Nest box
The entrance hole decides who moves in. Here are boxes for bluebirds, wrens and chickadees – and the standard UK tit boxes – with the hole sizes that matter.
How we compared: manufacturer specifications and maker prices (30 Sep 2026), plus the placement and safety guidance of Audubon, the RSPB and other sources linked below. We have not tested these products ourselves.
Quick picks
Specs
| Model | Price | Type | Key specs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature's Way Bird Products Cedar Bluebird Box House | see Amazon | bluebird (US) | hole (in): 1.5; predator guard: yes; material: cedar, stainless steel screws | Eastern bluebirds; also tree swallows, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, wrens (Bob Vila) |
| Pennington Cedar Bluebird House | – | bluebird (US) | hole (in): 1-9/16 (Bob Vila; Walmart listing 1.56); predator guard: yes; material: red cedar | Western/Mountain bluebird hole size at a budget price |
| Nature's Way CWH1 Cedar Wren House | see Amazon | wren (US) | hole (in): 1.125; material: cedar; dimensions (in): 8 x 8.875 x 8.125 | House wrens; hanging from a branch or hook |
| Kettle Moraine Cedar Eastern Bluebird House | see Amazon | bluebird (US) | hole (in): 1.5; material: solid cedar, stainless screws (no nails); cleaning: flip-down front | Monitored bluebird trails: flip-down front makes nest checks quick |
| Birds Choice Eastern Bluebird House, Recycled Plastic | see Amazon | bluebird (US) | hole (in): 1.5; predator guard: yes; material: recycled poly lumber | Rot-free plastic box for pole mounting |
| Kettle Moraine Wren & Chickadee Bird House | see Amazon | wren/chickadee (US) | hole (in): 1.125; material: cedar, stainless screws; dimensions (in): 5.5 x 6.25 x 9.5 | Chickadees and wrens on a post or wall |
| JCS Wildlife (Nature Products USA) Chickadee Wren Post Mount Birdhouse | see Amazon | wren/chickadee (US) | hole (in): 1.125; hole above floor (in): 3.5; outside (in): 8 x 11.25 x 7 | Small-cavity nesters; published interior dimensions |
| RSPB Classic nest box | £18.00 at RSPB Shop | tit/sparrow box (UK) | hole (mm): 32; hole reducible: to 25 mm with RSPB 25 mm nest box plate; material: FSC-certified pine | Cheapest UK box; add a 25 mm plate for blue tits only |
| RSPB Apex classic nest box | £20.00 at RSPB Shop | tit/sparrow box (UK) | hole (mm): 32; hole reducible: 25 mm plate R0110 sold separately; material: FSC-certified pine | Pitched-roof UK box for great tits and sparrows |
| Schwegler 1B nest box, 26 mm | £44.99 at Ark Wildlife | tit box (UK/EU) | hole (mm): 26; material: woodcrete (wood-concrete); lifespan: rot-proof up to 25 years (seller) | Blue/coal/marsh tits; durable box that resists woodpecker and squirrel damage |
| Vivara Pro (CJ Wildlife) WoodStone Seville nest box 28 mm | £34.95 at Ark Wildlife | tit box (UK) | hole (mm): 28 (32 mm variant available); material: WoodStone (concrete + wood fibre); dimensions cm: H30.5 x W21 x D19 | Great tits (28 mm) in a heavy, insulated box |
| Ark Wildlife (Jacobi Jayne) CedarPlus Hole Bird Nest Box | £34.95 at Ark Wildlife | tit/sparrow box (UK) | hole (mm): 26 or 32 (two variants); material: 19 mm thick English cedar; claim: Official Nest Box of National Nest Box Week, supported by the BTO (seller claim) | Thick-walled wooden box with a choice of small or large hole |
Manufacturer data and maker prices (30 Sep 2026); Amazon prices are not shown. “–” = not stated.
Buying criteria
Questions
About 1 1/2 inches (1-9/16 in for mountain and western bluebirds). A bigger hole lets starlings in.
25 mm keeps out larger birds; 28 mm suits great tits and house sparrows; 32 mm suits house sparrows and nuthatches (BTO).
In the UK 2–4 m up, facing between north and east to avoid strong sun and wet winds (RSPB). In the US, bluebird boxes on a pole in open grassland, away from dense cover.