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Method ledger

How SnoutPicks scores beehives

Each product on the beehives scorecard gets one 0–100 score from the weighted formula below, computed only from published manufacturer specs and dated retailer records; we do not physically test products. The current table covers 20 products across 8 recorded spec fields, refreshed July 1, 2026.

Scale
0-100
Products
20
Fields
8
Updated
July 1, 2026

The weights

Beehives scoring dimensions, weights, definitions, and data sources
DimensionWeightDefinitionData source
Hive Style18%This dimension maps listed hive style from Warre to Langstroth; top scale values score highest, and missing stays neutral.Hive Style
Hive Material15%Scoring material follows the Polystyrene-through-Cedar ladder where the top rungs win the highest marks, and a missing entry holds neutral.Material
Assembly State11%Scoring assembled or flat pack follows the Flat Pack-through-Assembled ladder where the top rungs win the highest marks, and a missing entry holds neutral.Assembled Or Flat Pack
Hive Body Count16%Published listings put body count between 2 to 4; higher numbers score better, and a missing value stays neutral.Body Count
Frame Count16%Across the catalog, listed frame count goes from 6 to 20; higher numbers score better, while a missing entry stays neutral.Frame Count
Foundation Included10%This dimension checks whether includes foundation is listed; yes earns full credit, while no or missing earns zero.Includes Foundation
Frames Included8%The includes frames score is binary: a listed yes earns full marks, while a no or a missing listing earns zero.Includes Frames
Ventilated Bottom Board6%The ventilated bottom board score is binary: a listed yes earns full marks, while a no or a missing listing earns zero.Ventilated Bottom Board
Total100%All dimensions above sum to the full score.Published score total
Beehives hive style score breakdown for 5 ranked products by weighted scoring dimension. The top five beehives are separated by 9 points; frame count is the tiebreaker. Score contribution by dimension Hive Style (18%)Frame Count (16%)Hive Body Count (16%)Hive Material (15%)Assembly State (11%)Foundation Included (10%)Frames Included (8%)Ventilated Bottom Board (6%) 0255075100 #1 Galena Farms Cedar 10 Frame Beehive Made in USA: 84/100 #1 Galena Farms Cedar 10 Frame… 1816815108 84/100 #2 Galena Farms Galena Poly 2D1M: 79/100 #2 Galena Farms Galena Poly 2D1M 1816810108 79/100 #3 Mann Lake Complete 10-Frame Bee Hive Kit: 75/100 #3 Mann Lake Complete 10-Frame… 1881211108 75/100 #4 Mann Lake Painted Complete 10-Frame Bee Hive Kit: 75/100 #4 Mann Lake Painted Complete… 1881211108 75/100 #5 MayBee Hives MayBee 8F-4L: 75/100 #5 MayBee Hives MayBee 8F-4L 181612108 75/100 Beehives: weight x grade, 0-100 scale. SnoutPicks
  1. #1 Galena Farms Cedar 10 Frame Beehive Made in USA84/100Hive Style 18 pts, Frame Count 16 pts, Hive Material 15 pts
  2. #2 Galena Farms Galena Poly 2D1M79/100Hive Style 18 pts, Frame Count 16 pts, Hive Material 10 pts
  3. #3 Mann Lake Complete 10-Frame Bee Hive Kit75/100Hive Style 18 pts, Hive Material 12 pts, Assembly State 11 pts
  4. #4 Mann Lake Painted Complete 10-Frame Bee Hive Kit75/100Hive Style 18 pts, Hive Material 12 pts, Assembly State 11 pts
  5. #5 MayBee Hives MayBee 8F-4L75/100Hive Style 18 pts, Hive Body Count 16 pts, Hive Material 12 pts
The top five beehives are separated by 9 points; frame count is the tiebreaker.

What the score bands mean

Score bands80+ strong60–79 solidBelow 60 limited fit

  • 80+: strong marks on the heaviest dimensions with few weak lines in the listed specs.
  • 60–79: competitive on most scored inputs, with at least one clearly weaker dimension.
  • Below 60: trails this field on the inputs weighted most; the product cards list exactly where.

Source hierarchy

Published manufacturer specifications rank first, dated retailer records second; marketing claims without a checkable figure are excluded from scoring. Missing values never earn invented numbers; they are labeled “not listed - neutral 50” and take the neutral 50 grade the weight definitions describe.

  1. Mann Lake Bee & Ag Supplymanufacturer evidence for 11 catalog fields
  2. Flow Hive USmanufacturer evidence for 11 catalog fields
  3. The Warre Storemanufacturer evidence for 10 catalog fields
  4. Galena Farmsmanufacturer evidence for 9 catalog fields
  5. MayBee Hivesmanufacturer evidence for 9 catalog fields
  6. Dadant & Sonsmanufacturer evidence for 11 catalog fields
  7. Betterbeemanufacturer evidence for 11 catalog fields
  8. Blythewood Bee Companymanufacturer evidence for 11 catalog fields
  9. Scored product catalog20 compared products
Beehives freshness timeline showing source retrieval dates and the separate regeneration date. SnoutPicks source ledger tracks beehives with 9 retrieval records, retrieved 2026-06-30 to 2026-07-02. For beehives, sources were retrieved 2026-06-30 to 2026-07-02; the page was regenerated 2026-07-10, a build date kept separate from the source retrieval dates. Source freshness ledger Dots are source retrieval dates; the amber marker is the separate regeneration date. Mann Lake Bee & Ag Supply: retrieved 2026-07-02 Flow Hive US: retrieved 2026-06-30 The Warre Store: retrieved 2026-06-30 Galena Farms: retrieved 2026-06-30 MayBee Hives: retrieved 2026-06-30 Dadant & Sons: retrieved 2026-07-02 Betterbee: retrieved 2026-07-02 Blythewood Bee Company: retrieved 2026-07-02 Scored product catalog: retrieved 2026-07-01 Regenerated 2026-07-10 2026-06-302026-07-10 Beehives keeps retrieved and regenerated dates distinct.

Retrieved · Built

  1. Betterbee2026-07-02Source record
  2. Blythewood Bee Company2026-07-02Source record
  3. Dadant & Sons2026-07-02Source record
  4. Mann Lake Bee & Ag Supply2026-07-02Source record
  5. Scored product catalog2026-07-01Source record
SnoutPicks source ledger tracks beehives with 9 retrieval records, retrieved 2026-06-30 to 2026-07-02.

Update history

  • Rankings rebuilt from the refreshed catalog: 20 beehives re-scored on 8 published spec fields, hive style first.

Back to the beehives scorecard