Langstroth Hive Dimensions – A Complete Guide

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Langstroths are a popular choice of hive in most parts of the world. One design feature that beekeepers appreciate is standardized sizing. It makes life simpler as parts can be mixed, matched, and replaced without the headache.

Whether you’re looking to build a new hive, buy new parts, or just need to do some planning, you’ll need to know the Langstroth hive dimensions. This gets a little confusing as sizing varies around the world. To keep it simple, we’ve pulled together specs for a range of countries so that you get accurate answers.

What are the dimensions of Langstroth boxes?

The main part of a Langstroth beehive is the boxes that hold the frames. One or more deep brood boxes are located at the base of the hive while medium and shallow boxes are stacked on top for honeycomb and other resources.

10 frame hive dimensions

The length and width of a 10 frame Langstroth are the same for deeps, mediums, and shallows. This allows the boxes of different depths to neatly fit on top of each other.

• Internal dimensions of a 10 frame box are 18 3⁄8” long and 14 3⁄4” wide.
• External dimensions of a 10 frame box are roughly 19 7⁄8” long and 16” wide, although different construction materials will affect this result.
• A Langstroth deep (or body) is 9 5⁄8” in depth while a medium super measures 6 5⁄8” and a shallow is 5 11⁄16”. 

The total height of a Langstroth will vary depending on the configuration of boxes you choose to use. Beekeepers commonly use one or two deeps for brood. The number of supers will vary depending on where you live. Warmer states like Florida may only need one super while colder states will need more food supplies to get through a harsh winter.

Summary of 10 frame box dimensions

Box type	Interior Width	Interior length	Depth
Deep	14 3⁄4”	18 3⁄8”	9 5⁄8”
Medium	14 3⁄4	18 3⁄8”	6 5⁄8”
Shallow	14 3⁄4”	18 3⁄8”	5 11⁄16”

8 frame hive dimensions

The width and length of an 8 frame Langstroth remain consistent for deeps, mediums, and shallows. This allows the boxes of different depths to nest perfectly above each other.

• Internal dimensions of an 8 frame box are 18 3⁄8” long and 12 1⁄4” wide.
• External dimensions of an 8 frame box are roughly 19 7⁄8” long and 14” wide, although measurements vary depending on whether wood or some other materials are used.
• A Langstroth deep (or body) is 9 5⁄8” in depth while a medium super measures 6 5⁄8” and a shallow is 5 11⁄16”. 

Summary of 8 frame box dimensions

Box type	Interior Width	Interior length	Depth
Deep	12 1⁄4”	18 3⁄8”	9 5⁄8”
Medium	12 1⁄4”	18 3⁄8”	6 5⁄8”
Shallow	12 1⁄4”	18 3⁄8”	5 11⁄16”

What to consider about Langstroth dimensions

• Manufacturers may adjust their dimensions a little, but this variance shouldn’t cause problems.
• The dimensions of a Langstroth will vary by country.
• Inner dimensions are the most accurate way to measure a Lang.
• Outer hive dimensions will differ depending on the thickness of the wood used to construct the hive.

Related reading

Learn about nine different types of hives and how they work. You may decide that a simpler horizontal hive design will work better for you. One benefit is that you don’t need to be as exact with measurements!

How thick should the hive walls be?

Although there is no standard requirement for wall thickness in a hive, you’ll find Langstroth plans often suggest 3⁄4” thick walls. While this is possible if you’re using wood like pine or cedar, if you opt for a polyurethane or polystyrene foam hive then the walls will be thicker.

Are accurate measurements important for a Langstroth?

It is important to ensure that all the parts of a Langstroth are a consistent size. This will allow each component to fit together neatly.

Using correctly measured boxes and frames will also respect the hive’s bee space. Any space under 1/4” will get filled with propolis by the colony. Gaps larger than 3/8” will get built out with burr comb.

Also read: What is bee space?

Langstroth dimensions by country

Langstroths are standardized rectangular hives that are roughly the same size around the world. However, there are subtle differences which are shown in the table below.

Country	Inner width	Inner length	Brood Depth	Super depth
Australia	362	464	241	168
Canada	380	469	241	168
Denmark	374	463	240	165
New Zealand	362	464	241	184
United Kingdom	370	464	242	146

What are the dimensions of a Langstroth frame?

The frame dimensions will vary depending on whether it is a deep, medium, or shallow.

Type of frame	Length	Width	Height
Deep	19”	1 1/16”	9 1/8”
Medium	19”	1 1/16”	6 1/4”
Shallow	19”	1 1/16”	5 3/8”

You may notice that the length of a frame is longer than the internal length of the box it goes into (18 3⁄8”). That’s because the top bar of the frame is a little longer and it sits outside the box.

What are the bottom board dimensions?

The bottom board of a Langstroth should extend past the hive body, providing a base for the rest of the hive and also an entrance. The sideboards should be 22” and 3/8” high so that standard entrance reducers can be used.  

Summing up

Getting the dimensions of a Langstroth hive right when you’re building one or buying parts is extremely important. If you don’t then your new frames may not fit into the old boxes. Even if they do fit, the proper bee space should be respected or you’ll end up with a mess of propolis or burr comb.

In the United States, the internal dimensions of a 10 frame box are 18 3⁄8” long and 14 3⁄4” wide. A brood box will be 9 5⁄8” in depth while a medium box is 6 5⁄8” and a shallow is 5 11⁄16”.