5 Best Honey Extractors For Beginners

Honey extractors are the heartbeat of any honey-harvesting operation, spinning your hard-earned nectar into golden jars with precision and ease. Picking the perfect extractor for your setup, though, can feel like trying to choose the right flower in a field full of blooms—overwhelming and a bit sticky.

After countless hours buzzing around, researching, and testing, we’ve combed through the options to bring you the best honey extractors for beginners. Each model was put through its paces, and we’ve broken down the pros and cons so you can find the one that fits your hive’s needs like a snug honeycomb cell.

Here’s a sweet snapshot of our top picks to get you started.

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Top 5 Honey Extractors For Beginner Beekeepers

Here’s the ultimate hive of knowledge for honey extractors you can find online. We’ll dive into their features, specs, what makes them hum, and where they might leave you feeling a little sticky.

1. Little Giant 2-Frame Hand-Crank Honey Extractor

Best for: Just right for small bee yards.

If you’re a beekeeper running a small operation, the Little Giant Honey 2-Frame Extractor is like that trusty hive tool you always keep on hand—simple, reliable, and built to last. Made from tough-as-nails stainless steel, this little workhorse will churn through seasons of sticky, golden harvests without skipping a beat.

It’s a manual extractor, so you’ll be cranking the handle to spin the frames. Think of it as a workout, but for honey—not bad for ten minutes of effort per batch. Of course, your extraction time might dance to the rhythm of local blooms and the temperature in your honey house. Warm days and flowery fields make everything flow smoother, after all.

Now, here’s the kicker: the Little Giant is a tangential extractor. That means it works on one side of the frame at a time. You’ll need to flip those frames halfway through—kind of like turning pancakes on a griddle. For a small bee yard, it’s hardly a deal-breaker, but something to keep in mind if you’re eyeing efficiency.

This extractor comes from the folks at Miller Manufacturing, a company with roots running deep since 1941. They’ve been crafting quality farm and beekeeping gear in Glencoe, MN, with the kind of pride that reminds you of a well-capped brood frame—dependable and thoughtfully built.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Crafted in the USA, as dependable as the daily buzz of the hive.
• Effortless to use, like slicing through honeycomb on a sunny afternoon.
• Designed to fit both deeps and mediums seamlessly, no fuss, no worries.
• Lightweight and portable, easy to carry wherever the work takes you.
• Tucks away neatly, saving space like a well-organized brood frame.
• Built from premium 18/10 stainless steel, tough as a queen’s guard.

Cons

• A sticky situation for cleaning – Takes a bit more effort to get it spotless, like scrubbing out a honey-coated hive.
• Legs fall short for bigger buckets – Just a tad too short, like trying to fit a full honeycomb into a shallow frame.
• Some assembly required – You’ll need to piece it together first, but nothing a little patience and know-how can’t handle.

2. VEVOR 2/4 Frame Honey Extractor

Best for: Beekeepers needing a low-cost manual extractor for a small bee yard.

The Vevor 2/4 Frame Honey Extractor is like a trusty little hive assistant, perfect for beekeepers managing just a few colonies. Designed to handle two deep frames or four shallow ones, it’s got just enough capacity to get the job done without feeling overwhelming.

With its compact design, this extractor is a real space-saver, fitting snugly into small rooms. Whether you’re spinning in the kitchen or soaking up some rays outside, it’s portable enough to follow wherever you fancy working. When the day’s buzzing work is done, you can tuck it away in a cupboard or shed without much fuss.

Using the Vevor felt as smooth as honey flowing through a warm comb. The hand crank turns easily, thanks to an ergonomic handle that takes the sting out of manual labor. By the end of the spin, frames came out dry, with the combs still intact and ready to head back to the hive—talk about sustainable beekeeping!

Now, let’s talk build quality. Compared to the Little Giant, the Vevor comes in at a sweeter price point, but you’ll notice the trade-offs. The stainless steel barrel feels thinner, and those legs could use a sturdier backbone—they wobbled like a bee on a windy day. Securing the legs to a base would keep it steadier, making the whole process much smoother. For the price, though, it’s a handy little workhorse that’ll keep your honey harvest humming along.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Budget-friendly and reliable – a solid choice that doesn’t sting your wallet.
• Crafted from polished, rust-resistant stainless steel – tough as a hive’s outer walls, built to endure.
• Adjustable height for convenience – as adaptable as a busy bee finding the perfect flower.

Cons

• Doesn’t stay steady unless securely screwed down—like a hive that needs anchoring in a strong breeze.
• Cleaning can be a bit of a sticky chore—not hard, just requires some extra effort.
• Comes with a bit of DIY assembly right out of the box, but once it’s together, it’s ready to work.

3. VEVOR Electric 4/8 Frame Honey Extractor

Best for: Beekeepers managing up to 15 hives and ready for some powered efficiency.

When your apiary starts buzzing with more hives, it’s time to upgrade your gear—kind of like moving from a trusty wheelbarrow to a pickup truck. The Vevor Electric 4/8 Frame Honey Extractor is that truck. With space for four deep frames or eight smaller ones, this extractor’s 140-watt motor hums along at 1300 RPM, whipping honey out of the combs faster than you can say “golden nectar.”

It’s not exactly lightweight, though. This isn’t the kind of thing you’ll casually haul around your workshop. But for all its heft, it’s got a wild side. As the frames spin, the extractor has a habit of shimmying across the floor like it’s got a mind of its own. Bolting down the legs is a no-brainer—it’ll save you from chasing it mid-spin.

A standout feature is its auto-shutoff function, a real lifesaver for clumsy hands. If the lid’s opened while it’s running, the motor cuts off quicker than a bee abandoning a withering flower. That kind of built-in safety is always welcome when sharp frames and high speeds are in play.

From its shiny stainless steel finish to its dependable performance, this extractor is more than just a tool—it’s an investment. Sure, it’s probably overkill if you’ve got just a few hives. But if you’re dreaming big, growing your colony, and looking to the future, this is one piece of equipment you won’t outgrow anytime soon. Think of it as your honey-harvesting sidekick, built to keep up with your growing swarm.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Expanded capacity – Built to hold more, like a hive prepped for a bustling swarm.
• Sleek, corrosion-resistant stainless steel – Durable and polished, glinting like fresh honey under the sun.
• Automatic shut-off feature – Acts like a watchful beekeeper, ensuring smooth operation without constant tending.

Cons

• Wobbly as a hive in a windstorm unless anchored down tight.
• Can’t survive off the grid—needs power like bees need nectar.

4. VIVO 3 Frame Electric Honey Extractor

Best for: Hobbyist beekeepers who’d rather skip the workout or simply don’t have the knack (or patience) for cranking a manual extractor.

Spinning honey by hand? It’s charming the first time, like the buzz of your first hive, but the novelty wears thin fast—especially when your arms are begging for mercy. For those who’d rather let the machine do the heavy lifting, automation is the sweet way to go.

Enter the Vivo 3-Frame Electric Honey Extractor—a wallet-friendly alternative to the gold-standard Maxant. While the latter might break the bank, this electric workhorse keeps your frames spinning without breaking a sweat—or the $1000 mark. It’s roomy enough for three frames of any size—shallow, medium, or deep—and during our tests, it emptied full deeps in about seven minutes flat. That’s fast enough to keep your honey harvest humming along.

With the legs attached, the drum sits a handy 15.25 inches off the ground, leaving plenty of clearance for a 5-gallon bucket. Some smaller models? Forget about it. You’d be juggling buckets or improvising stands. The honey gate sits just 0.5 inches above the barrel bottom, meaning less awkward tipping to get those last golden drops. No wasted honey here!

Safety-wise, the Vivo has your back. Its auto-shutoff feature halts the motor if the lid gets opened mid-spin. Like a guard bee protecting the hive, it’s there to keep you safe from flying frames or sticky mishaps.

If you’re ready to skip the hand-crank and upgrade your honey harvest, this extractor offers a smooth spin at a price that won’t sting.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• A real bang for your buck
• Great motor
• Built tough with heavy-duty stainless steel

Cons

• Like a hive on a windy day, it’s not the most stable.
• Moves more like a sluggish bee than a smooth operator.
• Buzzes off the shelves faster than a swarm in peak season.

5. Goodland Bee Supply 2 Frame Honey Extractor

Best for: Beekeepers just starting their journey and in need of essential tools.

The Goodland Bee Supply 2-Frame Honey Extractor is like your first hive tool—simple, reliable, and ready to help you get buzzing. It’s a sweet choice for new beekeepers setting up their first bee yard. Alongside the extractor, you’ll unwrap a treasure trove of tools: a smoker to calm the hive, pellets to fuel it, a frame spacer, frame grips, an uncapping knife and roller, a hive tool, and a bee brush—everything you need to kick off your honey-harvesting adventures.

For the beekeeper managing a modest setup—five hives or fewer—this manual tangential extractor is right as rain. Think of it as your training wheels in the beekeeping world; it’ll get the job done until your apiary blossoms into something bigger, at which point you can upgrade your gear.

Crafted from durable 17-gauge, food-grade stainless steel, it’s built to handle two supers, mediums, or deep frames at a time. However, like a hive left unchecked, it has its quirks. The legs, while functional, lack the sturdiness seasoned beekeepers might crave. A quick fix? Attach them to a sturdy piece of plywood, and you’ve got yourself a steadier setup, ready to spin out golden rewards.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Equipped with all the essentials for beginner beekeepers
• Affordable without sacrificing quality
• Quick and easy to set up and start using

Cons

• Unstable without proper anchoring
• Included tools feel mismatched for the job

6. (BONUS) Maxant Nine Frame Extractor POWER-9F

Best for: Advanced beekeepers ready to invest in top-notch equipment.

We went back and forth about whether to include the Maxant 9 Frame Extractor in our lineup of the best honey extractors. It’s like the Rolls-Royce of extractors—built to last and perform beautifully—but it comes with a hefty price tag, over $1,000. For a brand-new beekeeper, that might feel like bringing a bulldozer to plant a flower bed. But if you’re in this for the long haul, this extractor might just be the perfect hive-side companion.

The Maxant Power-9F is the crown jewel of the brand’s collection, buzzing with popularity for good reason. Its powerful electric motor spins honey out of frames faster than a nectar flow in full bloom.

Crafted from tough 20-gauge stainless steel, this tangential extractor can hold three deep frames or six medium or shallow ones at a time. It’s a workhorse—durable and efficient—just what you’d expect from a tool designed for seasoned beekeepers.

Here’s the kicker: unlike many other extractors, the Maxant doesn’t have a traditional honey gate. Instead, it uses a male fitting that sits flush against its conical bottom pan, ensuring every last golden drop flows out effortlessly. No awkward tilting, no sticky leftovers—just pure, clean honey ready for bottling.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Top-notch quality material and construction
• Quick as a bee’s buzz, this extractor gets the job done.
• Proudly crafted right here in the USA.
• Backed by a name as solid as a hive full of honey.
• A cinch to set up, and smoother to run than a hive on a sunny day.
• The motor? Oh, it’s like having the queen of all extractors—spinning honey from frames faster than a worker bee in peak season.

Cons

• High Upfront Cost
• Won’t work off the grid.
• Peak season? They sell quick.

You can find out more about them or locate a dealer here.

Other Brands Worth Mentioning

When it comes to honey extractors, there’s a handful of other names buzzing in the industry that are worth a look. These brands have been busy crafting tools that’ll keep your operation humming along smoothly:

• Bee Castle – A sturdy stronghold for your buzzing workforce, built like a fortress to protect your queen and her court.
• BestEquip – Like a reliable smoker in a sticky situation, this one’s got you covered with the essentials.
• Lyson – Precision and craftsmanship flow from this brand like golden honey from the comb.
• Oz Armour – Your shield against the sting. Suit up with confidence and keep your cool in the apiary.
• Honey Keeper – A keeper’s dream, combining functionality with the sweet satisfaction of easy hive management.
• Mann Lake – The golden standard of beekeeping, trusted by pros and backyard enthusiasts alike.
• Goodland Bee Supply – A treasure trove for all things beekeeping, as reliable as a well-fed colony.
• Harvest Lane – The perfect path for beginners and seasoned beekeepers to gather their golden rewards.

Buyer’s guide

Choosing the right honey extractor is like picking the perfect hive—get it wrong, and you’ll be swatting at frustrations during harvest. The right extractor makes honey flow smoother than spring nectar, but what makes one worth the buzz? Let’s break down the must-have features, so you can pick a keeper.

1. Manual vs. Electric: Spin or Plug?

First-time beekeeper? This choice will shape your harvests. Do you want to flex some muscle or let electricity do the heavy lifting?

Manual extractors are the workhorses of small-scale beekeeping. They’re affordable, portable, and reliable, but they’ll have you spinning longer than a honeybee in a dance-off. Electric models, on the other hand, take the grunt work out of the process. If your hives are multiplying like swarms in spring, the time-saving efficiency of an electric extractor might just be worth the extra buzz in your wallet.

2. Material: Plastic or Stainless Steel?

The material is your foundation—like the comb for your honey. Most extractors come in food-grade stainless steel or plastic. Stainless steel is durable, easy to clean, and built to last, but it comes with a higher price tag. Think of it as the Cadillac of extractors.

Plastic models, while lightweight and budget-friendly, don’t always age as gracefully. If you’re leaning plastic, double-check the quality—cheap construction might crack under pressure faster than a novice beekeeper with their first sting.

3. Capacity: Bigger Isn’t Always Better

Deciding on capacity is a balancing act, much like managing your hive. A hobbyist with a couple of hives can skate by with a smaller extractor, but if you’re dreaming of a yard filled with buzzing colonies, you’ll want an extractor that grows with you.

Consider how many frames you’ll need to extract at a time. Got extra hours to spare? A smaller model might do. If your schedule’s tighter than a queen’s egg-laying rhythm, a larger capacity can save you from spending all weekend cranking.

4. Frame Size: Match the Fit

Frames come in all shapes and depths—shallow, medium, or deep. Some extractors can handle the whole lineup, while others are picky eaters, taking only one or two sizes. Don’t assume; double-check that your frames will fit before you buy. Nothing stings more than realizing your shiny new extractor won’t work with your setup.

5. Frame Position: Radial vs. Tangential

How frames are positioned in the extractor can make or break your honey flow. Radial extractors, with their spoke-like setup, let you extract both sides of the comb at once. They’re quick and efficient but usually pricier.

Tangential models? They’re a bit like the DIY of honey extraction—you’ll have to flip the frames halfway through. They’re great for beginners but can feel like a chore for larger harvests. If time’s honey, go radial.

6. Sturdiness: Built to Last

A wobbly extractor is like an unsteady hive stand—trouble waiting to happen. Poorly built models tend to shimmy and shake their way across the floor, especially the electric ones.

Look for solid construction, stable legs, and designs built to withstand the centrifugal force. Check reviews; if it tips or wobbles, frustrated beekeepers will let you know faster than bees to spilled syrup.

7. Price: Sweet Spot for Your Budget

Sure, a top-tier extractor might cost as much as a well-stocked hive, but beginners don’t need to drop a fortune. Plenty of mid-range options will get the job done without leaving you feeling stung.

Think of it like investing in your hive tools—choose quality that matches your needs, not just the fanciest model you can find. You can always upgrade when your apiary grows.

Final Thoughts: Harvest Like a Pro

The right honey extractor will turn harvest season into the sweet reward it’s meant to be. By weighing your needs—type, material, capacity, and budget—you’ll find the perfect fit. After all, when it comes to beekeeping

How The Best Honey Extractors Were Tested

Hunting down the best extractors isn’t exactly a stroll through the meadow. These machines can sting your wallet, and let’s face it, there are way too many for one small hive like ours to try them all. But we rolled up our sleeves and got to work, just like busy bees.

The Buzz Behind Our Process

Gathering Nectar (Research):
We reached out to our network—seasoned beekeepers buzzing around forums and social media—creating a shortlist of contenders. Our growing Facebook community chimed in, sharing what they’ve been spinning their honey with and why.

Then came YouTube, where experienced beekeepers generously spill their secrets. Their hands-on advice, mixed with our team’s years of hive-side know-how, gave us a sweet starting point.

Putting the Hive to the Test (Field Testing):
Next, we dove into the honey flow, testing each extractor ourselves. We judged them on their ability to spin honey quickly and cleanly, their build quality, and, of course, whether they’re worth their weight in wax when it comes to price.

The Final Swarm:
Now, we know there are other fantastic extractors out there that didn’t make this list. Why? We focused only on models that are easy to find online, ensuring every beekeeper—whether a seasoned pro or just starting out—can get their hands on these tools without chasing them down like a runaway swarm.

In the end, the ones that made our list are the real honey-makers—worth their buzz in every way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Honey Extractor Worth the Investment?

Picture this: you’ve spent months tending to your bees, watching them fill those golden cells with liquid sunlight. When harvest time rolls around, you’ve got two choices: painstakingly crush the comb or use a honey extractor. While crush-and-strain works in a pinch, it’s like using a butter knife to carve a turkey—it gets the job done but wastes a lot in the process. An extractor, on the other hand, spins honey out with the efficiency of a well-oiled hive, leaving the comb intact so your bees can get back to work faster. Time saved for you, energy saved for them—sounds like a win-win.

What’s a Honey Extractor, Anyway?

A honey extractor is the beekeeping equivalent of a centrifuge. It uses spinning force to coax honey out of the comb without damaging the wax structure. Think of it as the middleman between your hive and those jars of golden goodness on your shelf. Whether you’re a backyard beekeeper or managing a small operation, it’s a tool that pays for itself in saved time and effort.

How Many Frames Can an Extractor Handle?

The capacity depends on the type of extractor. Manual ones can hold anywhere from a couple of frames to around ten before the cranking starts feeling like arm day at the gym. Electric extractors, though, are like the queen of efficiency, accommodating dozens—or even hundreds—of frames at a time. They’re a dream for larger operations, often coming with bells and whistles like uncapping stations and filters to streamline the whole process.

Can You Extract Honey Without an Extractor?

Sure, you can. The crush-and-strain method is the go-to for beginners or those with just a hive or two. But let’s not sugarcoat it—it’s messy, slow, and leaves your bees starting from scratch as they rebuild their comb. It’s like knocking down a perfectly good house just to get at the pantry.

Can You Rent a Honey Extractor?

Absolutely. Many beekeeping supply shops and clubs offer extractor rentals during the harvest season. Renting is a great option if you’re just starting out or only harvesting a small amount. It’s like borrowing a friend’s truck to move furniture—you save money, and it’s there when you need it without the commitment of ownership.

Does a Honey Extractor Work with Any Hive?

Not quite. Most extractors are designed with Langstroth frames in mind, the gold standard for commercial and hobbyist beekeepers alike. If you’re using Warre or Top Bar hives, you’ll likely need to stick with alternative methods, as their unique comb designs don’t play well with extractors.

In the end, investing in a honey extractor is about working smarter, not harder—because when it comes to harvesting honey, efficiency is the nectar of success.

Conclusion

This guide dives into the sweet world of honey extraction equipment, breaking down the tools you’ll need to harvest that golden goodness. From the gentle hum of manual cranks to the buzz of electric models, we’ll walk you through radial and tangential extractors so you can find the right fit for your hive.

If you’re just starting out with a couple of hives, the Little Giant Honey 2-Frame Extractor is like a reliable old friend—simple, sturdy, and gets the job done without breaking the bank.

But as your bee yard starts buzzing with more colonies, it might be time to level up. The Vevor Electric 4/8 Frame Honey Extractor offers a smooth, efficient ride for your growing operation, while the Maxant Nine Frame Extractor POWER-9F is the Cadillac of honey harvesters—if your wallet can handle the upgrade.

Remember, the right extractor isn’t just a tool—it’s your partner in turning hard work into liquid gold. Choose wisely, and happy extracting.