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Top-Bar Hive

A 4 ft top-bar hive with sloping sides, plywood ends, 32 top bars and a plywood roof, on four 2x4 legs.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
48 inLength
32Top bars
9.5 inDepth
8 to 12 hrBuild time
~$198.27Materials, part estimate

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
Front elevation
Front elevation 22 in 35 3/4 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 54 in 35 3/4 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 22 in 54 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
11x1248Side left11.2 in wide ripped; set slanting
11x1248Side right11.2 in wide ripped; set slanting
321x217Top bar19 in, plane to 1 3/8 in wide, a comb guide on the underside
12x222Roof rim frontflat, under the front edge
12x222Roof rim backflat, under the back edge
42x4 PT24Legon edge
12x4 PT4Leg tie fronton edge, between the legs
12x4 PT4Leg tie backon edge, between the legs

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
End front3/4 ply16 x 9 1/21 in entrance hole near the top
End back3/4 ply16 x 9 1/2
Roof1/2 ply22 x 54cut to 22 x 54

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

1x12 x 8 ft
Side left 48
1x12 x 8 ft
Side right 48
1x2 x 8 ft
Top bar 1 17Top bar 2 17Top bar 3 17Top bar 4 17Top bar 5 17
1x2 x 8 ft
Top bar 6 17Top bar 7 17Top bar 8 17Top bar 9 17Top bar 10 17
1x2 x 8 ft
Top bar 11 17Top bar 12 17Top bar 13 17Top bar 14 17Top bar 15 17
1x2 x 8 ft
Top bar 16 17Top bar 17 17Top bar 18 17Top bar 19 17Top bar 20 17
1x2 x 8 ft
Top bar 21 17Top bar 22 17Top bar 23 17Top bar 24 17Top bar 25 17
1x2 x 8 ft
Top bar 26 17Top bar 27 17Top bar 28 17Top bar 29 17Top bar 30 17
1x2 x 8 ft
Top bar 31 17Top bar 32 17
2x2 x 8 ft
Roof rim front 22Roof rim back 22
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Leg 1 24Leg 2 24Leg 3 24Leg 4 24Leg tie front 4Leg tie back 4

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Roof22 x 54
Sheet 2: 3/4 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
End front16 x 9 1/2End back16 x 9 1/2

Shopping list $177.27 checked / $21.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
1x12x8 pine boardHome Depot2$28.42$56.84see lumber cutting diagram
1x2x8 pine furringHome Depot7$3.00$21.00see lumber cutting diagram
2x2x8 furring stripHome Depot1$2.97$2.97see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x12 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$7.18$7.18see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's1$32.26$32.26see sheet cutting diagrams
23/32 in (3/4 in) CDX plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's1$46.57$46.57see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior latex paint, quartHome Depot1$19.98$19.98
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 1 lb boxHome Depot1$11.47$11.47
Total before tax~$198.27
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Cut two 1x12 sides to 48 in and rip them to 11.2 in. Cut the two ply ends as trapezoids 4 in at the bottom, 16 in at the top and 9.5 in high.
  2. Screw the sides to the ends at an angle, so the hive is 4 in wide at the bottom and 16 in across the top. Cut a 1 in entrance hole in the front, just under the top.
  3. Cut 32 top bars from 1x2 to 19 in and plane them to 1 3/8 in wide. Glue a strip of comb guide along the underside of each.
  4. Lay the bars across the top, touching. Screw four 2x4 legs, each on edge, to the outside of the sides, and tie them with two 2x4 rails.
  5. Make a roof of 1/2 ply with a rim all round and screw it to the bars, or lay it loose. Paint outsides only.
  6. Add a movable follower board inside, to limit the colony to the space it needs.

Before you start