Bee Colony Honey Production Calculator
Planning honey production and revenue requires knowing how many hives you have, what yield to expect per hive, what portion to harvest versus leave for winter stores, and your local selling price. This calculator outputs total expected harvest, revenue, and cost of production per pound to help you plan your beekeeping operation. The US average yield figure is from USDA NASS annual Honey data.
Honey production and revenue formula
Total honey (lb) = Hives x Yield per hive
Harvestable honey (lb) = Total honey x (Harvest% / 100)
Gross revenue ($) = Harvestable honey x Price per lb
Total cost ($) = Hives x Annual cost per hive
Net income ($) = Gross revenue - Total cost
Cost per lb = Total cost / Harvestable honey
USDA NASS reports honey yield, colony counts, and average prices by state annually. Published in the USDA NASS Honey report, these figures serve as national benchmarks for production planning.
USDA NASS honey production benchmarks
- US average honey yield: approximately 55 to 65 lb per colony per year (USDA NASS).
- Top-producing states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, California, and Florida.
- US average honey price at producer level: approximately $2.50 to $3.00 per lb (USDA NASS).
- Total US honey production: approximately 120 to 140 million pounds per year.
Bee colony honey calculator: frequently asked questions
How much honey does one beehive produce per year?
Honey production per hive varies widely based on colony strength, forage availability, climate, and management. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports the US average honey yield at approximately 55 to 65 pounds per colony per year. Top producers in good forage areas can achieve 100 to 150 pounds or more per colony. New colonies in their first year typically produce less than 30 pounds.
How much of the honey can I harvest without harming the colony?
Bees need enough honey stores to survive winter. In most northern US climates, colonies need 60 to 80 pounds of honey to overwinter. In milder southern climates, 30 to 40 pounds may be sufficient. Only harvest surplus honey above the colony's winter storage needs. The general rule is to leave at least one full deep super (approximately 60 to 80 lb) for the bees.
What is the current price for raw honey?
USDA NASS surveys report average US honey prices ranging from $2.00 to $3.00 per pound at the producer level in recent years, and $6.00 to $12.00 or more at retail for specialty or local honey. Prices vary by region, floral source, and whether honey is raw, filtered, or specialty (buckwheat, tupelo, manuka).
How many hives do I need to start a honey business?
The break-even number of hives depends on your costs and local honey prices. A typical startup with 10 to 20 hives is common for hobbyist-to-commercial transitions. USDA NASS data shows that commercial operations (100 or more colonies) dominate US honey production by volume, but small operations with 5 to 50 hives are viable for local and direct-market sales.
What factors affect honey yield per hive?
Key factors are: colony strength (population), forage availability (flowering plants within 2 to 3 miles), weather during main nectar flows, disease and pest management (especially Varroa mite control), the queen's laying rate, and hive management practices such as swarm prevention and timely super addition. Annual variability of 50% or more in yield between good and poor years is common.
Official sources
- USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service: NASS Honey Report (annual).
- USDA Agricultural Research Service: Honey Bee Research Program.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.