Shallow supers for honey

Switch to shallow supers for honey storage instead of deep or medium boxes. A full shallow super weighs roughly 25-30 lb (11-14 kg), compared to 60-80 lb (27-36 kg) for a full deep box, cutting the lifting weight by more than half.

Why It Works

Shallow supers hold fewer frames and less honey per box, which directly reduces the weight a beekeeper must lift during inspections and harvests. This makes hive management accessible for beekeepers of varying physical abilities and reduces cumulative strain over a long season.

Tips

• You will need more supers to store the same total honey volume, so plan storage space accordingly
• Shallow supers use standard shallow frames, which are widely available from beekeeping suppliers
• Pair shallow supers with a frame grip tool for even easier handling
• Label supers clearly to avoid mixing frame sizes across boxes