How to make a bug hotel – to attract pollinators
Learn how to make a bug hotel to provide a valuable habitat for pollinators and other insects


Knowing how to make a bug hotel is a valuable addition to the garden, encouraging and protecting a wide range of pollinators and other insects.
A popular addition to wildlife garden ideas, these bug hotels can be found ready made online, in supermarkets and garden centres. However, they are great to make at home too.
How to make a bug house: step by step guide
- Start by sourcing your materials – ensure that all the wood is natural and untreated. Even better is to source natural materials from your garden.
- Once you have your materials create a strong framework. 'Old wooden pallets are great as they have ready-made gaps and are sturdy. Place bricks on the ground as your foundation and then layer the wooden pallets on top (if you want to attract hedgehogs, make sure to leave enough space, or even put in your own hedgehog box),' recommends Anna Feeney from the RSPB.
- Alternatively, you can make you own framework out of untreated wood, these tend to be square in shape with a triangle section at the peak. Create individual sections will smaller pieces of wood. Regardless of the framework you choose, 'make sure it is no more than a metre high,' adds Anna.
- Fill in the gaps with natural materials. Anna advises using different materials as they will attract different species. She recommends:
- Dead wood and loose bark are great for beetles, centipedes, and spiders
- holes and small tubes made out of bamboo, reeds, and drilled logs are perfect for solitary bees.
- Dry leaves, sticks or straws for ladybirds.
- Lacewings thrive on corrugated cardboard.
- Avoid painting your bee hotel as this can act as a deterrent. Also make sure you do not use any insecticide in the vicinity of your bug hotel.
- Add a roof. It is important to ensure that your bug hotel will remain dry in damp conditions to prevent your bugs from being washed out of their new homes. 'Simply add some old roof tiles or plants covered with roofing felt to keep everything nice and dry. You can always try putting a bit of rubble or gritty soil on top and seeing if any wildflower seeds arrive and take root,' adds Anna.
How to make a bug house: easy
If you have the space at the back of your garden, then you can learn how to make a bug house that is easier that the hotel-style design. The perfect addition to sustainable gardening ideas, this style is also likely to be more popular with insects who will naturally gravitate to familiar locations.
‘You can create a DIY bug hotel by using lots of material you might find in your garden. Simply collect anything from large sticks, wood or logs, dead leaves and old bricks and organise them into a small pile. Just ensure that there are lots of small spaces for creatures to crawl into and feel cosy,’ advises Sarah Hancocks, projects manager at Vivara.
These bug piles offer a relatively natural habitat for all manner of insects and you will quickly find your garden’s creepy crawlies making it their home.
Should bug hotels be sun or shade?
Your bug hotel should be in shade, however, make sure that it is also a warm area of the garden – a quiet corner or near a brick wall are good options. ‘Site your bug hotel in a warm, dry and sheltered place in the garden away from prevailing winds and heavy downpours,' advises Sarah Hancocks.
Also ensure that it's a part of the garden that is not often disturbed – make sure that it's unlikely to get knocked by a stray ball or disrupted by your dog.
Add somewhere for bees to your bug hotel
All bug hotels tend to feature an area for bees, easily identifiable by a series of short bamboo poles all gathered together. These are highly successful and should definitely be incorporated into your garden.
‘A bee hotel is a little different from a bug hotel (though it can be incorporated into the design). I would keep the bee hotel fairly small in scale (as very large ones will attract more solitary bees but also more bee parasites into a concentrated area) and ensure it is positioned in a sunny spot. The hotel will want some sort of roof or covering at the top to protect the materials from getting all soggy,’ says Helen Bostock, Senior Wildlife Specialist at The Wildlife Trust.
Why make a bug hotel
Pollinators are vital: from the benefits they bring to our environment's wellbeing through to their essential contribution to agriculture and food production. Despite their importance, however, the number of pollinators still continues to be in decline. One reason for this is loss of habitat. If you have a well established garden, you only need to turn over a stone or lift up a pot to find plenty of bugs. The aim of a bug hotel is to mimic this natural habitat.
'The effects of the bug hotel can go far beyond its doors – insects become invaluable food sources for birds, hedgehogs, and bats, pollinators help our plants to reproduce, and the burrowing invertebrates help keep our soils healthy,' adds Anna.
How do I attract bugs to my bug hotel?
You can attract bugs to your bug hotel by mimicking their natural habitats – ensure you include lots of twigs, small rocks and leaves. Also avoid over filling your bug hotel and ensure there's plenty of small crevices where the bugs can feel safe from predators.
When to make a bug hotel?
Fall is the best time of year to make a bug hotel. 'You can make a bug hotel at any time of year, though autumn is a particularly good time as there are lots of natural materials around that you can use such as straw, dry grass, and hollow plant stems,' says Anna.
Do bug hotels actually work?
There is a mixed opinion on whether bug hotels actually work, though there is certainly no harm in adding one.
‘Though insects will naturally gravitate towards crevices and spots such as a garden shed, fence panels, dense climbers, stacks of plant pots over artificial boxes – bug hotels can still bring some benefit,’ says Helen Bostock.
‘Learning how to make a bug hotel is one of many fun backyard ideas for kids that are great for gardening with children. Using found or recycled materials and gets everyone thinking about how to welcome invertebrates into a garden and all the different roles they can play. They will also bring benefit to new gardens or those that lack suitable natural habitats, bug hotels will indeed provide shelter which will be lacking while a garden is very new,’ adds Helen.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature.
-
Garden experts warn these 5 plants are illegal to grow in Texas – they urge to plant non-invasive alternatives to instead
Steer clear of these invasive species if you want to avoid fines or threats to local wildlife
-
9 years ago, Martha Stewart made small kitchen storage so much smarter (and discreet) – her solution is still as ingenious today
'It is really just an ideal use of what could be just wasted space': Martha's intelligent trick is the most timeless feature you can introduce in your kitchen
-
How to kill weeds in the fall – and stop them from returning to your yard next year
Fall is a great time to clear your garden borders of troublesome weeds
-
8 plants that bloom at night – flowers perfect for a moon garden
These flowers bloom after sunset, attracting nighttime pollinators. They enhance your garden’s evening ambiance while supporting a thriving nocturnal ecosystem
-
How to grow firebush plants – for a native shrub that hummingbirds adore
By learning how to grow the firebush shrub you can easily attract spring pollinators to your yard
-
Best monarda varieties – 10 types of pollinator-friendly beebalm
This perennial is a butterfly magnet, adding fragrance and biodiversity to your yard
-
Container garden trends – 5 ways to wow with potted plants in 2025
Get ready for the next gardening year by planning your container displays now
-
How to grow hummingbird trumpet plants – the ultimate native ground cover to attract pollinators to your yard
This vigorous low-growing plant will produce a profusion of orange-red blooms that hummingbirds adore
-
Transform your borders with romantic wild roses – and add natural charm to any garden
Learn how to grow dog roses for a relaxed look that will prove popular with pollinators
-
How to get a blueberry bush to fruit – 3 expert tips for an abundant berry harvest
Try adjusting your blueberry bush's growing environment and watch as fruit starts to grow