Best Bee Feeders of 2026: Top, Frame, Round and Entrance Feeders Compared
Affiliate disclosure: product links on this page go to Amazon, or to the maker's own store for brands that sell only direct. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you; a link to a maker's store earns us nothing. No retailer or brand sees our picks before they are published or has any say in them. How we choose.
A new package has no comb and no stores and must be fed heavily (Penn State); a light colony in fall needs 2:1 syrup to reach winter weight (UNH's 4-H manual; UGA's 60-pound minimum). The feeder decides how much goes in per visit and whether the hive is opened. The Mann Lake top hive feeder ($44, with an unpainted super and a galvanized screen) is the pick for a package: gallons at a time, refilled without opening the brood nest. The BeeCastle 6.5-litre frame feeder ($17) hangs in a deep in place of a frame; the AukBeeFun rapid round feeders ($22 for two, 1.8 litres each) sit over the inner cover hole; the Boardman-style entrance feeders from VIVO ($10, wood), Foxhound ($34 for two half-gallon jars) and NIZEFEI ($14 for four) are the quart-at-a-time option.
Capacity, where the feeder sits and price are the comparison. The extension guides decide when to feed; the syrup calculator does the sugar maths.
Our top picks at a glance
1. Best overall
Mann Lake Top Hive Feeder with Unpainted Wood Super (10-frame)Type: Hive-top feeder with super · Capacity: 4 gal for the 10-frame, 3.2 gal for the 8-frame (Mann Lake); listing weight 7.58 lb · Where it sits: On top of the brood boxes under the outer cover
2. Best US-made top feeder
Little Larue Apiary Top Feeder with Floats, 10-Frame, Made in USAType: Hive-top feeder (10-frame) · Capacity: Not stated; package 20 x 17 x 4.75 in, 8 lb (per the Amazon listing) · Where it sits: On top of the brood boxes
3. Best in-hive feeder
BeeCastle 6.5 L Frame Feeder for Deep BoxesType: Frame (division board) feeder · Capacity: 6.5 L, about 1.7 gal (per the Amazon listing) · Where it sits: Inside a deep box, replacing one frame; deep only (per the Amazon listing)
4. Best inner-cover feeder
AukBeeFun Rapid Round Top Feeders, 1.8 L, 2-PackType: Rapid round feeder · Capacity: 1.8 L each, two in the pack (per the Amazon listing) · Where it sits: Over the inner cover hole, inside an empty box or the outer cover
5. Best entrance feeder jars
Foxhound Half-Gallon Entrance Feeder Jars, 2-PackType: Entrance (Boardman) feeder jars · Capacity: Half gallon, 8.75 cups or 70 fl oz each (per the Amazon listing) · Where it sits: Inverted on a Boardman base at the entrance
6. Best wooden entrance base
VIVO Wood Boardman Entrance Feeder (BEE-V110)Type: Entrance (Boardman) feeder base · Capacity: Takes a standard jar, not included (per the Amazon listing) · Where it sits: In the hive entrance
7. Best budget entrance feeders
NIZEFEI Entrance Feeder Bases with Aluminum Lids, 4-PackType: Entrance feeder base with lid, four pack · Capacity: Takes a jar, not included (per the Amazon listing) · Where it sits: In the hive entrance
| Pick | Type | Capacity | Where it sits | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mann Lake Top Hive Feeder with Unpainted Wood Super (10-frame)Best overall | Hive-top feeder with super | 4 gal for the 10-frame, 3.2 gal for the 8-frame (Mann Lake); listing weight 7.58 lb | On top of the brood boxes under the outer cover | Amazon |
| Little Larue Apiary Top Feeder with Floats, 10-Frame, Made in USABest US-made top feeder | Hive-top feeder (10-frame) | Not stated; package 20 x 17 x 4.75 in, 8 lb (per the Amazon listing) | On top of the brood boxes | Amazon |
| BeeCastle 6.5 L Frame Feeder for Deep BoxesBest in-hive feeder | Frame (division board) feeder | 6.5 L, about 1.7 gal (per the Amazon listing) | Inside a deep box, replacing one frame; deep only (per the Amazon listing) | Amazon |
| AukBeeFun Rapid Round Top Feeders, 1.8 L, 2-PackBest inner-cover feeder | Rapid round feeder | 1.8 L each, two in the pack (per the Amazon listing) | Over the inner cover hole, inside an empty box or the outer cover | Amazon |
| Foxhound Half-Gallon Entrance Feeder Jars, 2-PackBest entrance feeder jars | Entrance (Boardman) feeder jars | Half gallon, 8.75 cups or 70 fl oz each (per the Amazon listing) | Inverted on a Boardman base at the entrance | Amazon |
| VIVO Wood Boardman Entrance Feeder (BEE-V110)Best wooden entrance base | Entrance (Boardman) feeder base | Takes a standard jar, not included (per the Amazon listing) | In the hive entrance | Amazon |
| NIZEFEI Entrance Feeder Bases with Aluminum Lids, 4-PackBest budget entrance feeders | Entrance feeder base with lid, four pack | Takes a jar, not included (per the Amazon listing) | In the hive entrance | Amazon |
Best overall
Mann Lake Top Hive Feeder with Unpainted Wood Super (10-frame)
A one-piece plastic reservoir in an unpainted wood super with a galvanized screen the bees climb, filled from the top without opening the hive, $44.
- Type
- Hive-top feeder with super
- Capacity
- 4 gal for the 10-frame, 3.2 gal for the 8-frame (Mann Lake); listing weight 7.58 lb
- Where it sits
- On top of the brood boxes under the outer cover
- Screen
- Galvanized steel (per the Amazon listing)
Pros
- Gallons per fill, which is what a package needs (Penn State: feed heavily)
- Refilled by lifting the outer cover only
- One-piece reservoir the listing calls leakproof
Cons
- Adds a super's height
- Unpainted wood
- Heavy to lift off full
Mann Lake's top hive feeder is listed with a single-piece heavy-duty plastic reservoir, a galvanized steel screen that lets bees climb to the syrup without drowning, and an unpainted wood super; Mann Lake's own pages give 4 gallons for the 10-frame version and 3.2 for the 8-frame. It goes on top of the brood chamber under the outer cover, and is refilled without disturbing a frame. For a package that must be fed from day one, and for fall feeding of 2:1 (UNH: September and October), it is the feeder that takes the fewest trips.
Best US-made top feeder
Little Larue Apiary Top Feeder with Floats, 10-Frame, Made in USA
A pine top feeder assembled with screws, sealed inside with wax, with two floats, from an Ohio family shop, $45.
- Type
- Hive-top feeder (10-frame)
- Capacity
- Not stated; package 20 x 17 x 4.75 in, 8 lb (per the Amazon listing)
- Where it sits
- On top of the brood boxes
- Screen
- Two floats instead of a screen (per the Amazon listing)
Pros
- Made in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in select pine
- Assembled with screws, wax-sealed inside
- Floats allow wet or dry feeding (listing)
Cons
- Capacity not stated
- Ships in 4 to 5 days when read
- Floats need checking; bees drown in open syrup when a float tips
Little Larue Apiary's top feeder is listed as fully assembled with screws in premium select pine, sealed inside with wax, with two floats, for wet or dry feeding, family-made in Mount Vernon, Ohio. It is the wooden alternative to Mann Lake's plastic reservoir; floats do the screen's job of keeping bees on top of the syrup.
Best in-hive feeder
BeeCastle 6.5 L Frame Feeder for Deep Boxes
A 6.5-litre feeder that hangs in a deep box in place of a frame, with two grooved ladders for the bees, assembled, $17.
- Type
- Frame (division board) feeder
- Capacity
- 6.5 L, about 1.7 gal (per the Amazon listing)
- Where it sits
- Inside a deep box, replacing one frame; deep only (per the Amazon listing)
- Dimensions
- 19 x 3.14 x 9.05 in (per the Amazon listing)
Pros
- Inside the hive, out of sight of robbers
- Nearly two gallons
- Two internal ladders with grooves (listing) against drowning
Cons
- The hive is opened to refill it
- Takes a frame's space in the brood box
- Deep boxes only
BeeCastle's frame feeder is listed at 6.5 litres, 19 by 3.14 by 9.05 inches, assembled, with two internal grooved ladders, for deep boxes only. It replaces one frame at the edge of the brood box, which keeps the syrup inside the hive; the cost is that every refill opens the box. Mann Lake's pro feeder in its New-Bee kit is the same type.
Best inner-cover feeder
AukBeeFun Rapid Round Top Feeders, 1.8 L, 2-Pack
Two 1.8-litre rapid round feeders with a textured cone the bees climb, set over the inner cover hole and refilled from above, $22.
- Type
- Rapid round feeder
- Capacity
- 1.8 L each, two in the pack (per the Amazon listing)
- Where it sits
- Over the inner cover hole, inside an empty box or the outer cover
- Dimensions
- 10.24 x 10.24 x 3.93 in (per the Amazon listing)
Pros
- Refilled without opening the brood nest
- Bees stay inside the cone; the listing describes it as drowning-proof
- Two for the price of a jar feeder
Cons
- Needs an empty super or deep around it to close the hive
- Under half a gallon each
- Listing figures only
AukBeeFun's rapid round feeders are listed at 1.8 litres each, two per pack, with textured cups and cones the bees grip, placed over the inner cover hole and refilled from the top without opening the hive. An empty box goes around the feeder under the outer cover. It is the middle option: inside the hive like a frame feeder, refilled from above like a top feeder, at under half a gallon.
Best entrance feeder jars
Foxhound Half-Gallon Entrance Feeder Jars, 2-Pack
Two half-gallon clear jars (8.75 cups, 70 fl oz) with perforated lids, sized for Boardman bases, $34.
- Type
- Entrance (Boardman) feeder jars
- Capacity
- Half gallon, 8.75 cups or 70 fl oz each (per the Amazon listing)
- Where it sits
- Inverted on a Boardman base at the entrance
- Dimensions
- Sized for Boardman entrance feeder bases (per the Amazon listing)
Pros
- Twice a quart jar's volume
- Clear, so the level is read from a distance
- Foxhound's own page: a kit with base is $25
Cons
- Bases not included in this pack
- An entrance feeder's jar sits outside the hive
- Listing figures only
Foxhound's jars are listed at half a gallon (8.75 cups, 70 fluid ounces) each, clear food-grade plastic, with perforated lids that hold the syrup by vacuum, sized for Boardman bases; Foxhound's own page sells a jar-and-base kit for $25. For a quick look at whether the bees are taking syrup, an entrance feeder is the easiest to read.
Best wooden entrance base
VIVO Wood Boardman Entrance Feeder (BEE-V110)
VIVO's 6.6 by 4.5 by 1.4 inch unfinished wood Boardman base for an inverted glass jar, $10.
- Type
- Entrance (Boardman) feeder base
- Capacity
- Takes a standard jar, not included (per the Amazon listing)
- Where it sits
- In the hive entrance
- Dimensions
- 6.6 x 4.5 x 1.4 in, solid wood (per the Amazon listing)
Pros
- Wood matches the hive and sits flat in the entrance
- No assembly
- $10
Cons
- Jar not included
- Quart jars run out in a day for a package
- Entrance feeders are outside the hive
VIVO's Boardman feeder is listed at 6.6 by 4.5 by 1.4 inches in unfinished solid wood, for an inverted glass jar (not included), with no assembly. It is the classic base; Foxhound's half-gallon jars fit it.
Best budget entrance feeders
NIZEFEI Entrance Feeder Bases with Aluminum Lids, 4-Pack
Four plastic entrance feeder bases with aluminum jar lids for $14, for four hives or four spares.
- Type
- Entrance feeder base with lid, four pack
- Capacity
- Takes a jar, not included (per the Amazon listing)
- Where it sits
- In the hive entrance
- Dimensions
- Not stated; high-strength plastic with aluminum cover (per the Amazon listing)
Pros
- Four bases with lids for $14
- Aluminum lids, which do not rust like tin
- A spare per hive
Cons
- Jars not included
- Dimensions not stated
- Listing figures only
NIZEFEI's four-pack lists plastic entrance feeder bases with aluminum lids, a back cover that catches drips, and installation by screwing a filled jar into the lid and inverting it into the entrance. At $3.50 a base it is the way to put a feeder on every hive in the yard.
How we chose
Feeders were judged on type, stated capacity, where they sit, anti-drowning design and price on October 9, 2026, from the listings and Mann Lake's pages. When to feed and what to mix come from the extension guides below, not from the sellers.
When to feed
| Situation | Guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New package | Feed heavily; a package has no comb or stores | Penn State Extension |
| Spring, light colony | 1:1 syrup, April to May; feed heavily when the hive is light | UNH 4-H manual; UGA |
| Fall | 2:1 syrup, September to October, to reach winter weight | UNH 4-H manual |
| Winter stores | 60 lb minimum (Georgia); about 90 lb of honey in the North | UGA; UF/IFAS |
| Cold weather | Stop liquid syrup below 57°F daytime (Oregon State); the Honey Bee Health Coalition uses 50°F | Oregon State; HBHC |
| Winter | Fondant or sugar on top, not syrup | Penn State seasonal guide |
Feeder types
Top feeders
A tray the size of a super, on top of the brood boxes under the outer cover, with a screen or floats so bees climb to the syrup without drowning. Capacity is gallons (Mann Lake 4 for 10-frame, 3.2 for 8-frame); refilling lifts only the outer cover. The feeder for packages and for fall.
Frame feeders
A trough the size of a frame, hung in the brood box in place of an edge frame (BeeCastle 6.5 L). Syrup stays inside the hive; refilling opens it. The feeder for a colony that must not be visited by robbers.
Round feeders
A cup over the inner cover hole with a cone the bees climb inside (AukBeeFun 1.8 L). Refilled from above; needs an empty box around it. The compromise.
Entrance feeders
An inverted jar on a base in the entrance (VIVO, NIZEFEI, Foxhound jars). Quart to half-gallon capacity, read from across the yard. The jar sits outside the hive where other colonies and wasps can find it, and runs out fastest, so it suits a quick top-up and a mild season rather than a package in a dearth.
Comparison
| Feeder | Type | Capacity | Hive opened to refill | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mann Lake top feeder | Top | 4 gal (10-fr) | Outer cover only | $44 |
| Little Larue top feeder | Top | Not stated | Outer cover only | $45 |
| BeeCastle frame feeder | Frame | 6.5 L | Yes | $17 |
| AukBeeFun round, 2-pack | Round | 1.8 L each | Outer cover only | $22 |
| Foxhound jars, 2-pack | Entrance | Half gal each | No | $34 |
| VIVO Boardman base | Entrance | Jar | No | $10 |
| NIZEFEI bases, 4-pack | Entrance | Jar | No | $14 |
Mixing syrup
1:1 is equal weights of sugar and water (UNH: 5 to 8 lb of sugar in 4 gallons of water makes about 5 gallons); 2:1 is two parts sugar to one water by weight (UNH: 9 to 13 lb in 4 gallons), or by volume in UF/IFAS's version. Dissolve in hot water; do not boil (UNH). The calculator gives the sugar for any feeder volume. Plain white cane or beet sugar only.
What to skip
Skip open feeding (a bucket in the yard); it feeds every colony and wasp within a mile and starts robbing. Skip syrup in cold weather; the guides above give 50 to 57°F as the floor. And skip honey from an unknown hive as feed; it can carry disease.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best feeder for a new package of bees?
A hive-top feeder with gallons of capacity (Mann Lake's holds 4 gallons for a 10-frame hive, $44). Penn State Extension says a package has no comb or stores and must be fed heavily, and a top feeder does that with the fewest openings.
How much sugar syrup should I feed a new hive?
As much as they take while they draw comb: Penn State says feed heavily, UGA says feed 1:1 heavily when the hive is light. Our syrup calculator gives sugar by feeder volume; UNH's manual mixes 5 to 8 lb of sugar in 4 gallons of water for about 5 gallons of 1:1.
Are entrance feeders bad?
They hold a quart to half a gallon and the jar sits outside the hive where other colonies can find it. For a quick top-up in a mild season they are the easiest to read; for a package in a dearth, a top or frame feeder.
When should I stop feeding syrup?
When the colony has drawn its comb and stored enough, and in any case when daytime temperatures fall below about 57°F (Oregon State Extension; the Honey Bee Health Coalition uses 50°F). Winter feed is fondant or dry sugar (Penn State).
Should I feed 1:1 or 2:1 syrup?
1:1 in spring to stimulate comb building and brood (UNH: April to May); 2:1 in fall to build stores for winter (UNH: September to October). UGA's winter minimum is 60 lb of stores in Georgia; UF/IFAS puts the North at about 90 lb of honey.
Do bees drown in feeders?
In open syrup, yes. Top feeders use a screen (Mann Lake) or floats (Little Larue); frame feeders use ladders (BeeCastle); round feeders use a textured cone (AukBeeFun). Check floats and ladders at each refill.
Sources
- Top Hive Feeder with Super, 10 Frame, Mann Lake
- Installing Packaged Bees, Penn State Extension
- Seasonal Beekeeping Guide, Penn State Extension
- 4-H Beekeeping Project Manual, University of New Hampshire Extension
- Feeding Honey Bees, University of Georgia Honey Bee Program
- How do I get started keeping bees in Oregon? (Ask Extension), Oregon State University Extension
- Tools for Varroa Management (8th edition), Honey Bee Health Coalition
- Welcome to the Apiary! Honey Bee 4-H Project Book (4H446), UF/IFAS Extension
- Half Gallon Entrance Feeder Kit, Foxhound Bee Company
Cover photo: BeeFeederLHist by Simon Speed, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.
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