The Best Bat Boxes for Roosting and Hibernating Bats in 2024

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BBC Gardeners' World Product Guide bat boxes

Bats are nocturnal mammals, taking to the air at night to catch prey such as mosquitoes and midges. During the day they roost in quiet, undisturbed places such as caves, tree holes and the gaps beneath bark on old trees. They may also roost in house roofs. You can transform your garden into a nature-friendly zone with a bat box, designed to mimic bats’ natural roosting sites and help them rest and hibernate in peace and quiet.

Bats use different roosts at different times of the year. Female bats gather together in summer to form a maternity roost, where they give birth and suckle their young. These tend to be warm and dry, compared to the cool, constant temperatures of winter roosts, which bats use for hibernation. By erecting bat boxes in several locations in your garden, including against exterior walls, you will provide a range of habitats throughout the year.
A bat box can be put up at any time of year but if you install one before bats return in spring, it will hopefully be used in the summer. Location however, is key. The ideal spot is at least 4m above the ground, to avoid interference from other wildlife or domestic pets, and sheltered from strong winds. Areas where bats are known to feed are also a good start and take advantage of their tendency to use hedge and tree lines for navigation by placing your bat box near these. You can attach boxes to tree trunks, exterior walls or under the eaves of your house.

Bat boxes usually have narrow slits that bats can crawl into. They need to be draught free, as bats won't use them if they're draughty and a well-insulated box retains its temperature more consistently, and is therefore more likely to attract bats.
There are several designs to choose from. Wooden bat boxes are usually box-shaped or flat, with a grooved ‘bat ladder’ and a slit at the bottom, for access. They should be made with untreated wood and have a rough texture inside, such as rough-sawn timber, which the bats can cling on to. Woodcrete bat boxes, which are made from wood fibres mixed with concrete, are becoming popular as they are long lasting and durable.

Finally, to encourage bats into your garden, grow pollinator friendly plants such as evening primrose and honeysuckle to bring in moths, which bats love, leave a patch of grass to grow long for the insect larvae bats feed on and if you have the space include a small water feature to encourage midges etc. A compost heap will also become a home for bat prey and if yoou hvae lighting in the garden, make sure it's low level or erect hoods over the top so it doesn't disorientate bats in flight.

We’ve pulled together a selection of bat boxes to put up in your garden, below.

To encourage more wildlife into your garden, read our guides to the best bird feeders, best hedgehog houses and best bird tables. And check out our guide to the best wildlife cameras to capture images and video of animals in their natural habitats.

For more on creating habitats for wildlife see our video on how to make a bat box and our guide to the different types of bird box.

The best bat boxes in 2024

Beaumaris Woodstone Bat Box Maxi

The Beaumaris Bat Box is made from WoodStone, a durable mix of concrete and wood fibres, which provides a draught-proof space that maintains an even temperature. It's also what gives it its lifetime warranty. This design has a rough interior to enable bats to cling.

Price: £49.99

Buy Beaumaris Woodstone Bat Box Maxi from CJ Wildlife

Wildlife World Conservation Bat Box

Made using FSC timber, the Conservation Bat Box has two vertical chambers with a grooved ladder which enables bats to climb in and cling. The roof is sloping to keep the box dry. It has a natural finish with just the front panel painted in a water-based paint.

Price: £69.99

Buy Wildlife World Conservation Bat Box from Amazon

Eco Kent Bat Box

The Eco Kent Bat Box is made by Nestbox using FSC wood and features two internal crevices, ideal for common bats species such as pipistrelles. Inside the wood is roughly sawn to give bats a good grip.

Price: £54.05

Buy Eco Kent Bat Box from B & Q

Medium Wooden Bat Box

This sturdy bat box has a grooved ladder and entrance slit for safe entry and exit, designed to be accessible only to bats, so predators can’t get in. The wooden design will fit in nicely amongst garden trees, ready for bats to settle into in the daytime for roosting.

Price: £16.95

Buy the Medium Wooden Bat Box from Sarah Raven

Ecostyrocrete Three Crevice Bat Box

Ecostyrocrete is made using recycled polystyrene mixed with cement. It's a durable, long-lasting material that's perfect for making insulated, draught-proof wildlife habitats. This handmade bat box features three crevices for roosting bats, and can be tailored to be fixed to a tree or wall.

Price: £72

Buy Ecostyrocrete Three Crevice Bat Box from greenwoodsecohabitats.co.uk

Harlech Woodstone Bat Box

Long-lasting woodcrete ensures a well-insulated and draught-free space for roosting bats. Guaranteed for 10 years.

Price: £24.99

Buy Harlech Woodstone Bat Box from CJ Wildlife

Almodovar Wooden Bat Box

This large, black box is designed to host a greater number of bats of different species, including brown long-eared bats. It has two two sections with grooved internal ladders that bats can cling on to.

Price: £64.99

Buy Almodovar Wooden Bat Box from CJ Wildlife

Chillon Woodstone Bat Box

This woodstone bat box can house up to 15 pipistrelle bats at a time. It has a textured ‘landing ramp’ to enable bats to cling on easily. Being made from woodstone, this box is durable, draught-free and long lasting, and is guaranteed for 10 years.

Price: £37.99

Buy the Chillon Woodstone Bat Box from CJ Wildlife

This Product Guide was last updated in March 2024. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.