How much honey does a single frame hold?

A fully drawn and capped deep frame holds roughly 5–8 lb (2.3–3.6 kg) of honey. Shallow frames hold about 3–4 lb (1.4–1.8 kg). This estimator uses shallow super frames (about 3.5 lb average) as the default unit.

What is colony strength in this context?

Colony strength is the percentage of frames in the brood box covered with bees. A strong colony (80–100%) forages more efficiently and builds honey stores faster. A weak colony (below 50%) may consume more honey than it produces.

What counts as good vs. poor nectar flow?

Good nectar flow means abundant flowering plants are nearby and weather conditions are favorable — bees can fill a super in 2–4 weeks. Poor flow means limited forage or prolonged rain; bees may struggle to fill any supers.

Why does the estimate vary so much between regions?

Honey yield depends heavily on local flora, climate, and the length of the nectar flow season. Tropical regions can yield 100+ lb per hive per year, while northern climates may yield 20–40 lb. The "nectar flow productivity" slider accounts for this variance.

Does this include honey consumed by the colony?

No. This estimate covers surplus honey in the honey supers, which is what beekeepers harvest. The colony's own winter stores in the brood box are separate and should not be taken.

Beehive Honey Yield Estimator

Estimate annual honey yield per beehive based on colony strength, supers, frames, and local nectar flow.

Hive Parameters

Number of honey supers

Shallow supers placed above the brood box for honey storage.

Frames per super

Standard shallow supers hold 8–10 frames.

Colony strength: 80%

Weak (20%) Average (60%) Strong (100%)

Local nectar flow productivity

Good = abundant forage & favorable weather. Poor = limited flora or extended rain.

Number of hives (optional)

Scale total yield across your apiary.

Estimated Annual Yield

Per hive (lb)

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Per hive (kg)

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Yield breakdown by super

Super	Frames	lb / super	kg / super
Total	—	—	—

Assumptions: shallow frames averaging 3.5 lb (1.59 kg) honey capacity at full draw; colony strength scales yield linearly; nectar flow multipliers: poor = 0.55, average = 1.0, good = 1.45. Results are estimates — actual yields vary with local conditions and management practices.

Summary

Calculate expected annual honey harvest from a beehive by entering colony strength, number of honey supers, frames per super, and your region's nectar flow productivity. Results show estimated yield in pounds and kilograms per hive, with a breakdown by honey super.

How it works

Enter the number of honey supers on the hive and the frames in each super.
Set the colony strength (percentage of frames covered with bees).
Choose your local nectar flow productivity: poor, average, or good.
The estimator calculates honey yield per super, then totals across all supers.
Results are shown in both pounds and kilograms.

Use cases

Plan how many jars or containers to prepare before harvest.
Compare expected yields across hives with different super configurations.
Assess whether adding another super is likely to increase your harvest.
Educate new beekeepers on how colony strength and nectar flow affect yield.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-19 · Reviewed by Nham Vu