Hive types reference
When you create a hive in Openbeehive, you choose a type. This single value records the hive system you are running, which helps you keep frames, supers and spare parts compatible across your apiary.
The type is purely a label for your own records. It does not change how inspections, treatments or harvests work, so do not worry about getting it "wrong" — you can change it at any time from the hive's settings. See Hives for how to add and edit a hive.
Openbeehive offers seven options: Zander, Dadant, Deutsch Normal, Langstroth, Warre, Top-bar and Other.
Quick comparison
| Type | Origin / region | Frame & box characteristics | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zander | Germany, central Europe | Medium frame (~420 × 220 mm); boxes often run as brood-and-a-half | Hobby and commercial beekeeping across German-speaking regions |
| Dadant | France / USA (Charles Dadant) | Deep brood frame with shallow honey supers; large brood volume | Strong colonies and serious honey production; popular in France, Italy, USA |
| Deutsch Normal (DN / DNM) | Germany | Compact frame (~370 × 223 mm); light, easy to lift boxes | Traditional German hobby beekeeping; widely used in clubs and training |
| Langstroth | USA (Rev. L. L. Langstroth) | Standardised deep/medium/shallow boxes; the global reference design | The world's most common movable-frame hive; commercial and hobby alike |
| Warré | France (Abbé Émile Warré) | Vertical "people's hive"; small square boxes added at the bottom (nadiring); top-bars rather than full frames | Low-intervention, natural-comb beekeeping |
| Top-bar | Kenya / horizontal designs | Horizontal hive; bees build natural comb from bars, no foundation | Foundationless, low-cost, back-friendly hobby beekeeping |
| Other | — | Anything not listed above | Custom builds, regional designs, or systems you would rather describe yourself |
Exact frame dimensions vary by manufacturer and country. The figures above are typical reference sizes — always check against your own equipment before buying frames or foundation.
Choosing the right type
A few practical pointers for picking a value:
- Match your frames, not your aspirations. Choose the system whose frames physically fit your boxes today. Compatibility of frames and supers is the main reason this field matters.
- Stay consistent within an apiary. Running one system per apiary makes it far easier to swap frames between colonies, share spare supers and manage your stores.
- Inherited or mixed kit? If a hive does not fit a standard, choose Other and note the details in the hive's description.
Vertical frame hives
Zander, Dadant, Deutsch Normal and Langstroth are all vertical, movable-frame systems. You inspect by lifting boxes and pulling individual frames. They differ mainly in frame size and how brood and honey space are arranged, which affects colony volume and how heavy each box is to lift.
If you are buying your first hives and want the widest choice of equipment and second-hand parts, Langstroth (globally) or your regional standard (often Zander or Deutsch Normal in German-speaking areas, Dadant in France and Italy) are the safest bets.
Natural-comb hives
Warré and Top-bar hives favour a lower-intervention style with natural comb built on bars rather than wired frames.
- A Warré hive grows downwards: you add empty boxes underneath (nadiring) so the colony builds fresh comb from the top down, mimicking a hollow tree.
- A Top-bar hive is horizontal: bars sit side by side along a trough-shaped body, and the colony is managed by working along the length rather than lifting boxes.
Natural-comb hives can make some tasks harder. Comb is fragile without frames, harvesting often means crush-and-strain rather than spinning, and inspecting for brood disease or varroa takes more care. They are rewarding, but plan your method before you start.
Frequently asked
Can I change a hive's type later? Yes. Open the hive, edit its settings and pick a new type. Because Openbeehive is offline-first, the change is saved locally at once and syncs in the background — see Offline and sync.
My system isn't listed. What now? Choose Other and record the specifics (frame size, box count, supplier) in the hive's notes so your records stay clear.
Does the type affect treatments or harvests? No. It is a descriptive label. All inspections, treatments, tasks and harvests work the same regardless of type.
For more background on equipment and how the parts of a hive fit together, see Equipment and the Glossary.