A bug hotel is a functional yet decorative piece that is part habitat for insects and part garden art. Whether you are an avid gardener, are picking up a new hobby or are a nature enthusiast, chances are that you know a little bit about the concept of insect hotels and their benefits. If you are looking to create a safe habitat for the wildlife in your garden, we've found a range of bug hotels for all budgets, sizes and preferences.
Insects provide many benefits to the ecosystem through pollination, nutrient cycle, and also as food sources for birds. In addition to squirrel baffles, bird feeders and a bird table, a bug hotel can help create a thriving habitat in your garden. An average garden is home to over 2,000 different insect species that provide many advantages to the ecosystem. Kitting your garden our with a bug hotel provides your little garden visitors with a safe place to live, lay eggs and hibernate.
Best bug hotels at a glance:
• Best overall bug hotel: Woodside Wooden Insect + Bee House – View on Amazon UK
• Best freestanding bug hotel: Navaris XL Wooden Insect Hotel – View on Amazon UK
• Best solar powered bug hotel: Light Up Insect Bug Hotel – View on The Range
Whether shop-bought or homemade, bug hotels are very positive for the environment and make a welcome addition to your garden. However, not all ‘hotels’ are the same:
A bug hotel tends to be a pile of wooden pallets crammed with whatever you have to hand – straw, pinecones, old tiles, logs, and moss.
A bee hotel, meanwhile, is a box of hollow stems, straws or tubes, a drilled log, or both.
It's also best to stay clear of models that have been preserved or stained, as these will repel insects, not attract them. Likewise, avoid insect hotels where habitats have been glued down; the materials should be refreshed every year.
Best bug hotels
Best overall bug hotel
Amazon/WoodsideWildlife lovers will love this decorative and functional Woodside Wooden Insect + Bee House. This construction will attract bees, butterflies, ladybirds and a host of other insects to your backyard and provide them with a safe place to stay, and the tubular tunnels are ideal for nesting bees. Plus, the other insects will also enjoy the extensive nesting options too.
Customer review: "This is a well-made, attractive and sturdy insect house, with plenty of variety in its sections (more interesting to look at than many. which simply contain wood shavings). This has since become a favourite present to give friends and neighbours, who have all loved it as much as I did."
Pros
- Four bug habitats
- Good design
- Easy to hang up
Cons
- The house isn't waterproof
| Dimensions: | 27.94 x 66.04 x 93.98 cm |
| Materials: | Pinewood, bamboo, pine cone, wire mesh (Fixings included) |
Best freestanding bug hotel
Amazon/Navaris Beautiful and functional this extra large freestanding Navaris XL Wooden Insect Hotel is made from natural materials such as pine wood, bamboo and pine cone and is not painted so as not to deter the bugs away. The different filling materials attract different types of insects, and the pointed roof has been fitted with a metal sheet to cover the bug residence from rain, so less moisture enters the wood.
Customer review: "This is a very well made bug hotel comprising 'room' of several different types to suit all kinds of 'guests'. Unlike any other similar 'hotels', this one features an aluminium roof which gives the structure weather protection and the aesthetic appearance of a Swiss chalet. Two stakes and sufficient screws are a bonus, enabling you to anchor your hotel wherever you decide to place it."
Pros
- Freestanding model
- The aluminium roof gives extra weather protection.
Cons
- Reviewers have mentioned that some holes are too big to attract solitary bees.
| Dimensions: | 77 x 38 x 11 cm |
| Materials: | Pinewood, bamboo, pine cones, plywood, metal sheet |
Best solar powered bug hotel
The Rangewww.therange.co.uk
This fun Light Up Insect Bug Hotel comes with three decorative and colourful lit bumblebees that are powered by a solar battery. The construction has two habitat types to attract a mix of insects. The lights can be turned off with a switch to conserve the battery if required, and the solar-powered function charges the lights automatically during the day and will illuminate them for up to six hours.
It also features a hanging hook, so the insect house is ready to hang on the side of a shed, a garden wall, a fence, or simply placed on the ground.
Pros
- Solar powered lights
- Decorative and well designed
Cons
- Bright colours and not a natural look
| Dimensions: | 23 x 21 x 9 cm |
| Material: | Wood |
Best budget bug hotel
Amazon/Natures MarketThis adorable honeycomb Natures Market Wooden Insect and Bee Hotel features an integral wire hanger to hang on a tree or fence to attract a wide variety of garden insects or solitary bees.
Customer review: "These are small enough to hang anywhere and are quite well made. I didn't want anything too big, so this is just perfect. I like the look of them. All I needed to do was smooth out the larger bee holes to make it easier for them to get in. I bought two and will get more if needed."
Pros
- Beautiful design
- Lightweight and compact
Cons
- The low price means some reviewers aren't satisfied with the quality.
| Dimensions: | 14 x 16 x 15 cm |
| Material: | Wood |
Best personalised bug hotel
Not On The High Streetwww.notonthehighstreet.com
Customise this wooden bug hotel with a name and message as a gift for someone or for your garden. This wooden Personalised Handmade Two Tier Bee Hotel is the perfect home for tiny visitors in your garden this year. Cute and practical this insect hotel will encourage the bees and butterflies by providing them with this adorable home.
Pros
- Customisable
- Pretty design
Cons
- On the pricier side
| Dimensions: | 24cm x 12cm x 10cm |
| Material: | Wood |
Best bug hotel centrepiece
Etsywww.etsy.com
This rustic bee and butterfly hotel gives a natural and unique finish. The rustic garden art products require absolutely no maintenance too. Crafted from mild steel, this Exterior Rustic Bug Hotel not only provides a home for flying and creepy crawly friends but is a striking garden centrepiece.
Customer review: "Gorgeous item, arrived quickly and well packed. Love it."
Pros
- Striking and decorative
- Made from metal
- Range of sizes
Cons
- It may be too big for some gardens
| Dimensions: | Range of sizes to choose from |
| Material: | Mild steel |
Best quirky bug hotel
Not On The High Streetwww.notonthehighstreet.com
This unique Fairytale Castle Bee And Wildlife Habitat comes with two hanging hooks and a flat base. Each part of the fort has components designed for different bugs. The turrets on the sides have holes drilled into them, offering a nesting place for ladybirds, and the front panels have cross cut-outs in the front and cover a hollow section which is ideal for butterflies.
Customer review: "Lovely quality, solid wood, and excellent finish - children love this!"
Pros
- Fun design
- Great for all types of bugs
- It can be hung from a wall or fence or placed on a flat surface.
Cons
- None we can think of
| Dimensions: | 33 x 27 x 8 cm |
| Material: | Wood |
Best bug hotel set
Not On The High Streetwww.notonthehighstreet.com
Designed to bring wildlife into the garden this Nest Box, Insect Hotel And Squirrel Feeder Wildlife Set has a natural barkwood style that creates a rustic little nook for creatures to thrive. In addition to catering for the bee and insect crowd, a squirrel feeder is included. Cultivate a habitat for lady birds, bumble bees and more.
Customer review: "Such a good price and beautifully made! Got as a new home gift and they loved it! I was worried they weren't going to be very good as the price was amazing, but all three look amazing and beautifully made."
Pros
- Fun miniature welcome signs
- Whimsical
- Great value for money
Cons
- Don't position on damp ground as they could rot
| Dimensions: | H17 x W17 x D13cm (each box) |
| Material: | Wood |
Best eco-friendly bug hotel
Amazon/Gate 35This Eco-Friendly Bee House Hotel is made from wood and bamboo so it's all-natural and will blend in with your garden. It's a sunny shade of yellow that's uplifting and invites the humble bumble bees in. In turn, watch them add to your biodiverse habitat, pollinating plants and making nectar for honey.
Customer review: "Love this and so do the bees. Some have taken up residency and I love the fact it’s not just wooden but painted too. Easy to assemble just pop it up and off you go."
Pros
- Made from environmentally-friendly materials
- Colourful and attractive design
Cons
- Unclear what size it is
| Dimensions: | Not specified |
| Materials: | Wood |
Best bug hotel for an artisan look
John Lewiswww.johnlewis.com
Mimicking the structure of a bee hive, this colourful Wildlife World Wood Artisan Bee Hotel makes a decorative, yet functional addition to your garden. You're getting a unique product; it's handmade and hand-painted by Balinese artisans. Position this attractive bee hotel in a sunny spot to attract non-swarming bees and enjoy watching your biodiverse habitat grow.
Customer review: "It has a rustic charm to it which makes it fit in the flower beds very nicely. Overall it's heavier than you think and quite robust.
Pros
- Handmade so it's a unique addition to your garden
- Attractive design to brighten up any area
- Robust and sturdy to withstand all weathers
Cons
- Customer comments that the stake holding it might break if too much force is applied
| Dimensions: | H20.5 x W13.5 x D13.5cm |
| Materials: | Timber |
How we chose the best bug hotels
All of these bug hotels have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered quality, sustainability and aesthetic value in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching bug hotels to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
What are the most common insects you will find taking residence in your bug hotel in the UK?
Having opened your insect hotel, have you ever waited and watched to see which guests have taken up your invitation to come and stay? Garden Answers writer Adrian Thomas tells us what to expect within the cracks and crevices of your bug hotel and what you may find checking in.
Lacewing: Bright green bodies, metallic eyes and diaphanous wings. Adults and larvae eat aphids; adults drink nectar and can hibernate. 69 UK species. Utilises straw, dried grass or rolled-up cardboard.
Springtails: Just visible to the eye, they feed on plant and decaying matter in soil and leaf litter, increasing nutrient availability for soil microbes and fungi. Attracted to rotting wood.
Woodlouse: Crustaceans prefer damp conditions and feed on dead and decaying matter and some live plant tissue. Hangs out in dead wood and loose bark
Earwigs: Mostly nocturnal, they’ll hide in moist crevices during the day and feed on a wide range of insects and plant matter. Likes to cosy up in pots of straw
Ladybirds: Distinctive red and black, black and yellow, white and brown or striped elytra (wing cases). Larvae devour aphids. 47 UK species. Attracted to dry leaves, sticks and seedheads.
Snails: Gastropod with coiled shell, mostly feeds at night on decaying plant material, green foliage and carrion such as dead worms. Find them hiding in moist spots between tiles and pots.
How to make a DIY pallet bug hotel
What will you need:
• Old pallets or a wooden box
• Clay flowerpot crocks (broken bits)
• Pine cones
• A selection of dried leaves, stems, and hollow canes
How to build an insect hotel
1. Layer drilled logs, sticks, rocks, stones, and other natural materials are packed close together in a wooden crate or box made of pallets.
2. Place it in a quiet area of the garden in dappled shade to attract beneficial bugs.
FAQs
Where is the best place to put a bug hotel?
The best place to set your hotel up is in a sheltered area of the garden or allotment away from areas that get particularly windy or rainy. Most insects prefer slightly damp conditions, but solitary bees require the sun to help them get out and about on a cold day.
How do I attract bugs to my bug hotel?
You can attract bugs to your bug hotel by mimicking their natural habitats. To do this, ensure you include lots of twigs, small rocks and leaves. Also, avoid overfilling your bug hotel and make sure there are plenty of small crevices where the bugs can feel safe from predators.
Do bug hotels attract wasps?
Yes, bug hotels often attract wasps. That is because bug hotels are the perfect home for solitary wasps, so be aware of that if you are nervous around them.
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Ellen Kinsey is a senior health and wellness product writer for Modern Gardens, specialising in sustainable living and health. She lives and breathes all things natural health, cooking and nature.