A honey extractor is a smart investment for any beekeeper. Whether you are an experienced apiarist or you are learning how to take care of bees, a honey extractor will make all the difference to how you harvest your honey.
This amazing device is very easy to use. Just place your beehive frames inside the baskets that are contained in the large drum. The machine utilizes centrifugal force to spin the frames and as the honey is extracted from the combs, it runs down the sides of the drum and pools at the bottom. Once the process is complete, the honey is pumped out through the honey gate.
One of the main reasons a honey extractor is a must-have machine for beekeeping enthusiasts is because it does not damage the delicate beeswax inside the frames. You can return the frames to the beehives and the busy bees can reuse the combs to make more of their delicious honey.
The 7 Best Honey Extractors
- Hardin Professional 3-Frame Manual Honey Extractor
- BestEquip 3-Frame Manual Honey Extractor
- Honey Keeper 2-Frame Honey Extractor
- Little Giant 2-Frame Honey Extractor
- VINGLI 2-Frame Manual Honey Extractor
- VIVO 4-Frame Honey Extractor (Our Top Pick)
- GOODLAND BEE SUPPLY Electric 2-Frame Honey Extractor
Our Top Pick for the Best Honey Extractor
Our top pick for the best honey extractor is the VIVO 4-Frame Honey Extractor. We highly recommend the VIVO BEE-V004B for your beekeeping enterprise.
Whether you are just starting your beekeeping journey or you want a smarter way to extract honey for your apiary business, the VIVO honey extractor is a super-smart solution.
Even though this extractor requires manual operation, it is simple to use and incredibly efficient. It will help you to extract maximum amounts of honey and minimize the amount of wastage. Once you own this extractor, you will be able to spend your time enjoying your honey and caring for your bees.
Check the price on AmazonHow to Choose the Best Honey Extractor
Types of Honey Extractors
There are 2 types of honey extractors, a manually operated extractor, and an electric extractor.
– Manual Honey Extractor
A manual honey extractor is a very good choice for home beekeepers or people who own a small apiary. This type of extractor such as the VIVO 4-Frame Honey Extractor has a crank handle that you use to activate the gears that spin the beehive frames and extract the honey from the honeycombs.
The only downside to using a manually operated honey extractor is that it requires some effort when turning the cranking handle, especially if the drum contains 4 or more frames.
– Electrical Honey Extractors
If you produce a lot of honey from your home-based hives or you have a commercial operation, an electrical honey extractor is tailor-made for you. Electrical honey extractors have a powerful electric motor that allows the gears to spin the beehive frames at very high speeds. You will also experience greater operator convenience as you do not have to worry about cranking a handle.
These extractors can be more expensive than a manually-operated extractor and the machine may vibrate a lot when it is spinning multiple deep beehive frames.
Tangential or Radial Extractors
Honey extractors come in 2 different designs: a tangential or radial design. These 2 terms refer to how the baskets are arranged inside the drum.
Tangential extractors have baskets that hold the frame with one side of the comb facing outwards. Each side of the frame is spun separately, which gives the machine the ability to extract a greater amount of honey. The problem with this type of extractor is that you have to remove the frames so that the honey is extracted from both sides of the comb.
Radial extractors are designed to hold the top bar of the beehive frame so that both the frames are facing outwards and are spun at the same time. This means the honey extraction is faster and you do not have to manually reverse the frames. A radial extractor can be more expensive than a tangential model and can leave some of the honey inside the honeycomb.
Frame Capacity
Honey extractors can hold up to 2, 4, or more shallow, medium, and deep beehive frames.
A honey extractor that holds 2 or 4 beehive frames is sufficient for a beekeeping hobbyist that has a maximum of 10 colonies. If you own a commercial apiary with 10-50 colonies, a honey extractor that holds at least 4 medium or deep frames or 8 shallow frames is a great choice for your beekeeping needs.
Commercial beekeepers with 200 colonies will benefit from an industrial-style extractor that holds up to 60 frames.
Construction
Most extractors have a drum that is constructed from polished stainless steel which is the most durable and easy to clean material. More importantly, stainless steel does not transfer any chemical smells or flavors to the honey.
Tripod Stand
Honey extractors usually come with an integrated 3-legged tripod stand that keeps the machine stable on the floor or ground throughout the extraction process. The stand keeps the drum elevated so that you can place a bottle underneath to catch the honey as it flows out of the honey gate.
Some honey extractors have a stand that can be bolted to the floor or you may be able to remove the legs and mount the machine onto a table such as the Honey Keeper 2-Frame Manual Honey Extractor. This convenient feature is especially useful if the honey gate is attached to the drum in an awkward position and there is not enough room for a larger container underneath the drum.
Flat or Conical Bottom
Honey extractors are designed with a flat bottom or conical-shaped bottom. A flat bottom is fine for occasional honey extraction, but a conical-shaped bottom allows for maximum honey extraction and minimizes the amount of honey that can be left on the bottom of the drum.
Viewing Lid
A honey extractor may come with a single or double-sided clear plastic lid. Having a lid protects your beautiful fresh honey from contamination and the clear material lets you watch your honey as it is extracted.
7 Best Honey Extractors – Reviews
1. Hardin Professional 3-Frame Manual Honey Extractor
The Hardin Professional 3-Frame Manual Honey Extractor is ideal for a beekeeping beginner or a hobbyist who has 1-10 hives.
This stylish honey extractor has a durable food-grade 16-gauge stainless steel drum with sealed bearings, and it is very easy to clean. The 3-legged metal tripod is sturdy and strong and built to last.
You can start removing the honey from the deep, medium, or shallow combs straight away as the extractor is easy to assemble and use. The labor-saving metal crank lever with a spring clutch turns the metal gears smoothly and the plastic handle is comfortable to hold.
A clear Plexiglass cover keeps debris out and lets you view the whole extraction process.
As the extractor has a tangential design and conical-shaped bottom, it allows for maximum honey drainage through the honey gate, so there is no wastage or spillage.
Hardin offers a lifetime warranty on the honey extractor.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Ideal for beekeeping beginners and enthusiasts
- Stylish and durable food-grade stainless steel construction
- Three sturdy stainless steel tripod legs
- Easy to assemble and clean
- Smooth working metal gears
- Good height
- Comfortable solid metal crank rotating lever has a plastic handle
- Plexiglass cover
- Tangential design and conical bottom maximizes honey extraction
- Honey gate eliminates any wastage or spillage
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Plastic handle is not overly durable
- Honey gate is a bit low
2. BestEquip 3-Frame Manual Honey Extractor
The BestEquip 3-Frame Manual Honey Extractor is a very good choice for a beekeeping hobbyist or a small apiary business.
Made from polished rust-resistant stainless steel, the drum is very durable and its seamless surface is easy to maintain. The sturdy 3-legged tripod stand provides good stability on the ground or floor.
This tangential extractor can accommodate up to 3 deep, medium, or shallow beehive frames and it is very efficient at extracting the honey from the combs. Your honey will be 100% safe as the enclosed gear design will not contaminate the honey as the frames are spun around inside the drum.
Designed for your operating convenience, the solid metal handle has a comfortable red plastic grip and the square screw dent ensures that the handle cranks quickly and will not spin once it is released. For extra strength and stability, the handle is attached to a thick aluminum integrated beam along the top of the drum.
The 2 clear perspex lids allow for quick and easy viewing throughout the extraction process and stop the honey from getting contaminated. A well-positioned honey gate at the bottom of the tank maximizes the honey flow with no spillage into a bottle.
BestEquip offers a 1-year warranty on the honey extractor.
Pros
- Very good quality
- Very good value for money
- Good price
- Ideal for a beginner beekeeper or a small apiary business
- Humanized design
- Stylish and durable rust and abrasion-resistant stainless steel
- Sturdy 3-legged tripod stand
- Solid metal handle has a comfortable red plastic grip
- Square screw dent ensures that the handle cranks quickly and will not spin once it is released
- Durable aluminum alloy integrated thickened beam
- Enclosed gear upon the frame will not contaminate the honey
- Honey gate provides good honey flow
- Two clear perspex lids
- Easy to assemble and use
- One-year warranty
Cons
- Larger buckets are hard to fit underneath the honey gate
- Can be a bit unstable when using 3 deep frames
3. Honey Keeper 2-Frame Honey Extractor
If you are a beginner beekeeper, the Honey Keeper 2-Frame Honey Extractor will fulfill your basic honey extraction needs.
The drum is made from polished heavy-gauge stainless steel that is rustproof, durable, and easy to clean. Its 2-frame capacity gives you the versatility to use deep, medium, or shallow beehive frames.
Although this honey extractor does not come with instructions, it is simple to assemble. All you have to do is attach the handle, the legs, and the honey gate, place your frames inside the baskets and the extractor is ready to be used. The stainless steel legs can also be bolted to the floor or removed for tabletop use.
Effortless to use, the crank handle is made from strong steel and the sealed bearings and smooth-running steel gears take all the hard work out of spinning the frames. This honey extractor has an efficient tangential design and the conical bottom minimizes any honey wastage as it flows out quickly through the honey gate.
Perfect for use with a bottle or a 5-gallon bucket, the honey extractor has stainless steel legs that sit 13-17½-inches off the ground, so will have no problems collecting the honey underneath the honey gate.
Two plastic lids let you watch the honey being extracted and keep any debris out of the honey. As the extractor has a slim design, it is easy to store in a garage with limited space.
Pros
- Very good quality
- Very good value for money
- Good price
- Ideal for basic beekeeping needs
- Polished heavy-gauge stainless steel drum is rustproof and durable
- Simple to assemble
- Easy to clean
- Fits shallow, medium, and deep frames
- Stainless steel legs can be bolted to the floor or removed for tabletop use
- Crank handle design allows for nearly effortless frame spinning
- Efficient tangential design
- Conical bottom minimizes honey wastage
- Two clear plastic lids
- Slim profile is easy to store
Cons
- Not ideal for commercial use
- Does not come with instructions
- Has some unfinished sharp edges
4. Little Giant 2-Frame Honey Extractor
The Little Giant 2-Frame Honey Extractor is the perfect machine for a beginner beekeeper and can hold deep or medium frames.
Its polished 18/10 food grade stainless steel drum is extra durable and the 3-legged stainless steel tripod stand is strong and sturdy.
Spinning the frames can be achieved with minimal effort as the strong built-in handle-crank extractor prevents any spinning once it is released. You can watch your honey as it is extracted through the Plexiglass lid that also stops any contamination.
Extracting every bit of honey from this tangential-style machine is very easy too as it has a conical bottom. The honey gate can be opened and closed quickly with a wing nut and the tripod legs allow you to elevate the drum a good distance away from the ground. You can bolt the legs to the floor or remove them and mount the extractor on a table if you want to use a larger bucket for honey extraction.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Affordable price
- Ideal for a beginner beekeeper
- Stylish design
- Easy to assemble, use, and clean
- Solid stainless steel constructions
- Conical bottom
- Good honey extraction performance
- Sturdy tripod legs have good elevation
- Legs can be bolted to the floor or removed
- Can accommodate 2 deep or medium frames
- Built-in handle-crank extractor helps to prevent spinning once released
- Plexiglass lid
- Honey gate has a wing nut for easy opening and closing
Cons
- Not ideal for commercial beekeeping
- Some complaints that instructions were not included
- Legs are too short to fit a large bucket underneath
5. VINGLI 2-Frame Manual Honey Extractor
Featuring a new and improved design, the VINGLI 2-Frame Manual Honey Extractor is a great choice for a beginner beekeeper or a small business.
Perfect for outdoor use, the stainless steel drum is rust and abrasion-resistant, a protective film ensures long-term durability, and the seamless construction is very easy to maintain.
VINGLI has designed the sturdy 3-legged tripod stand with adjustable legs, so you change the height of the extractor, bolt the legs to the floor, or remove the legs altogether for tabletop use.
This tangential extractor works extremely well and gives you the versatility to use 2 shallow, medium, or deep beehive frames. The upgraded crank handle has a square threaded hole that holds the handle securely in place and stops it from slipping off while you are turning it.
Two clear glass lids protect the honey and allow you to check on the extraction progress.
The enclosed gear construction will not contaminate the honey as it is being removed from the combs. A conical bottom and an efficient honey gate help you to extract all your honey into a bottle in one go.
VINGLI also offers the honey extractor in a 3 and 4-frame design.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Ideal for beginners and small commercial applications
- Works extremely well
- Polished stainless steel drum is rust and abrasion-resistant
- Easy to maintain seamless welded construction
- Drum has a protective coating
- Sturdy 3 legged stand has adjustable legs
- Legs can be bolted to the floor or removed
- Upgraded crank handle design
- Accommodates shallow, medium, or deep frames
- Tangential design, conical bottom, and honey gate provide efficient honey extraction
- Enclosed gear will not contaminate honey
- Two clear glass lids
- Available in a 3 and 4-frame design
Cons
- Awkwardly placed honey gate can make it hard to extract the honey into a bottle
6. VIVO 4-Frame Honey Extractor
The VIVO 4-Frame Honey Extractor is an excellent machine for beginners who are just starting their beekeeping journey or a small apiary business.
Designed for long-term durability, this radial extractor has a sturdy polished stainless steel drum and a steel 3-legged tripod steel stand. The tripod legs can also be bolted to the floor for improved stability.
You have lots of beehive frame versatility at your disposal as the BEE-V004B can accommodate 8 shallow frames, 4 medium frames, or 4 deep-sized frames.
Extracting your honey will be done in a flash as this extractor has a radial basket design and the durable metal spiral bevel gears work quietly and smoothly. The grooved plastic handle is easy to touch and the simple crank system requires minimum effort during the extraction process.
A double-sided clear plexiglass lid lets you check on the honey and stops it from getting contaminated.
The conical bottom allows for efficient honey drainage and the well-elevated honey-gate makes it so easy to pour the honey into a bottle without having to tip the drum forward.
The VIVO honey extractor comes in a 2-frame design and a 3-frame design and you can also purchase an electrical extractor.
VIVO offers a 1-year limited warranty on the honey extractor.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Perfect for beginners and small commercial beekeeping operations
- Fast radial basket design
- Sturdy stainless steel drum
- Three-legged tripod stand can be bolted to the floor
- Can be used with 8 small frames or 4 medium or large/deep frames
- Durable metal spiral bevel gears work quietly and smoothly
- Comfortable grooved plastic handle
- Simple crank system requires minimum effort
- Well elevated honey-gate design makes it very easy to extract the honey
- Simple to clean and assemble
- Double-sided Plexiglas lid
- Available in 2 and 3 frame size and an electrical radial design
- One-year warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty use
- Legs are not overly durable
7. GOODLAND BEE SUPPLY Electric 2-Frame Honey Extractor
If you are a beekeeping enthusiast or you own an apiary business, the GOODLAND BEE SUPPLY HE2MOT 2-Frame Electric Honey Extractor will help you to extract and bottle your honey amazingly fast.
This tangential rotary extractor has a strong 110-volt motor and utilizes centrifugal force to harvest honey from the frames, so it is very efficient. The 3-legged tripod stand is sturdy and the durable drum has an easy-to-clean seamless welded construction. The honey extractor has a 2-frame design and can be used with shallow, medium, or deep beehive frames.
Extracting your honey will be done in a flash as the sealed bearings and steel gears ensure the smooth running of the extractor. Your honey will taste fresh as the food-grade stainless steel drum does not impart nasty impurities, odors, or flavors to the honey.
Easy to use, the control box is located at the top of the drum, and you can choose from low and high speeds to suit your beekeeping operations. A clear Plexiglass lid lets you view the extraction process and keeps your honey safe from contamination.
The sealable honey gate allows for quick honey extraction and stops any honey from leaking out. As the stand has short legs and only has enough room underneath for a bottle or a 2-gallon bucket, a larger 5-gallon bucket can be used if you place the extractor on a table.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Ideal for beekeeping enthusiasts and commercial beekeepers
- Strong variable-speed motor
- Sealed bearings and steel gear ensure a smooth-running performance
- Durable food-grade stainless steel drum is easy to clean
- Sturdy 3-legged tripod stand
- Can be used with 2 shallow, medium, or deep beehive frames
- Easy to access controls
- High and low speeds
- Clear Plexiglass lid
Cons
- Expensive
- Not ideal for heavy-duty use
- Needs to be elevated on a table so that a larger bucket can be used underneath
Our Top Pick for the Best Honey Extractor
Our top pick for the best honey extractor is the VIVO 4-Frame Honey Extractor. We highly recommend the VIVO BEE-V004B for your beekeeping enterprise.
Whether you are just starting your beekeeping journey or you want a smarter way to extract honey for your apiary business, the VIVO honey extractor is a super-smart solution.
Even though this extractor requires manual operation, it is simple to use and incredibly efficient. It will help you to extract maximum amounts of honey and minimize the amount of wastage. Once you own this extractor, you will be able to spend your time enjoying your honey and caring for your bees.
Check the price on Amazon
