator With Ten Frames Kit By Dadant

This beekeeper kit comes with a range of fantastic tools, all of which will make your life much easier when you embark on the journey of keeping bees. 

Below are a few things that stood out to us about this product:

Pros

• This product arrived painted and fully assembled. 
• Two boxes (10-Frame). 
• There are twenty frames with Plasticell foundation
• Inner cover in the outer cover for telescoping. 
• This kit comes with a bee smoker and fuel. 
• You will receive a hive tool with this beekeeper kit. 
• There will be a bee brush included with this kit. 
• You will be able to use an entrance feeder with this product. 
• There will be a zipper veil which comes in a variety of sizes. 
• You will get a plastic helmet with this beekeeper kit. 
• You will be getting a pair of economy leather gloves in a series of sizes. 
• You will have access to a book called ‘The Hive and Honey Bee Book’. 
• You will have the ‘First Lessons in Beekeeping Book’.
• American Bee Journal Subscription (One-Year Subscription). 
• There will be a medications brochure available for you. 

Cons

• This product does not come with any honey supers. 

This is a great product and one that you will certainly find useful even if you are a beginner. Check out this link to learn more about it. 

Beekeeper Starter Kits – Deluxe

There are quite a few beekeeper kits out there, but the best one that we came across was the one we are going to talk about in this section. 

Ten Frame Beehive Kit By Mann Lake 

This kit may not be a deluxe on its own, but if you combine this product with the Dadant Master Pollinator Kit and the Dadant Add on Hobby Kit.

The combination of all of the kits we have mentioned, and this one really make for a great deluxe beekeepers’ kit that you will love. 

Below are a few things that stood out to us about this fantastic kit: 

Pros

• This product will be fully painted and assembled on arrival. 
• This product comes with two ten frame deep boxes. 
• There will be a twenty deep frame with a Rite-Cell foundation. 
• You will have access to two ten frame medium boxes. 
• There will be a telescoping cover with an inner cover. 

Cons

• The main negative is how expensive this beekeeper kit is. 

Do you want to get your hands on this deluxe beekeeper kit? If you do, then you need to check out this link to learn more about what makes this such a great beekeeper kit. 

Beekeeping Kits Purchasing Tips

Most beekeeper starter kits have been created for beginners in particular. They are especially good for those of you that want to get yourself quickly set and for beekeeping while also saving your money.

If you are keen to select your own tools, you may find that it will be better to purchase each of your tools individually. 

As such, we thought that you might need some tips and tricks if you are in the market for a starter kit of your own. 

Kits That Have Protective Clothing Can Be Limiting

Kits with protective clothing do not always have the option for you to choose sizes, which can make it hard to find something that comes in a size that will fit you. 

Foundations Make A Difference

Plastic foundations are best suited to beginners. But you will not always have a choice in the matter with kits like the ones we have mentioned here. 

Multiple Colonies Can Be Beneficial

If you start with two colonies, you will not need to break the bank by buying various hive components if you buy the components separately. So, you may need to avoid beekeeper kits if you want to start off with more than one bee hive. 

Quality Matters

When you are looking for a good kit, we recommend that you go with well known suppliers like Dadant, Mann Lake, Galena Farms or Better Bee. You can purchase products from these suppliers on their websites or on Amazon. 

Final Thoughts

Choosing a good beekeeper kit to get yourself started can be difficult. There are so many choices, which can make it hard to actually decide which option works for you.

At the end of the day, it is best for you to find one that includes all the tools that you need to start yourself off. Bear in mind that you may need additional bits and pieces to ensure that you are safe. 

If this article has been interesting to you, make sure to check out our website. We have a wide range of articles available which you are bound to find useful and interesting. 

Thanks for Reading.

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