Best Hive Stands of 2026: Metal Stands, Cedar Stands and Brackets 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 hive stand does three things: keeps the bottom board off wet ground (Oregon State's cost sheet gives painted woodenware about ten years, and the bottom board goes first), lifts the entrance above the reach of skunks (Betterbee's placement advice: at least 12 inches), and puts the lowest box at a height a back can lift from. The MayBee adjustable stand does all three for $39: carbon steel, 16.1 to 20.9 inches of height, 15 to 19 inches of width for 8- or 10-frame boxes. The Mondazie stand is the budget version at $23 with a fixed 17 inches and a strap. For a wooden stand, Betterbee's cedar stand ($66.89, 13 1/2 inches) and the Ultimate Hive Stand ($92, 12 inches, with a frame rest) are the supplier options; Lyson's steel brackets ($159 a pair, 9 to 23 1/4 inches, 1,100 pounds) make a stand of any length from two lengths of lumber.
Height, width range, material and stated load are the comparison. A full hive of two deeps and two mediums in honey is heavy; the makers that state a load (Lyson 1,100 pounds) are the ones that have thought about it.
Our top picks at a glance
1. Best overall
MayBee Adjustable Metal Hive Stand (16.1 to 20.9 in)Height: 16.1 to 20.9 in, adjustable (per the Amazon listing) · Fits: 8- and 10-frame; width 15 to 19 in (per the Amazon listing) · Material: Carbon steel, black coated (per the Amazon listing)
2. Best width range
Adjustable Metal Hive Stand (15 to 19 in tall, 14.5 to 24.5 in wide)Height: 15 to 19 in, adjustable (per the Amazon listing) · Fits: Width 14.5 to 24.5 in (per the Amazon listing) · Material: Carbon steel, black coated (per the Amazon listing)
3. Best budget stand
Mondazie Adjustable Metal Hive Stand with Strap, 17 inHeight: 17 in, fixed (per the Amazon listing) · Fits: 8- and 10-frame; width 12 to 19 in (per the Amazon listing) · Material: Black metal (per the Amazon listing)
4. Best uncoated steel
Honey Lake Stainless Metal Hive Stand for 8/10-FrameHeight: Fixed; not stated on the listing · Fits: 8- and 10-frame, one piece (per the Amazon listing) · Material: Stainless steel, uncoated (per the Amazon listing)
5. Best with a frame rest
Ultimate Hive Stand (12 in, with frame rest)Height: 12 in (Betterbee) · Fits: 8- and 10-frame Langstroth · Material: Plastic, assembled from legs and rails (Betterbee)
6. Best wooden stand
Betterbee Cedar Hive Stand (13 1/2 in)Height: 13 1/2 in (Betterbee) · Fits: 10-frame · Material: Cedar (Betterbee)
7. Best for a row of hives
Lyson Adjustable Hive Stand Brackets (pair)Height: 9 to 23 1/4 in, adjustable (Betterbee) · Fits: As many hives as the lumber spans · Material: Steel brackets; you supply the rails (Betterbee)
| Pick | Height | Fits | Material | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MayBee Adjustable Metal Hive Stand (16.1 to 20.9 in)Best overall | 16.1 to 20.9 in, adjustable (per the Amazon listing) | 8- and 10-frame; width 15 to 19 in (per the Amazon listing) | Carbon steel, black coated (per the Amazon listing) | Amazon |
| Adjustable Metal Hive Stand (15 to 19 in tall, 14.5 to 24.5 in wide)Best width range | 15 to 19 in, adjustable (per the Amazon listing) | Width 14.5 to 24.5 in (per the Amazon listing) | Carbon steel, black coated (per the Amazon listing) | Amazon |
| Mondazie Adjustable Metal Hive Stand with Strap, 17 inBest budget stand | 17 in, fixed (per the Amazon listing) | 8- and 10-frame; width 12 to 19 in (per the Amazon listing) | Black metal (per the Amazon listing) | Amazon |
| Honey Lake Stainless Metal Hive Stand for 8/10-FrameBest uncoated steel | Fixed; not stated on the listing | 8- and 10-frame, one piece (per the Amazon listing) | Stainless steel, uncoated (per the Amazon listing) | Amazon |
| Ultimate Hive Stand (12 in, with frame rest)Best with a frame rest | 12 in (Betterbee) | 8- and 10-frame Langstroth | Plastic, assembled from legs and rails (Betterbee) | Ultimate Hive Stand |
| Betterbee Cedar Hive Stand (13 1/2 in)Best wooden stand | 13 1/2 in (Betterbee) | 10-frame | Cedar (Betterbee) | Betterbee |
| Lyson Adjustable Hive Stand Brackets (pair)Best for a row of hives | 9 to 23 1/4 in, adjustable (Betterbee) | As many hives as the lumber spans | Steel brackets; you supply the rails (Betterbee) | Lyson |
Best overall
MayBee Adjustable Metal Hive Stand (16.1 to 20.9 in)
Adjustable in height and width, carbon steel with a black coating, for 8- and 10-frame hives, $39.
- Height
- 16.1 to 20.9 in, adjustable (per the Amazon listing)
- Fits
- 8- and 10-frame; width 15 to 19 in (per the Amazon listing)
- Material
- Carbon steel, black coated (per the Amazon listing)
- Load
- Not stated
Pros
- Height range covers the 12-inch skunk minimum with room to spare
- Width adjusts to either box width
- Coated steel does not rot
Cons
- No stated load rating
- Listing figures only; MayBee has no specification page we could read
- One hive per stand
MayBee's adjustable metal stand is listed in carbon steel with a black coated finish, adjustable from 16.1 to 20.9 inches tall and 15 to 19 inches wide, for 8- and 10-frame hives. At 16 inches the entrance clears Betterbee's 12-inch skunk guidance and the bottom box sits where a deep can be lifted without bending to the ground. It is the stand in our starter kit guide's shopping list.
Best width range
Adjustable Metal Hive Stand (15 to 19 in tall, 14.5 to 24.5 in wide)
Carbon steel, 15 to 19 inches tall and 14.5 to 24.5 inches wide, which fits a 10-frame box lengthwise or a nuc box, $37.
- Height
- 15 to 19 in, adjustable (per the Amazon listing)
- Fits
- Width 14.5 to 24.5 in (per the Amazon listing)
- Material
- Carbon steel, black coated (per the Amazon listing)
- Load
- Not stated
Pros
- The widest range here: a 19 7/8 in box can sit either way
- Adjustable height
- Coated steel
Cons
- Unbranded listing
- No load rating
- Listing figures only
This unbranded adjustable stand is listed in black-coated carbon steel, 15 to 19 inches tall with a width range of 14.5 to 24.5 inches. The width is the reason to pick it over the MayBee: a Langstroth box is 19 7/8 inches long (Mann Lake), so a stand that opens past 20 inches takes the box on its long axis or holds a nuc box and a feeder bucket beside it.
Best budget stand
Mondazie Adjustable Metal Hive Stand with Strap, 17 in
A fixed 17-inch black steel stand with a 12 to 19 inch width range, wing screws and a 120-inch strap, for $23.
- Height
- 17 in, fixed (per the Amazon listing)
- Fits
- 8- and 10-frame; width 12 to 19 in (per the Amazon listing)
- Material
- Black metal (per the Amazon listing)
- Load
- Not stated
Pros
- Cheapest stand here
- Strap and four wing screws lock the bottom board to the stand
- End ledges stop the hive sliding
Cons
- Fixed height
- Metal not specified beyond black finish
- No load rating
Mondazie's stand is listed at a fixed 17 inches with a width range of 12 to 19 inches, four wing screws to clamp the hive and a 120-inch strap to tie it down, plus ledges at both ends. The strap is the feature: a tied-down hive is the first line against wind and the second against a bear, after the fence in the fence guide.
Best uncoated steel
Honey Lake Stainless Metal Hive Stand for 8/10-Frame
Honey Lake's one-piece stainless stand with a rounded base, fixed height, for 8- or 10-frame hives, $30.
- Height
- Fixed; not stated on the listing
- Fits
- 8- and 10-frame, one piece (per the Amazon listing)
- Material
- Stainless steel, uncoated (per the Amazon listing)
- Load
- Not stated
Pros
- Uncoated stainless: no coating to chip
- One-piece, no width adjustment to slip
- Rounded base feet
Cons
- Height not stated; ask before buying for a tall beekeeper
- No load rating
- Listing figures only
Honey Lake's metal stand is listed in uncoated stainless steel as a one-piece unit for 8- and 10-frame hives with a rounded base under each leg. The listing describes the height as fixed and chosen to suit most situations, and does not give the number. It is the stand for a wet site, where a coated steel stand's scratches rust.
Best with a frame rest
Ultimate Hive Stand (12 in, with frame rest)
The Ultimate Hive Stand raises the hive 12 inches, has legs that can be filled to deter ants and a built-in frame rest, $92 at Betterbee.
- Height
- 12 in (Betterbee)
- Fits
- 8- and 10-frame Langstroth
- Material
- Plastic, assembled from legs and rails (Betterbee)
- Load
- Not stated
Pros
- A frame rest to hang the first frame on during inspection
- Legs are cups that take oil or water against ants (Betterbee's description)
- Exactly the 12-inch height Betterbee recommends
Cons
- $92
- Plastic
- Sold by Mann Lake and Betterbee; linked to Betterbee's page
Betterbee lists the Ultimate Hive Stand at $92 and describes it as raising the hive 12 inches, with a frame rest and legs that can hold a liquid barrier against ants; Mann Lake sells the same stand. The frame rest is what you pay for: the first frame out of a box has to go somewhere, and a frame leaned against a stand leg gets stepped on.
Best wooden stand
Betterbee Cedar Hive Stand (13 1/2 in)
Betterbee's cedar stand at 13 1/2 inches, $66.89, for the beekeeper who wants wood under wood.
- Height
- 13 1/2 in (Betterbee)
- Fits
- 10-frame
- Material
- Cedar (Betterbee)
- Load
- Not stated
Pros
- Cedar resists rot without paint
- Clears the 12-inch guidance
- Matches a cedar hive
Cons
- Wood on the ground eventually goes, cedar or not; set it on pavers
- $67 against $23 to $39 for steel
- Sold direct
Betterbee lists its cedar hive stand at $66.89 and 13 1/2 inches tall. Set it on pavers or gravel: a wooden stand's feet are the one woodenware part that touches soil, and Oregon State's ten-year life for painted woodenware assumes a stand, not a lawn.
Best for a row of hives
Lyson Adjustable Hive Stand Brackets (pair)
Lyson steel brackets, $159 a pair, adjustable 9 to 23 1/4 inches, rated 1,100 pounds: add two lengths of lumber and the stand is as long as the row.
- Height
- 9 to 23 1/4 in, adjustable (Betterbee)
- Fits
- As many hives as the lumber spans
- Material
- Steel brackets; you supply the rails (Betterbee)
- Load
- 1,100 lb per pair (Betterbee)
Pros
- The only stated load rating here
- A two- or three-hive stand from one pair
- Adjustable height on sloping ground
Cons
- $159 before lumber
- Needs two rails of treated or cedar 2x lumber
- Sold direct
Betterbee lists Lyson's steel hive stand brackets at $159 a pair, adjustable from 9 to 23 1/4 inches and rated for 1,100 pounds; two rails of lumber run between them. For two or three hives in a row it is cheaper per hive than three stands, and a shared rail is where the frame goes during an inspection. Leave room: Massachusetts' bear fence guidance keeps 4 feet between the wires and the hives, and a long stand needs that on all sides.
How we chose
Stands were judged on stated height (fixed or range), width range or hive count, material and any stated load, from the maker's page or the listing, and on price read October 9, 2026. A stand with no stated height was ranked below one with a number.
Why the hive comes off the ground
Betterbee's placement guidance: elevate the hive at least 12 inches to discourage skunks, which scratch at a low entrance at night and eat the bees that come out. The second reason is rot: the bottom board is the woodenware part nearest the soil, and Oregon State's PNW 744 cost tables assume painted woodenware lasts about ten years, which it does not on wet ground. The third is the beekeeper: the bottom box of a two-deep hive is lifted every inspection of the brood nest, and 16 to 20 inches of stand is the difference between a lift from the knees and a lift from the ground.
Comparison
| Stand | Height | Width | Material | Load | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MayBee adjustable | 16.1 to 20.9 in | 15 to 19 in | Coated carbon steel | Not stated | $39 |
| Adjustable metal (unbranded) | 15 to 19 in | 14.5 to 24.5 in | Coated carbon steel | Not stated | $37 |
| Mondazie | 17 in fixed | 12 to 19 in | Black metal | Not stated | $23 |
| Honey Lake | Fixed, not stated | 8/10-frame | Uncoated stainless | Not stated | $30 |
| Ultimate Hive Stand | 12 in | 8/10-frame | Plastic | Not stated | $92 |
| Betterbee cedar | 13 1/2 in | 10-frame | Cedar | Not stated | $67 |
| Lyson brackets | 9 to 23 1/4 in | Any, with rails | Steel | 1,100 lb | $159 a pair |
Buying guide
Height
Twelve inches is the floor (Betterbee). Sixteen to twenty is comfortable for most adults working a two-deep hive; higher makes the top super hard to reach once the hive is four boxes tall. Adjustable stands cover both.
Footing
Every stand here sinks into soft ground under a full hive. Pavers under the feet, or a bed of gravel, keep the stand level; a hive that tilts backward holds rain on the bottom board. The listings' claims about ventilation and drainage are the sellers'; the extension sources we read talk about elevation for skunks and rot, not airflow.
Tie-down
A ratchet strap over the hive and around the stand (Mondazie includes one) is standard in windy and bear country. It does not replace a fence; the bear fence guide covers what does.
Space around the stand
Room to stand behind or beside the hive, and if a fence is coming, 4 feet between the wires and the hives (Massachusetts' bear fence guidance). The how-many-hives guide covers spacing between hives.
What to skip
Skip cinder blocks on bare ground as a permanent stand; they work, but they sit at 8 inches and sink. Skip any stand whose listing states neither a height nor a width range. And skip a stand so tall that the top super is above your chest once the hive is full.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a beehive stand be?
At least 12 inches to discourage skunks (Betterbee's placement guidance). Sixteen to twenty inches puts the bottom box at a comfortable lifting height for most adults; the MayBee stand adjusts across that range.
Do I need a hive stand?
Something has to keep the bottom board off the ground; a stand, pavers or blocks. Oregon State Extension's cost sheet gives painted woodenware about ten years of life, and the bottom board is the part that rots first when it sits on soil.
Are metal hive stands better than wood?
Coated steel stands ($23 to $39) do not rot and adjust for 8- or 10-frame boxes; a cedar stand ($67) matches a wooden hive and lasts well on pavers. Neither of the Amazon metal stands states a load rating; Lyson's brackets are rated 1,100 pounds.
Can two hives share one stand?
On a rail stand, yes: Lyson's brackets ($159 a pair) take two lengths of lumber as long as you like. The single metal stands hold one hive each.
Should the hive stand tilt forward?
Level or very slightly forward, so rain runs out of the entrance rather than pooling on the bottom board. Adjustable-height stands make levelling on uneven ground easier.
Does a hive stand keep ants out?
The Ultimate Hive Stand's legs are designed as cups that can hold oil or water as an ant barrier (Betterbee's description). Other stands do not address ants; keeping grass mown and spilled syrup cleaned does more.
Sources
- Ultimate Hive Stand, Betterbee
- Cedar Hive Stand, Betterbee
- Lyson Adjustable Hive Stand Brackets, Betterbee
- Where to Place Your Hive, Betterbee
- Beekeeping Equipment Expenses: Woodenware and Other Components (PNW 744), Oregon State University Extension
- Electric Fencing for Bears (bee yard guidance), Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
- 10 Frame Assembled 9 5/8" Commercial Grade Deep Hive Box, Mann Lake
Cover photo: Italian honeybees entering and leaving langstroth hive entrance 2 by Benlisquare, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.
Related guides
8-Frame vs 10-Frame Langstroth: Weight, Cost, Compatibility and Which to Buy
Dimensions, weight when full, cost and compatibility, from Oregon State, Mann Lake, Betterbee and Hoover, so you pick one width and never mix them.
Beehive Wood and Coating Guide: Pine, Cedar, Beeswax Dip, Paint and Polystyrene
Beeswax dip, exterior latex, cedar and polystyrene compared from the suppliers' painting guides and extension sources, with what never gets painted.
Best Beehives for Beginners (2026): Langstroth Woodenware for a First Colony
Seven Langstroth hives for a first colony, compared on boxes and frames included, finish, dimensions and what the extension guides say a beginner needs.