Hive Wrap Materials Compared: Felt, Foam Board and Fitted Covers
A buyer's comparison of the three common ways to wrap a hive, once you have already decided that wrapping makes sense where you live.
Fitted hive covers are the easiest wrap to apply and usually the most expensive, roofing felt (tar paper) is the cheapest and takes the most fiddling, and foam board insulates well but needs careful handling at the top and the entrance. Whichever you choose, it must fit snugly, leave the entrance and an exit for moist air open, and never seal the hive.
This post does not argue whether to wrap. Our wrapping guide covers that, and ventilation versus insulation covers the moisture trade-off. Here the question is only which product to buy.
Rules that apply to every wrap
Three points recur across the sources below. First, a hive should never be sealed airtight. Utah State University Extension says plainly not to seal the hive airtight, because warm, damp air needs a way out (Utah State University Extension, How do you winterize a beehive). Second, the wrap has to sit snugly. The Countryside guide notes that gaps let bees get trapped and chilled, and that boxes should be stacked square (Countryside, Beehive Wraps for the Winter). Third, keep the entrance clear, and cut a matching opening in the wrap where there is an upper entrance. The eXtension article describes cutting a matching hole in the wrap for an upper entrance, and folding a flap so air can pass over a moisture board (eXtension and University of Minnesota, Wrapping a Colony for a Northern Winter).
Wraps also change a hive's moisture picture. If you are adding a moisture board or quilt box, plan the wrap around it.
Roofing felt
Black roofing felt, also sold as tar paper, is a thin sheet you cut to wrap the boxes. The Countryside guide describes stapling it on and cutting away around the vent holes, and says its dark colour may warm the hive slightly (Countryside, Beehive Wraps for the Winter).
- Good for: low cost, wind protection and shedding rain.
- Watch: it adds little insulation on its own, and you cut and fit it yourself, so openings must be cut cleanly.
- Buy: a roll sized for your hive stack, plus fasteners.
Roofing felt or tar paper
Measure your stack first. Buy a roll and fasteners, and plan openings for the entrance and any upper vent.
Search AmazonFoam board
Rigid foam is a flat insulating panel you cut to fit. The Countryside guide notes that styrofoam board holds heat in (Countryside, Beehive Wraps for the Winter). Perfect Bee also mentions thick foam board and specialized hive wraps (Perfect Bee, managing hive moisture in winter).
- Good for: insulation value, especially on the lid, since the Countryside guide notes that heat escapes through the top.
- Watch: panels do not trap water by themselves, but sealed edges can trap condensation against wood. Keep vents and entrances open, and secure it so wind does not tear it loose.
- Buy: panels sized to your boxes, plus a way to cut and tape them. Check the product is meant for exposed use, and verify the thickness against what your local keepers use.
A caution from the Countryside guide: if you use fiberglass insulation anywhere in a wrap, screen it so bees cannot pull it out. Rigid panels avoid that problem.
Rigid foam board insulation
Cut panels to fit the sides and the top. Buy a size you can cut cleanly, and tape or strap the panels so wind cannot lift them.
Search AmazonFitted covers
Purpose-made hive covers are cut to hive dimensions. The Countryside guide describes several types: a fiberglass-filled, plastic-covered sleeve that is waterproof but breathable, a vinyl-coated polyester wrap with foam insulation and hook-and-loop closures it calls the easiest to use, and a cut-to-size reflective bubble wrap as a do-it-yourself option (Countryside, Beehive Wraps for the Winter).
- Good for: quick fitting each year, if the size matches.
- Watch: sizes. A wrap made for a 10-frame hive will not fit an 8-frame stack or a different box height. Check the maker's dimensions against your boxes and how many boxes it covers.
- Buy: read what the maker says about vents and moisture, and keep the care instructions for spring removal and storage.
Fitted hive wrap
Match the wrap to your hive size and box count, and look at how it handles the entrance and top vent before you buy.
Search AmazonSearch eBaySide by side
| Roofing felt | Foam board | Fitted cover | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effort | Cut and staple yourself | Cut panels, secure them | Wrap and close |
| Insulation | Low, mostly wind and rain | Higher | Varies by product |
| Moisture handling | Needs cut vents | Needs cut vents and no sealed edges | Check the maker's design |
| Fit risk | Gaps if cut badly | Gaps at corners | Wrong size for your boxes |
| Reuse | Cut to one stack; check condition each year | Reusable if undamaged | Check the maker's care notes |
None of these replaces local advice. Utah State University Extension says a wrap makes sense at high elevation or where a hive is exposed to strong winter wind, and that many sheltered hives do not need one. Your local association can tell you what keepers near you do.
Pick the wrap by fit and moisture handling, not by price alone. Felt is cheap and wind-focused, foam board insulates but needs careful venting, and fitted covers are easiest if they match your boxes. In every case: snug fit, open entrance, and a way for moist air to leave.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is roofing felt the same as tar paper?
The two names are commonly used for the same kind of black sheet material. The Countryside guide describes tar paper stapled on with cutouts for vent holes.
Can I use any foam board?
Check the product is made for exposed use and that you can cut and tape it. Keep vents and entrances open, and ask local keepers what thickness they use.
Will a fitted cover fit any hive?
No. Covers are made for specific dimensions, so check the maker's sizing against your box type and how many boxes you stack.
Should I seal the wrap completely?
No. Utah State University Extension says not to seal the hive airtight. Moist air needs a way out, and the entrance has to stay clear.
When should I take the wrap off?
That depends on local weather. Our wrap removal guide covers the timing, and your local association can say what is normal near you.
- Countryside, Beehive Wraps for the Winter: types of wrap, fit, vent cutouts, fiberglass screening, heat loss through the top.
- eXtension and University of Minnesota, Wrapping a Colony for a Northern Winter: cutting a matching opening for an upper entrance; flap so air passes over a moisture board.
- Utah State University Extension, How do you winterize a beehive: do not seal airtight; wrap when exposed to strong wind or at high elevation.
- Perfect Bee, managing hive moisture in winter: thick thick foam board and specialized hive wraps mentioned.
The Countryside and Perfect Bee pages are a magazine blog and a supplier, not independent studies. Check your climate and wrap timing with your local beekeeping association or state extension office, and read the maker's instructions for any fitted product.