A medium super frame is a standardized piece of beekeeping equipment, typically measuring 6-5/8 inches deep, designed exclusively for honey storage rather than brood rearing. Beekeepers place these boxes, known as supers, above the main brood nest to collect surplus honey. Understanding the weight of a full frame is important for inventory management and planning the extraction process, providing a practical estimate of the harvestable yield.
Standard Weight of a Full Medium Frame
A fully drawn and capped medium frame of honey typically weighs between 3.5 and 5 pounds. An average of 4 pounds per frame is a reliable baseline for harvest planning. This weight represents a frame completely filled with honey and sealed with a layer of wax, a process called capping, which signals the honey is moisture-stable.
The weight cited is the pre-extraction weight, which includes the honey, the wax comb, and the wooden frame itself. After extraction, the remaining comb is often called “wet” because of residual honey and weighs significantly less. This allows the frame to be returned to the hive for reuse. For instance, a frame weighing over 6 pounds when full may weigh less than 1 pound after the honey is removed.
Variables That Affect Honey Weight
Several factors influence a single frame’s weight, starting with the thickness of the comb. Bees do not always draw the wax cells flush with the wooden frame edges. Frames weighing around 5 pounds often feature “fat” comb, where the bees have extended the cells past the wooden sidebars, significantly increasing the honey volume.
The moisture content of the honey also directly influences its final weight and density. Nectar starts with 70 to 80% water content, which bees must reduce to below 18% through fanning and evaporation before capping. If a frame is harvested prematurely before full capping, the higher moisture level means the contents are less dense and lighter per volume.
The type of foundation used, whether natural wax or plastic, is a minor factor contributing to the final measurement. An empty medium frame with a foundation typically weighs around 10 ounces. Older comb that has been reused many times is also heavier than new comb, as it accumulates layers of cocoons and propolis residue over seasons.
Estimating Total Super Box Yield
Projecting the total harvest requires translating the single-frame estimate into a total box yield. The total yield depends on the two standard configurations of medium supers: the 10-frame box and the 8-frame box. The 10-frame medium super is the industry standard and holds a greater volume of honey per box.
A full 10-frame medium super, using the 3.5 to 5-pound estimate per frame, will yield between 35 and 50 pounds of pure honey. Conversely, the 8-frame super will yield between 28 and 40 pounds of honey. The total weight of a full 10-frame super, including the woodenware, can exceed 60 pounds, while the 8-frame version is noticeably lighter.
This total weight figure can then be converted into practical measurements for bottling and sales. Since one gallon of honey weighs approximately 12 pounds, a fully harvested 10-frame super yields between 3 and 4 gallons of honey. The 8-frame super typically yields between 2.3 and 3.3 gallons, allowing for accurate purchasing of jars and planning for the extraction day.