A bee smoker is a beekeeping tool that produces cool smoke to help calm bees during hive inspections. In 2026, options go beyond traditional bellows smokers to include flameless electric models and liquid-smoke sprays.
If you’re new to beekeeping, this guide explains what a bee smoker does and helps you choose the right type. It also walks you through preparation, use, cleaning, and storage.
What does a bee smoker do?
A bee smoker helps reduce a colony’s defensive response. Smoke temporarily interferes with the bees’ ability to detect alarm pheromones, making it harder for alarm signals to spread. Bees also tend to move away from the smoke, giving you room to inspect frames.
However, a smoker does not put bees to sleep or guarantee that they will not sting. Protective clothing, gentle handling, and suitable inspection conditions still matter.
Which type of bee smoker is right for you?
Bee smokers can be divided into four types: traditional fuel-burning models, flameless electric devices, smokeless liquid sprays, and homemade or DIY smokers. Your choice depends on your budget, inspection routine, and how you prefer to prepare the smoker and control its output.
Traditional fuel-burning bee smokers
Traditional bee smokers are made from stainless steel or copper, with a fuel chamber, a spouted lid, and either manual bellows or an electric fan. They produce smoke by burning solid fuel, typically requiring an open flame to light the fuel before it smolders during use.
How they work
The bee smoker holds fuel above an air grate. Squeezing the bellows supplies air and pushes smoke through the spout. Fan-assisted models use an electric fan for airflow but still burn solid fuel.
Pros
🟢Manual models work without charging.
🟢Several natural or untreated materials can serve as fuel.
🟢Affordable to buy.
Cons
🔴Lighting and maintaining the fire take practice.
🔴Hot surfaces, sparks, and embers need careful handling.
🔴Ash and soot require cleaning.
When to choose
If you’re on a tight budget and willing to spend time practicing how to light the fuel, keep it smoldering, and control the smoke. Before buying, compare chamber size, bellows quality, heat shielding, and access for cleaning.
Flameless electric bee smokers
Flameless electric bee smokers are battery-powered devices with a liquid tank, a heating element, an outlet, and control buttons. They produce fog by heating a compatible liquid rather than burning solid fuel, so no open flame is needed.
How they work
A flameless electric bee smoker heats a specified liquid to produce fog without burning solid fuel. For example, the COLBOR CF5 offers button controls and adjustable fog output, allowing you to regulate each release.
Pros
🟢No solid fuel to ignite or keep smoldering.
🟢No burning embers or fuel ash to empty.
🟢Adjustable models offer convenient output control.
Cons
🔴Requires battery charging and compatible liquid refills.
🔴Operating time may include cooling breaks.
🔴Fluid suitability must be checked for hive use.
When to choose
You are new to beekeeping and want a simpler way to smoke your bees during hive inspections, or you prefer to avoid lighting fuel, maintaining a fire, and clearing ash afterward.
Smokeless bee smokers
This type of bee smoker consists of liquid smoke and a hand sprayer. The liquid is sold premixed or as a concentrate to dilute with water.
How they work
Liquid smoke for bees is made by condensing wood smoke into a liquid. Pressing the sprayer releases the prepared solution as a fine mist. No fuel is burned or liquid heated during application.
Pros
🟢Requires no fire or battery power.
🟢Easy to carry and apply.
🟢Produces no fuel ash or soot.
Cons
🔴Can wet bees and comb.
🔴Effectiveness varies with the product and colony.
🔴Concentrates require measuring and dilution before use.
When to choose
You prefer a simple spray bottle for routine hive checks and want to avoid lighting fuel or charging equipment. It is an option when you work with calm colonies, and the spray provides a suitable response.
Homemade or DIY bee smokers
Some beekeepers also make their own smokers using materials they already have at home. A typical design includes a metal fuel container, a spout, and an air supply system. The size, shape, and construction depend on the builder’s design.
How they work
DIY bee smokers are often based on traditional fuel-burning designs. Solid fuel smolders inside the metal chamber. Air supplied through the bellows or another opening helps sustain combustion and pushes smoke through the outlet.
Pros
🟢May cost less when suitable parts are already available.
🟢Can be customized in size, shape, and handling.
🟢Parts can be modified or replaced to suit your needs.
Cons
🔴Requires tools, building time, and practical skills.
🔴Poor airflow can make smoke weak or inconsistent.
🔴Heat shielding and durability depend on construction quality.
When to choose
You enjoy making your own beekeeping equipment and already have suitable tools, materials, and building skills. You are willing to spend time assembling and testing the smoker before using it during hive inspections.
How to use a smoker for bees?
Good results depend on preparation, controlled application, and proper shutdown. Match each step to your smoker’s design and instructions.
A step-by-step setup guide
Follow these steps to set up and use a bee smoker:
Step 1. Choose the right smoker fuel for bees
For a fuel-burning smoker, choose dry, untreated materials such as pine needles, cotton smoker fuel, untreated burlap, or pellets sold for bee smokers. Avoid plastics, treated wood, and materials contaminated with chemicals.
For an electric fog device, use only its specified fluid. A liquid-smoke spray is a separate product and should not be poured into the fog chamber.
Step 2. Prepare and start your bee smoker
Inspect the chamber, outlet, and bellows or fan before use.
To light a bee smoker, establish a small fire near the bottom, then add fuel gradually while supplying air. Allow the added fuel to catch before adding more. The aim is sustained smoldering that produces cool smoke.
For a flameless model, check the charge, fill as instructed, and complete any required priming or warm-up.
Step 3. Check the output and apply it carefully
Test the output away from the hive. A fuel-burning smoker should produce cool smoke without flames or sparks.
Apply a small amount near the entrance before opening. Lift the cover slightly, give a gentle puff underneath, and pause before continuing. Add only what is needed while working, and watch how the bees respond.
Keep hot outlets away from bees, comb, and protective clothing.
Step 4. Extinguish or switch off the smoker and let it cool
For a fuel-burning model, follow its extinguishing instructions. If emptying the chamber, place the fuel in a metal container and soak it thoroughly with water. Confirm that no hot embers remain, and let the smoker cool before packing it away.
Switch off electric models and let hot components cool before handling or storage. Follow any required shutdown or cooling cycle.
Step 5. Clean and store your bee smoker
Once it is cool, remove ash and loose debris from a traditional smoker. Check the grate and outlet for blockages, and remove accumulated soot or resin as needed. Let cleaned parts dry before storage.
Maintain electric chambers and outlets according to the manual. Keep electrical components dry, and seal leftover fuel or fluid in its original container.
Tips for using a beehive smoker
Here are some tips to help you prepare your bee smoker, use smoke sparingly, and handle bees and hot equipment with care.
💡Practice first. Learn how to start your smoker and control the smoke before opening a hive for inspection.
💡Use smoke sparingly. Apply a few gentle puffs and give the bees time to respond before adding more.
💡Work gently. Move slowly and handle frames carefully to avoid crushing bees or startling the colony with sudden movements.
💡Set the smoker down safely. Place it on a stable surface that won’t burn, away from dry grass and leaves.
💡Check your supplies. Bring enough fuel or the recommended liquid, and charge any batteries before heading to the apiary.
💡Check local fire restrictions. Make sure fuel-burning smokers are permitted, and keep water or a fire extinguisher nearby.
💡Know when to stop. If the bees remain very defensive, close the hive and try another time.
Where to buy a bee smoker?
You can buy a bee smoker from specialist beekeeping stores, farm supply retailers, manufacturer websites, and online marketplaces.
For a flameless electric option, COLBOR offers the CF3 and CF5 mini bee smokers. Both models feature adjustable fog output, simple button controls, and rechargeable batteries, allowing you to produce fog for hive inspections without lighting solid fuel.
👉Fill out the form to contact COLBOR and learn more about our bee smokers.
FAQ
Here are answers to common questions new beekeepers ask about bee smokers, including prices, fuel choices, and how to use them.
How much is a bee smoker?
Traditional bee smokers cost approximately $35-$70, depending on size and construction. Electric and liquid smoker prices are about $100-$300, varying by model and included accessories. Include fuel or fluid, maintenance parts, and shipping when comparing costs.
What can I use in my bee smoker?
Use dry, untreated fuel approved for a combustion smoker, such as cotton smoker fuel, pine needles, untreated burlap, or bee-smoker pellets. Electric fog devices require their specified liquid.
How to keep a bee smoker going?
Use dry fuel and establish a strong bed of embers before filling the smoker. Pump the bellows occasionally to keep air flowing, and add fuel before the smoke fades. Keep the grate and air holes clear, and avoid packing the fuel too tightly.
How to use a bee smoker with pellets?
Start with easily lit smoker fuel, then add bee-smoker pellets gradually while pumping the bellows. Let them catch before adding more, and leave enough space for airflow. Use pellets intended for beekeeping rather than products containing accelerants or other additives.