Product Overview
Winter Bee Hive Insulation Wrap for 8 & 10 Frame Hives
Side insulation and wind protection sized to your winter hive stack
The Winter Bee Hive Insulation Wrap is a one-piece insulated wrap designed to provide side insulation and wind protection for standard-dimension 8-frame and 10-frame Langstroth hive-body stacks during cold weather. A reopenable Velcro closure holds the wrap securely around the hive while allowing occasional access for winter feeding or a brief colony check. The wrap is designed to insulate the sides of the hive-body stack; it does not provide top or bottom insulation.
Choose the wrap according to your complete winter hive configuration. See the Wrap Dimensions & Hive Fit section below for detailed measurements and fit guidance.
Size & Fit Guide
| Wrap | Winter Configuration | Straps |
| 20½" | 2 Deeps | No |
| 23½" | 2 Deeps + 1 Medium | Yes |
Both versions are intended for standard-dimension 8-frame and 10-frame Langstroth equipment. The wrap height corresponds to the winter box configuration, so an 8-frame hive and a 10-frame hive can use the same height option when their vertical box stacks match the configuration shown above.
Wrap Dimensions & Hive Fit
Choose the wrap according to the complete hive configuration you plan to maintain through winter. Both sizes are designed for standard-dimension 8-frame and 10-frame Langstroth equipment, but actual exterior dimensions should be checked before ordering.
2 Deeps + 1 Medium Wrap — 23-1/2" High
Designed for a winter hive stack consisting of two deep boxes plus one medium box.
- Overall wrap size: 75-1/4" overall length × 23-1/2" height
- Wrap thickness: 1/4"
- Velcro closure strip: 2-3/4" wide × 23-1/2" high
- Velcro thickness: 1/4"
- Intended 8-frame inside dimensions: 20" L × 14" W × 23-1/2" H
- Intended 10-frame inside dimensions: 20" L × 16-1/4" W × 23-1/2" H
- Straps: Attached straps included
2 Deep Wrap — 20-1/2" High
Designed for a winter hive stack consisting of two deep boxes.
- Overall wrap size: 76-1/8" overall length × 20-1/2" height
- Wrap thickness: 1/4"
- Velcro closure strip: 11/16" wide × 20-1/2" high
- Velcro thickness: 1/4"
- Intended 8-frame inside dimensions: 20" L × 14" W × 20-1/2" H
- Intended 10-frame inside dimensions: 20" L × 16-1/4" W × 20-1/2" H
- Straps: No straps
Before Ordering
Measure the outside length, width, and total height of your assembled winter hive stack and compare those measurements with the intended hive dimensions listed above.
The overall wrap dimensions describe the physical wrap itself. The intended hive dimensions describe the exterior hive size the wrap is designed to fit. Do not compare your hive dimensions directly with the wrap's overall laid-flat length.
Exterior handles, cleats, feeders, homemade woodenware, and other projecting hardware can increase the space required and reduce the amount of Velcro overlap available for securely closing the wrap.
Why Use a Winter Hive Insulation Wrap?
A winter hive insulation wrap adds side insulation and helps shield the hive-body stack from persistent winter wind and cold-weather exposure.
- One-piece insulated construction: Wraps around the hive-body stack without conventional assembly.
- Reopenable Velcro closure: Allows occasional access for winter feeding or a brief colony check, then secures again afterward.
- Attached support straps on the 23½-inch version: Help keep the taller wrap snug and correctly positioned during winter weather.
Lappe's Bee Supply Apiary Note: What We Check in the Bee Yard
At Lappe's Bee Supply, we treat the insulation wrap as the final layer of winter preparation. We prepare the colony first, settle the hive into the configuration it will maintain through winter, and then install the wrap around that finished stack.
The insulation wrap does not replace adequate food stores, colony health, mite management, ventilation, or moisture management. Addressing those needs before installation also helps avoid changing the hive configuration after the wrap is already in place.
Lappe's Bee Supply has been a commercial beekeeping family since 1978 and has served beekeepers with equipment and practical beekeeping education since 2017.
How to Install the Winter Bee Hive Insulation Wrap
- Put the hive into its intended winter box configuration.
- Position the correctly sized wrap evenly around the hive bodies.
- Secure the full Velcro closure so the wrap is snug without excessive compression or distortion.
- Make sure the hive entrance, landing area, mouse guard, and intended ventilation path remain unobstructed.
- Confirm that the hive cover remains properly seated.
- On the 23½-inch version, position the attached straps flat and fasten them securely.
If you reopen the wrap for winter feeding or a brief colony check, secure the full Velcro closure again afterward.
What to Expect During Winter
The wrap should remain snug around the hive bodies while leaving the entrance and intended ventilation path open. Winter weather can shift a poorly secured wrap, so periodically check the Velcro closure after strong winds. On the 23½-inch version, also make sure the attached straps remain flat, properly positioned, and securely fastened.
If the wrap begins to loosen or shift, reposition and secure it before wind can work underneath it.
When Should You Put the Wrap On?
Install the winter hive insulation wrap when sustained cold makes winter protection appropriate for your location rather than relying on one universal calendar date. In Iowa and similar Midwestern or northern conditions, around mid-November can be a useful general reference when temperatures have become consistently cold.
Install the wrap after the hive has reached its intended winter configuration. A temporary warm spell does not automatically require removing it. In spring, remove the wrap after the risk of sustained severe cold has passed and normal spring inspections are resuming.
For more seasonal guidance, see when to put on winter honey bee hive insulation wraps and the Wintering Bees FAQ.
Care, Inspection & Storage
Remove the wrap when temperatures are consistently warmer and winter insulation is no longer needed. Brush away loose debris and use a damp cloth when necessary. Allow the wrap to dry completely before storing it.
Before storage and again before reuse, inspect the outer covering, insulation distribution, seams, Velcro closure, and the attached straps on the 23½-inch version. Normal dirt, fading, storage creases, light abrasion, and minor cosmetic compression do not automatically prevent reuse.
Stop using the wrap when major tears, exposed or badly shifted insulation, separated seams, persistent moisture or mildew, or a closure that no longer holds securely compromises normal function. Close the Velcro before storage, loosely roll or fold the wrap, and store it indoors in a clean, dry location protected from moisture, rodents, unnecessary crushing, abrasion, direct sun, and excessive heat.
Complete Your Winter Hive Preparation
The wrap provides side insulation and wind protection, while other winter-management needs should be addressed separately. Browse winter beekeeping supplies for complementary equipment.
For moisture-management needs, the Winter Bee Hive Moisture Board is a separate winter product and is not included with this insulation wrap.
Beekeepers comparing different winter insulation formats can also review the Bee Cozy 1-Story Winter Hive Wrap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this winter hive insulation wrap fit both 8-frame and 10-frame hives?
Yes. The wrap is intended for standard-dimension 8-frame and 10-frame Langstroth hive-body stacks. See the Wrap Dimensions & Hive Fit section for detailed measurements.
Which size wrap do I need for two deep boxes?
Choose the 20½-inch wrap for a winter configuration consisting of two deep boxes.
Which size wrap do I need for two deeps and one medium?
Choose the 23½-inch wrap for a winter configuration consisting of two deep boxes plus one medium.
Are the straps optional on the 23½-inch wrap?
No. The attached straps are part of its normal installation and help keep the taller wrap snug and properly positioned.
Can I open the wrap during winter?
Yes. The Velcro closure can be reopened for occasional winter feeding or a brief colony check. Secure it completely again afterward.
Does the insulation wrap replace other winter hive preparation?
No. The wrap provides side insulation and wind protection, but it does not replace adequate food stores, colony health, mite management, ventilation, or moisture management.
When should I remove the wrap in spring?
Remove the wrap after the risk of sustained severe cold has passed and normal spring inspections are resuming. Local weather conditions should guide timing rather than one fixed calendar date.
