NotchLoading plan…
Loading plan…
Most "bee hotel" plans go big — one large box with hundreds of holes for every solitary bee species at once. This one goes the other way on purpose: small, single-species-focused, and built around a nesting block you're expected to swap out, not one you build in and forget.
The nesting block is not glued in. Solitary bee larvae overwinter inside the holes, and old, unreplaced nesting material builds up mites and mold over a few seasons — a fixed block turns a helpful habitat into a health hazard for the bees using it. Keeping it removable is the entire point of building your own instead of buying a sealed one.
Paint the exterior only, in blue or purple (bees see these well; avoid red and dark tones), and leave the nesting wood itself bare.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Scrap wood or 2x4, untreatedAvoid pressure-treated stock.≈ about 16 ft of 3/4" × 6" board | 6 board ft |
| Exterior wood glue (Titebond II/III) | 2 oz |
| Exterior spray paint (blue or purple)Avoid red and dark tones. Exterior only — leave the nesting wood bare. | 1 can |
A board foot is a volume, not a length: 144 cubic inches, or a piece 1″ thick by 12″ wide by 12″ long. The “≈” note beside each row shows roughly how much 3/4″ × 6″ board that works out to.
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Roof panelsScrap wood22.5° bevel on the top edge so the two panels meet at a peak. | 2 | 3/4" × 6" × 8" |
| Side panelsScrap woodTop edge beveled to match the roof angle. | 2 | 3/4" × 5" × 8" |
| Bottom panelScrap wood | 1 | 3/4" × 5" × 6" |
| Back panelScrap wood or plywood | 1 | 3/4" × 6" × 9" |
| Nesting blockLaminated 2x4Drilled with 5/16" (or slightly larger) holes, 6-8" deep. Removable, not glued in — swap every 1-2 years. | 1 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 7" |
Buy 3 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Cut the two roof panels with a 22.5° bevel on the top edge so they'll meet at a peak, and the two side panels with the top edge beveled to match.
Cut a bottom panel and a back panel from scrap stock or plywood.
Glue the sides, bottom, and back together into a box, then attach the two beveled roof panels on top so they meet at the peak.
Laminate scrap 2x4 stock into a block sized to the depth of the housing, then drill 5/16" (or slightly larger) holes 6-8" deep to serve as the nesting insert.
Vary the hole diameter and depth across the block rather than standardizing — different bee species and sexes use different sizes, so a mix attracts more occupants than one uniform size.
Paint the exterior only, in blue or purple — avoid red and dark tones. Leave the nesting block completely unfinished.
Mount with the roof overhang facing morning sun exposure, keeping the nesting holes sheltered from rain. Replace the nesting block every 1-2 years — this is regular maintenance, not a repair.
No reviews yet
Sign in to review this plan or share your build.
No reviews yet. Be the first to build this.