Mann Lake vs Dadant vs Betterbee vs Galena Farms: Which Supplier to Buy From
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Mann Lake, Dadant, Betterbee and Galena Farms are the four suppliers whose pages we read for every hive guide on this site, and they are not interchangeable. Mann Lake is the biggest catalogue and the one with assembled kits at every level ($229.99 New-Bee to $999.99 Deluxe). Dadant is the oldest, with the only beginner kit that includes a veil, gloves and a textbook for $226.95. Betterbee has the best how-to library (its painting, frame-size and heavy-box pages are cited across this site) and the polystyrene option. Galena Farms is the price leader in wood (its Busy Bees two-deep, one-medium kit is $199, and it sells Hoover and NuBee too) and the retailer behind Hoover's Amazon listing.
This comparison is the four beginner kits side by side, then the catalogue beyond them: assembled options, dimensions, tools, extractors, shipping and the pages worth reading before you buy.
Our top picks at a glance
1. Mann Lake
Mann Lake New-Bee Beginner Beekeeping Starter KitBeginner kit: New-Bee: assembled deep with frames, covers, bottom board, shielded smoker, hive tool, pro feeder, fuel, Ultra Bee patty · Price: $229.99; DIY unassembled $189.95; Premium $439.99; Deluxe $999.99 · Assembled option: Yes at every level; Growing Apiary kit painted $346.99 to $389.99
2. Dadant
Dadant 10-Frame Beginner's Kit #1Beginner kit: Beginner's Kit #1: hive body, frames, foundation, hive tool, smoker and fuel, veil, gloves, reducer, feeder, First Lessons in Beekeeping · Price: $226.95 (10-frame); $235.95 (8-frame); assembled painted starter $430.95; Deluxe $589.95 · Assembled option: Yes: 10-frame deep starter $430.95, medium starter $395.95
3. Betterbee
Betterbee 10-Frame Unassembled Basic Beginner KitBeginner kit: Basic Beginner Kit: deep, 10 plastic frames, covers, reversible bottom board, hive tool, stainless smoker, leather gloves, veil and helmet, book · Price: $259 to $262 (10-frame); 8-frame $262 to $269; BeeMax polystyrene $267; assembled $479; Preferred $558.95 · Assembled option: Yes: $479 basic, $558.95 Preferred (two deeps, two mediums, excluder, feeder, jacket)
4. Galena Farms
Galena Farms Busy Bees 'N' More 10-Frame Kit (2 deeps, 1 medium)Beginner kit: Busy Bees 'N' More 10-frame: 2 deeps, 1 medium, 30 frames, aluminum-capped cover, inner cover, excluder, reducer, screened bottom board · Price: $199; 1 deep + 1 medium $155; Hoover 2D+1M $199 (sale $149); NuBee 1 deep assembled painted $119, 2D+1M $165 · Assembled option: Yes: NuBee line assembled and painted
| Pick | Beginner kit | Price | Assembled option | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mann Lake New-Bee Beginner Beekeeping Starter KitMann Lake | New-Bee: assembled deep with frames, covers, bottom board, shielded smoker, hive tool, pro feeder, fuel, Ultra Bee patty | $229.99; DIY unassembled $189.95; Premium $439.99; Deluxe $999.99 | Yes at every level; Growing Apiary kit painted $346.99 to $389.99 | Mann Lake |
| Dadant 10-Frame Beginner's Kit #1Dadant | Beginner's Kit #1: hive body, frames, foundation, hive tool, smoker and fuel, veil, gloves, reducer, feeder, First Lessons in Beekeeping | $226.95 (10-frame); $235.95 (8-frame); assembled painted starter $430.95; Deluxe $589.95 | Yes: 10-frame deep starter $430.95, medium starter $395.95 | Dadant & Sons |
| Betterbee 10-Frame Unassembled Basic Beginner KitBetterbee | Basic Beginner Kit: deep, 10 plastic frames, covers, reversible bottom board, hive tool, stainless smoker, leather gloves, veil and helmet, book | $259 to $262 (10-frame); 8-frame $262 to $269; BeeMax polystyrene $267; assembled $479; Preferred $558.95 | Yes: $479 basic, $558.95 Preferred (two deeps, two mediums, excluder, feeder, jacket) | Betterbee |
| Galena Farms Busy Bees 'N' More 10-Frame Kit (2 deeps, 1 medium)Galena Farms | Busy Bees 'N' More 10-frame: 2 deeps, 1 medium, 30 frames, aluminum-capped cover, inner cover, excluder, reducer, screened bottom board | $199; 1 deep + 1 medium $155; Hoover 2D+1M $199 (sale $149); NuBee 1 deep assembled painted $119, 2D+1M $165 | Yes: NuBee line assembled and painted | Galena Farms |
Mann Lake
Mann Lake New-Bee Beginner Beekeeping Starter Kit
The widest catalogue, assembled kits at four price points, and the beginner kit with the real in-hive feeder.
- Beginner kit
- New-Bee: assembled deep with frames, covers, bottom board, shielded smoker, hive tool, pro feeder, fuel, Ultra Bee patty
- Price
- $229.99; DIY unassembled $189.95; Premium $439.99; Deluxe $999.99
- Assembled option
- Yes at every level; Growing Apiary kit painted $346.99 to $389.99
- Dimensions stated
- 10-frame commercial deep 16 1/4 x 19 7/8 in outside
Pros
- Assembled kits at $230, $440 and $1,000
- Smokers, hive tools, feeders, Varroa EasyCheck and extractors all in one checkout
- A painting guide and product pages that state dimensions
Cons
- No protective gear in the New-Bee kit
- Its 2-frame stainless hand extractor was out of stock when read
- Plain pine to paint
Mann Lake's pages read October 9, 2026 list the New-Bee Beginner Starter Kit at $229.99 (assembled deep, assembled frames, telescoping and inner covers, bottom board with reducer, 4 by 7 inch economy stainless smoker with shield, 9 1/2 inch hive tool, pro feeder, fuel, 1 lb Ultra Bee patty), the Traditional Complete Hive Kit at $162.99 to $169.99, the Growing Apiary Kit at $346.99 to $389.99 painted, the Premium Starter Kit at $439.99, the Deluxe at $999.99 and a DIY unassembled kit at $189.95. Its 10-frame commercial deep is stated at 16 1/4 by 19 7/8 inches outside. Beyond kits: smokers ($1.80 and 2.30 lb, 4 by 7 and 4 by 10), hive tools from $8.99 to $19.99, the Varroa EasyCheck ($25.99), top feeders, and extractors from a $129.99 2-frame plastic to a $1,299.99 6/3 motorized.
Dadant
Dadant 10-Frame Beginner's Kit #1
The oldest supplier and the only beginner kit here with veil, gloves and a textbook in the box, for $226.95.
- Beginner kit
- Beginner's Kit #1: hive body, frames, foundation, hive tool, smoker and fuel, veil, gloves, reducer, feeder, First Lessons in Beekeeping
- Price
- $226.95 (10-frame); $235.95 (8-frame); assembled painted starter $430.95; Deluxe $589.95
- Assembled option
- Yes: 10-frame deep starter $430.95, medium starter $395.95
- Dimensions stated
- Calls 10-frame the industry standard; extractor drum sizes stated
Pros
- Veil, gloves and book included
- Free shipping on qualifying orders over $150 (banner read October 9, 2026)
- American-made smokers (Bingham design) and spring-steel hive tools
Cons
- Unassembled unless you pay $395 or more
- The beginner kit is one deep
- Its site states fewer box dimensions than Mann Lake or Hoover
Dadant's pages list the 10-Frame Deep Beginner's Kit #1 at $226.95 unassembled with a hive body, frames, foundation, hive tool, smoker and fuel, veil, gloves, entrance reducer, feeder and the book First Lessons in Beekeeping; the 8-frame kit at $235.95; the assembled and painted 10-frame Deep Starter Kit at $430.95 (adds a second deep, a medium, excluder and brush); the Medium Starter at $395.95; the Deluxe at $589.95 with a full suit. Its learn article says the kit is everything necessary except the bees and calls 10-frame the industry standard. Beyond kits: 4 by 7 stainless smokers with Naugahyde bellows, the Junior Bench 2-frame extractor (24 gauge 304 stainless, 14 by 23 1/4 inches), a heavy-duty 2-frame (22 gauge, 40 lb), the Little Wonder 4-frame power extractor, and an assembled top bar hive at $311.70.
Betterbee
Betterbee 10-Frame Unassembled Basic Beginner Kit
The best how-to library of the four, plastic frames in the beginner kit, and the only polystyrene hive, from upstate New York.
- Beginner kit
- Basic Beginner Kit: deep, 10 plastic frames, covers, reversible bottom board, hive tool, stainless smoker, leather gloves, veil and helmet, book
- Price
- $259 to $262 (10-frame); 8-frame $262 to $269; BeeMax polystyrene $267; assembled $479; Preferred $558.95
- Assembled option
- Yes: $479 basic, $558.95 Preferred (two deeps, two mediums, excluder, feeder, jacket)
- Dimensions stated
- Frame heights 9 1/8, 6 1/4, 5 3/8 in on its frame-size page
Pros
- Painting, frame-size, heavy-box, stand and feeder guides worth reading whatever you buy
- Polystyrene BeeMax at R 6.5
- Plastic one-piece frames need no assembly
Cons
- Its pages show the kit at $259 and $262
- Highest beginner kit price of the four
- Sells Maxant extractors at $399 and up; its 2-frame plastic is $115
Betterbee's pages list the 10 Frame Unassembled Basic Beginner Kit at $262 on its product page and $259 on its kit family page, the 8-frame at $262 to $269, the BeeMax polystyrene kit at $267, the assembled kit at $479 and the Preferred kit at $558.95. Its frame-size page gives deep 9 1/8, medium 6 1/4 and shallow 5 3/8 inch frame heights; its polystyrene pages give R 6.5. Beyond kits: the Ultimate Hive Stand ($92, 12 inches), cedar stands ($66.89), Lyson steel stand brackets ($159 a pair, 9 to 23 1/4 inches, 1,100 lb), a 2-frame plastic extractor ($115), the Maxant 2-frame ($399) and an extracting kit ($429).
Galena Farms
Galena Farms Busy Bees 'N' More 10-Frame Kit (2 deeps, 1 medium)
The price leader in wood: two deeps and a medium in Amish-made white pine for $199, plus Hoover and NuBee under one roof.
- Beginner kit
- Busy Bees 'N' More 10-frame: 2 deeps, 1 medium, 30 frames, aluminum-capped cover, inner cover, excluder, reducer, screened bottom board
- Price
- $199; 1 deep + 1 medium $155; Hoover 2D+1M $199 (sale $149); NuBee 1 deep assembled painted $119, 2D+1M $165
- Assembled option
- Yes: NuBee line assembled and painted
- Dimensions stated
- Eastern white pine stated; Hoover dimensions on Hoover's page
Pros
- The cheapest two-deep, one-medium wood kit from a US supplier
- Screened bottom board in the kit
- Three hive brands (Busy Bees, Hoover, NuBee) in one store
Cons
- Woodenware only; no tools, gear or extractors
- Sale and regular prices move
- Unassembled and unpainted (Busy Bees)
Galena Farms' pages list the Busy Bees 'N' More 10-frame kit (two deeps, one medium) at $199 and the one-deep, one-medium kit at $155, the Hoover Gold Standard at $199 with a $149 sale price, and NuBee's assembled, painted single deep at $119, one-deep-one-medium at $169 (sale $99) and two-deep-one-medium at $165. It is the woodenware store of the four: no smokers, suits or extractors worth comparing. It is also the seller behind Hoover's Amazon listing.
Beginner kits side by side
| Mann Lake New-Bee | Dadant Kit #1 | Betterbee Basic | Galena Busy Bees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.99 | $226.95 | $259 to $262 | $199 |
| Boxes | 1 deep | 1 deep | 1 deep | 2 deep, 1 medium |
| Assembled | Yes | No | No | No |
| Frames | Wood, assembled, waxed plastic foundation | Wood, foundation sheets | Plastic one-piece, waxed | Wood, wax-coated foundation |
| Smoker | 4 x 7 with shield | Yes, with fuel | Stainless | No |
| Hive tool | 9 1/2 in | Yes | Yes | No |
| Feeder | Pro feeder | Yes | No | No |
| Veil and gloves | No | Veil, gloves | Veil, helmet, leather gloves | No |
| Book | No | First Lessons in Beekeeping | Beginning beekeeping book | No |
| Bottom board | Solid, with reducer | Standard, with reducer | Reversible | Screened, with insert |
Beyond the kit
Assembled and painted hives
Mann Lake (Growing Apiary $346.99 to $389.99, Premium $439.99), Dadant (deep starter $430.95, medium starter $395.95), Betterbee ($479, $558.95) and Galena's NuBee line ($119 to $165) all sell assembled hives; NuBee is the cheapest painted, assembled wood of the four by a wide margin.
Smokers and tools
Mann Lake and Dadant both make the 4 by 7 inch stainless smoker in the Bingham pattern (Dadant's with Naugahyde bellows; Mann Lake's at 1.80 lb with shield). Hive tools: Mann Lake's 9 1/2 inch stainless $15.99, J frame lifter $9.99, mini $8.99, EZ Pry $19.99; Dadant's 9 1/2 inch painted spring steel, 6 inch pocket and 12.5 inch Turbo. The smoker guide and hive tool guide compare them with the Amazon options.
Extractors
Mann Lake: 2-frame plastic $129.99, 2-frame stainless hand crank $279.95 (out of stock when read), 6/3 side crank $699.99, 6/3 motorized $1,299.99. Dadant: Junior Bench 2-frame, heavy-duty 2-frame, Little Wonder 4-frame power. Betterbee: 2-frame plastic $115, Maxant 2-frame $399, 4-frame combo $419. The extractor guide puts them beside VEVOR and VIVO.
Shipping
Dadant's banner read October 9, 2026 offered free shipping on qualifying orders over $150. Mann Lake, Betterbee and Galena show shipping at checkout; woodenware is heavy (Hoover's kit is 32 lb) and the shipping line is where the Amazon kits in our hives guide often come out ahead.
How-to pages
Betterbee's library is the one this site cites most: painting, frame sizes, heavy boxes, stands, polystyrene. Mann Lake has a painting guide and kit notes (the two-season super note). Dadant's learn section has the beginner kit explainer. Galena's pages are product pages.
Our recommendation
Woodenware from Galena (or Hoover on Amazon), tools from Mann Lake, and Betterbee's pages open in another tab. If you want one supplier for everything and assembled parts, Mann Lake. If you want a veil and a book in the first box, Dadant. If you are in the Northeast or want polystyrene, Betterbee.
Frequently asked questions
Which beekeeping supplier is cheapest?
For woodenware, Galena Farms: two deeps and a medium for $199, and NuBee's assembled painted deep for $119. For a kit with tools, Dadant ($226.95) and Mann Lake ($229.99) are within $3; Betterbee is $259 to $262. Prices read October 9, 2026.
Do Mann Lake and Dadant parts fit together?
Both build to the 10-frame Langstroth standard (Mann Lake states 16 1/4 by 19 7/8 inches; Dadant calls 10-frame the industry standard), so boxes and frames interchange. Oregon State Extension still advises measuring across suppliers.
Which supplier has the best beginner kit?
Dadant's Kit #1 is the only one with a veil, gloves and a textbook; Mann Lake's New-Bee is the only one assembled with an in-hive feeder; Galena's Busy Bees has the most boxes. Our starter kit guide ranks them with the Amazon kits.
Is Galena Farms the same as Hoover Hives?
Galena Farms sells Hoover Hives (and NuBee and its own Busy Bees line) and is the seller on Hoover's Amazon listing. Hoover has its own site with the product specifications.
Which supplier should I buy an extractor from?
Mann Lake and Betterbee list 2-frame plastic extractors at $115 to $130; Dadant and Mann Lake sell stainless hand-crank and motorized models from $280 to $1,300. Our extractor guide compares them with the Amazon models.
Does Dadant offer free shipping?
Its site banner on October 9, 2026 offered free shipping on qualifying orders over $150. Check the current terms at checkout; woodenware shipping is the biggest hidden cost of a supplier order.
Sources
- New-Bee Beginner Beekeeping Starter Kit, Mann Lake
- Traditional Growing Apiary Kit, 10 Frame, Not Painted, Mann Lake
- 10 Frame Assembled 9 5/8" Commercial Grade Deep Hive Box, Mann Lake
- Beekeeper Beginner Kits: Everything You Need to Know, Dadant & Sons
- Beekeeping for Beginners Bee Hive Kits (10-Frame Beginner's Kit #1), Dadant & Sons
- 10 Frame Unassembled Basic Beginner Bee Hive Kit, Betterbee
- Frame Sizes and Hive Body Sizes, Betterbee
- 10-Frame Complete Beehive Kit (Busy Bees 'N' More), Galena Farms
- Beekeeping Equipment Expenses: Woodenware and Other Components (PNW 744), Oregon State University Extension
Cover photo: John Wynn tends his honeybees by U.S. Department of Agriculture, CC0 1.0, via rawpixel. Cropped.
Related guides
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