Collecting a honey bee swarm is usually free. A swarm is a cluster of bees resting in the open, on a branch, fence or wall, with no comb built yet, and a beekeeper wants it, because it is a colony they can keep. Getting an established colony out of a wall, roof or chimney is different work and is usually paid, because it involves opening up the structure and repairing it afterwards.

What is the difference between a swarm and an established colony?

Time and comb. A swarm has just left its old hive and is resting while scouts look for a home, so it has no comb, no honey and nothing to defend. It usually moves on within a day or two. An established colony has moved into a cavity and built comb, so removing it means cutting into whatever it is living in. If the bees have been in the same spot for more than a couple of weeks, it is almost certainly a colony rather than a swarm.

What does it cost to remove bees from a wall or roof?

In Swarmed's October 2026 survey of US beekeepers who remove established colonies, 66% of those who charge quoted between $150 and $800 for a cutout, and 24% quoted more than $800. 30% of respondents do cutouts for nothing or a donation. The price for a particular colony depends on where it is, how much has to be opened up to reach it, how high it is, and who repairs the structure afterwards. Swarmed doesn't set or take a share of those prices. Report the colony and the beekeeper who takes it on will quote you directly.

Why would a beekeeper collect a swarm for nothing?

Because they are getting bees. A healthy swarm is a free colony for a beekeeper who has equipment ready, which is why many treat swarm collection as a community service rather than a job. That is the whole idea behind Swarmed: the person who wants the bees gone and the person who wants the bees are looking for each other.

What if it turns out to be wasps?

Beekeepers do not remove wasps, and a wasp nest needs a pest control company rather than a beekeeper. If you are not sure what you are looking at, report it anyway with a photo. Our image check flags likely wasps, and you will be pointed towards the right kind of help rather than left waiting for a beekeeper who was never going to come.

Reporting a swarm

What bee removal costs

A swarm is usually free. A beekeeper will often collect one for nothing, because they are getting a colony of bees out of it. Getting an established colony out of a wall or roof is different work, and that is normally paid. Below is the difference, and what beekeepers told us they charge.

Swarm or established colony

Almost every question about the cost of bee removal comes down to which of these two you have. A swarm is a colony in transit, resting in the open while scout bees look for a permanent home. An established colony has already found one and built comb inside it.

Differences between a honey bee swarm and an established colony
	Swarm	Established colony
What it looks like	A hanging cluster of bees in the open, often on a branch, fence or wall	Bees flying in and out of a hole in a wall, roof, chimney or tree
Comb	None. The bees arrived with nothing	Comb built inside the cavity, often with honey in it
How long it has been there	Hours, sometimes a day or two	Weeks, months, often years
What removing it involves	Shaking or scooping the cluster into a box	Opening the structure, removing comb, then repairing it
Typical cost to you	Usually free	Usually paid, most often $150 to $800, quoted by whoever does the work

What a cutout costs

Removing an established colony is called a cutout, and the beekeeper prices it after seeing it. We asked the beekeepers who take these jobs on through Swarmed what they usually charge.

What US beekeepers usually charge for a cutout

Share of the 91 beekeepers who named a usual price, 8 to 27 October 2026

Usual price for removing an established honey bee colony, by share of beekeepers who charge
Usual price	Share shown as a bar	Share
Under $150		10%
$150 to $400		42%
$400 to $800		24%
More than $800		24%

How we got these numbers: in October 2026 we asked the 1,318 beekeepers who had taken on an established colony through Swarmed since March 2025 “What do you usually charge for a cutout?” and offered fixed price bands. 200 beekeepers in the United States answered. 59 of them (30%) do cutouts for nothing or a donation and 37 said the price varies too much to name a band, which leaves the 91 shown here.

These are bands, not quotes, and a beekeeper’s price for your colony depends on where it is and what has to be opened up. Swarmed doesn’t set these prices or take a share of them. Figures last checked 1 November 2026.

Compiled by Mateo Kaiser, University of California certified Master Beekeeper. What a cutout involves, step by step, is on bee hive removal.

Is bee removal free?

For a swarm, usually yes. Here is why a beekeeper will do it for nothing, and why a colony in a wall is a different matter.

Why a beekeeper will do it for nothing

A swarm is a free colony of bees to someone who keeps them. A beekeeper with a spare box is genuinely pleased to hear from you, which is the whole premise of Swarmed: the person who wants the bees gone and the person who wants the bees are looking for each other and usually can't find each other in time.

A colony in a wall is the opposite. It is construction work with bees in it, the comb is often ruined in the process, and somebody has to make the building good afterwards. Expecting that for free is like expecting free plumbing.

What to do now

Report it either way, and don't spray it. Reporting is free and takes about a minute, and the beekeepers nearest you are alerted straight away. If it turns out to be a colony rather than a swarm, the beekeeper who takes it on will tell you what the job involves and quote you directly. Swarmed doesn't set those prices or take a share of them.

Report it free Check what you are looking at

Looking for a beekeeper in your area rather than an explanation? The Swarmed homepage connects you with local beekeepers directly. Swarmed homepage

How reporting works

Four short clips of the report form on a phone. A close-up and a wider photo help a beekeeper most.

Not sure it's honey bees? Check a photo first

Add photos and the swarm's details

Add your contact details and where it is

Check on your report from your email

Common questions

Is bee removal free?: Collecting a honey bee swarm is usually free. A swarm is a cluster of bees resting in the open, on a branch, fence or wall, with no comb built yet, and a beekeeper wants it, because it is a colony they can keep. Getting an established colony out of a wall, roof or chimney is different work and is usually paid, because it involves opening up the structure and repairing it afterwards.
What is the difference between a swarm and an established colony?: Time and comb. A swarm has just left its old hive and is resting while scouts look for a home, so it has no comb, no honey and nothing to defend. It usually moves on within a day or two. An established colony has moved into a cavity and built comb, so removing it means cutting into whatever it is living in. If the bees have been in the same spot for more than a couple of weeks, it is almost certainly a colony rather than a swarm.
What does it cost to remove bees from a wall or roof?: In Swarmed's October 2026 survey of US beekeepers who remove established colonies, 66% of those who charge quoted between $150 and $800 for a cutout, and 24% quoted more than $800. 30% of respondents do cutouts for nothing or a donation. The price for a particular colony depends on where it is, how much has to be opened up to reach it, how high it is, and who repairs the structure afterwards. Swarmed doesn't set or take a share of those prices. Report the colony and the beekeeper who takes it on will quote you directly.
Why would a beekeeper collect a swarm for nothing?: Because they are getting bees. A healthy swarm is a free colony for a beekeeper who has equipment ready, which is why many treat swarm collection as a community service rather than a job. That is the whole idea behind Swarmed: the person who wants the bees gone and the person who wants the bees are looking for each other.
What if it turns out to be wasps?: Beekeepers do not remove wasps, and a wasp nest needs a pest control company rather than a beekeeper. If you are not sure what you are looking at, report it anyway with a photo. Our image check flags likely wasps, and you will be pointed towards the right kind of help rather than left waiting for a beekeeper who was never going to come.

More help

Last updated September 18, 2026.