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Total hive weight = equipment (boxes, frames, foundation) + bees + honey/pollen stores. A deep box empty weighs ~40 lb; medium ~30 lb.
Total = box weight + (frames × content weight) + bee massA fully capped deep frame holds ~8 lb honey; medium frame ~6 lb. Partial frames estimated by capped percentage.
Honey (lb) = Σ (frames × fill% × frame capacity)Northern climates need 60–90 lb total hive weight going into winter (including bees and equipment). Southern climates may need 30–50 lb stores.
Required stores (lb) = colony size × regional winter factorUpdated: July 2026
2 deep boxes + lid/bottom (~90 lb equipment/bees) + 12 capped deep frames (~96 lb honey): total ~186 lb. Adequate for northern winter if varroa controlled.
Hive weighs 145 lb on May 1, 158 lb on May 15: 13 lb gain in 2 weeks during nectar flow — roughly 1 lb/day, indicating strong foraging.
Rear of hive hard to lift = adequate stores. If rear lifts easily in October in cold climate, colony likely needs emergency feed before winter.
Partially filled frames may look full but contain nectar (high moisture) not cured honey. Only capped honey counts as reliable winter stores.
Summer hives include brood, bees, and empty comb weight. Fall/winter assessment focuses on capped honey stores above the cluster, not total summer weight.
Hive weight indicates honey stores, brood mass, and winter readiness. This calculator estimates total hive weight and available honey reserves from component weights, frame counts, and seasonal benchmarks.