You appear to be using Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer will no longer be supported by Microsoft after June 2022 after which we will drop support too.

We strongly recommend switching to a more modern web browser to shop on our site such as Edge, Chrome or Firefox.

Your version of the Safari web browser is no longer supported.

Our website uses the latest technologies to keep our customers data safe and to protect you from cyber crime, which means we can no longer support your web browser due to its age.

Please visit our website from a more modern web browser such as Google Chrome.

Best Nesting Boxes

With so many different types of garden nesting boxes (bird boxes) available, it can be hard to decide which one is the right one for you, (or should we say, the right one for your garden birds!) There is such variety on the market, which is why we have decided to use our combined experience to point you in the right direction.

Top 10 best nesting boxes

To help you decide on the best nesting box for your local birds, here’s 10 of the best for the UK in 2022. There’s sure to be one that will provide the perfect winter refuge or spring nesting site for one of your garden birds.

You can view our other guides in our Product Guides section here. Scroll on for more advice on the types of nesting boxes available, placement, and answers to frequently asked questions.

1.	Simon King Brushwood Robin Nesting Box By Wildlife World A Brushwood Robin Nesting Box, developed in conjunction with TV's naturalist and wildlife cameraman, Simon King. Robin's prefer an open style nest box with easy access but also like to be concealed from prying eyes of predators. The entrance is open but the nest space is both concealed behind the side wall and covered by a roof. Rating: (25 reviews) Nice little nest - Review by Zarrow "We received the nest promptly after ordering. Very happy with the quality. We have been adopted by a robin for the winter so we have put the nest in the bush where he regularly roosts."	View Product
2.	Natural Log Nesting Box By Wildlife World This natural, air dried FSC certified wooden log has low thermal conductivity to provide excellent insulation for nesting birds. The wooden lid is beautifully pale in colour and contrasts with the naturally dark bark. Features a small entrance hole ideal for Blue Tits. Rating: (10 reviews) Best nesting box - Review by Francesca "This is the third such nesting box I have bought. I have bought other nesting boxes in the past but these made from a tree trunk have been the most successful. These nesting boxes make the perfect gift."	View Product
3.	Birch Log Nest Box By CJ Wildlife Made from high quality birch wood this CJ Wildlife bird box comes with self insulating properties which will help increase the survival rate of the younger birds in the nest, and the durable birch exterior of this nesting spot is weather resistant - unlike traditional wooden bird boxes which tend to rot after times of bad weather. Rating: (7 reviews) Magnificent - Review by Sharon "When I opened the box and saw this log nest I was blown away. I could not believe the size, the weight and the the quality. Absolutely magnificent. Looks wonderful out in the garden. I am so pleased I bought it, would certainly recommend. Would make a lovely present for anyone with a garden,...and its a lovely present for the birds too"	View Product
4.	Robin Nest Box By Tom Chambers Designed for the nation’s favourite garden bird, this sturdy little house will also accommodate wrens and dunnocks. It has a built-in hanging slot which makes it easy to mount. Manufactured in the U.K. from FSC certified wood. Rating: (1 review) Very well made - Review by Carol "Very well made and not from flimsy wood, but solid. Put it up straight away."	View Product
5.	Dovecote Nest Box By Wildlife World Offer birds a stylish new home with the Dovecote nest box. The handmade timber shingle roof is topped with a decorative white finial to make a beautiful focal feature in your garden, as well as a practical nesting spot for your small feathered friends, such as blue tits. The black steel hopes and flat-back of the nest box provide structural stability and beautiful presentation.	View Product
6.	Simon King Cavity Nest Box By Wildlife World Crafted from strong FSC timber, this modern nest box features a curved entrance hole that replicates a natural tree hollow. The stylish natural wood contrasts beautifully with the dark green painted finish, and an easy-open side panel for cleaning means it will be easy to keep in tip-top condition. Rating: (1 review) Well made - Review by Mrs R Fenner "Sturdy well made with thick wood. Unusual design. Like the side opening for easy annual clean. Makes attractive change of style. Depth from top entry to bottom should keep birds well protected and impossible for predators."	View Product
7.	Elegance Bird Nest Box By Wildlife World A truly sophisticated focal feature for your outdoor space, the Elegance Nest Box from Wildlife World is a solid construction made from naturally durable FSC certified timber, and its unique, eye-catching triangular design gives this bird nest box a good depth and height.	View Product
8.	Jacobi Jayne Woodcrete Nest Box By Jacobi Jayne Provide the perfect nesting place for a wide range of birds with this nearly indestructible nest box, featuring a 32mm entrance hole. Made from an incredibly tough and durable mix of sawdust, concrete and clay, this nest box is made to last. Features a removable front panel for inspection and cleaning. Rating: (15 reviews) Quite the best nest boxes I've ever bought. - Review by Soleil "I have used these nest boxes for some 15 years. They are brilliant - they need no maintenance and are easy and quick to clean. Birds really like them - have had blue tits, great tits and nuthatches using them."	View Product
9.	Chapelwood Robin Nest Box Dark Wood By Chapelwood A gorgeous Nest Box made from FSC certified pine, with an open fronted entrance (preferred by Robins). The nesting box is a safe and warm environment for the birds, featuring 15mm wall thickness for optimum insulation. Rating: (1 review) Top present - Review by Wigtop "Bought as a Xmas present for my birdbox loving wife. We have a spending limit rule of £10 for each other. On receipt of this well packaged bird box I examined it and am well pleased with what I saw. Good quality, well made and just inside the aforementioned spend limit."	View Product
10.	Fallen Fruits Observation Nest Box By Fallen Fruits This Fallen Fruits Observation Box is the perfect way to safely keep an eye on nesting birds. Made with natural materials, this nesting box will attract an array of small birds, including the blue tit, house sparrow, great tit and flycatcher. To find out who has decided to settle inside, simply open the side door using the metal latch.	View Product

View all nesting boxes

What should you be looking for?

When you’re looking for the nesting box and want to make an informed purchase, you should consider each element of the box, and whether it will work in your garden for the birds that visit you. Understanding what makes a next box will help you to choose one that will suit you best.

Materials. Wood makes the best material for nest boxes – look for boxes made using pine. Boxes and roosting pockets woven with natural fibres also make a rustic, convenient choice (like this Wildlife World Oval Roosting Nest Pocket)
Roof. The roof of the nesting box should extend over the sides of it so that water pours well away from the entrance and doesn’t run down the sides.
No perches. Perches can give squirrels and other predators somewhere to grip on to so they can pull themselves up to the entrance. Avoid any nest boxes that have protruding parts which could be used as a grip hold.
Entrance – The entrance of your nest box should be impossible for predators to access. Choose one that is big enough for smaller birds to enter, but tight enough that nothing can read inside. A copper hole protection plate can add a protective element to your box.

Types of nest boxes

There are two main types of nest box:

Open fronted nest boxes - open fronted boxes will be used by birds that like to nest in dense foliage such as Robins, Wrens, Thrushes and Blackbirds, Pied Wagtails and Dunnocks.
Boxes with a small entrance hole - a box with an entrance hole will be used by most other small garden birds, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Sparrows, Nuthatches, Redstarts.

Entrance holes range in size from a tiny starter hole that a woodpecker will peck to the desired size, a 26mm hole for blue tits, and up to 28mm and 32mm for other species of small garden birds. You should consider the average size of the birds that visit your garden when choosing which nest box to purchase.

Where to place your nesting box

Nesting box placement is vital to attracting nesting birds year after year.

Height - Your box should be no less than 2 to 4 metres high – even higher if there are cats that prowl through your garden.
Shelter – there should be ample shelter to prevent the next box from getting wet where possible.
Away from feeders – keep birds sleeping and eating spots separate – predators may visit the areas where they eat to get food for themselves.

Which direction should a nesting box face?

When placing your nest box, you’ll want the open end to avoid wind and direct sunlight. Place it facing to the north or east, and make sure the flight path to the nest box isn’t blocked.

Read more: Where to position your nest box

FAQs

1. How to stop bees nesting in a bird box

If you’ve had or have birds nesting in your bird box, you’ll want to take action to stop it happening again. They make the perfect place for a bees nest, so don’t be surprised if you hear your box buzzing one day. If bees are already occupying it, contact a professional to collect them and clean it thoroughly, painting it with an oil paint to hide the smell of the bees. You can then cut a second, larger hole in the side of the box to put bees off nesting in there.

Spraying it with vinegar will keep bees but not birds away. However, if you leave the nest alone until the bees leave it, you can remove it afterwards. They’re an important part of the environment so should be encourages where possible.

2. How do you attract birds to a nesting box?

To attract birds to a nesting box, you should ensure the surrounding environment is optimal. Try leaving out nesting materials in dry places, providing a few types of nesting box for the birds to come to, and ensure you are leaving a good selection of foods in a different area of the garden. Read our guide on attracting birds to a nest box here for more advice.

3. How do birds claim a nesting box?

Once a bird has found a nesting box that it likes the look of, it will claim it so other birds know to stay away. It will peck at the entrance to the box to visually warn them off. They will do this more than once, as the loud pecking sound will also act as a signal that this box is theirs for the season.