The answer that nobody tells you
If you want an honest answer:
- Eaves placement is a good idea because it gives bats the height and shelter they need. The people who study bats say it is an idea to put bat boxes close to the eaves of buildings.
- Putting bat boxes on walls can work just as well. This is true if the wall gets a lot of sun and there is a path for the bats to fly. You can still put the box up high on the wall.
So the question is not really about whether to put the box on the eaves or the wall. The question is:
Which spot on your house is best for the bats?
In this guide I will show you how I pick a spot for a bat box. I will share the list I use to make sure I am doing it right. I will also talk about the mistakes that people who are new, to this make.. I will explain how to set up a bat box so that bats will actually use it. I will not try to sell you anything.
The Big Five that Decide Success
When choosing a location I use these five factors. If a spot fails any of the three I don’t use it.
1. Darkness at Night (Light Pollution)
If the bat box gets light at night it’s often a dealbreaker. Guidance says installing near porch or security lights is an idea. Boxes should not be lit.
What I do:
At night I stand where the box would go and look for light from my own lights and neighbours’.
If I can see the bulb the bats can see the light. I move the location.
A common mistake is choosing the wall because it’s easy to access then forgetting it’s the brightest part of the property.
2. Sun Warmth (Without Cooking the Box)
Many guides recommend 6–8 hours of sun with morning sun preferred.
Europe has different climates. In regions warmth is often the limiting factor. In regions overheating is a risk. Dark boxes in sun can get lethal temperatures.
What I do:
In climates: I prioritise morning to midday sun and avoid deep shade.
In climates: I prefer partial sun or a lighter-coloured box if the wall gets intense afternoon sun.
3. Height and Clear “Drop Zone”
guides say to mount the box high often 3–6 metres.
What I do:
I aim for 3–6 m where possible.
I make sure there’s air below the entrance so bats can drop and fly out.
I avoid placing above doors or windows because droppings can fall there.
4. Flight Lines and “Bat Traffic”
Bat Conservation Trust guidance notes boxes are more likely to be used if located where bats feed.
Other guides note bats may find boxes along forest or water edges.
What I do:
I look for a “bat highway”: hedge lines, tree lines the edge of a park or a water feature nearby.
If your property is very open and bright you can still succeed,. Be extra strict, about light and warmth.
5. Stability and Weather Protection
A wobbly box is a box bats don’t trust. Eaves can protect from rain and wind. Walls can provide stability. The goal is a microclimate.
Eaves placement: when it is the choice
The Bat Conservation Trust says that on buildings boxes should be placed as close to the eaves as possible and as high as possible to avoid predation.
Why eaves are often the option
- The higher the box is, the safer it is. This is because it is harder for predators to reach and it provides flight clearance.
- Eaves are also more sheltered from wind and rain.
If you mount the box correctly it often gives an area for the bats to drop down into.
I use this eaves checklist:
- Choose eaves if you can say yes to most of these:
- The eaves area still gets sun at some point in the day it is not in permanent shade.
- You can mount the box high ideally within the 3 to 6 meter range on typical homes.
- There are no lights shining on the box at night.
- The entrance is not blocked by guttering, downpipes, vines or branches.
- It is not above your front door or windows.
Some people make a mistake when they choose eaves.
Deep eaves can create a pocket.
If your roof overhang blocks sun most of the day the box may stay too cool in northern or windy areas.
Lack of sunlight is often cited as a cause of bat box failure.
My rule is that shaded eaves usually lose to a wall.
Wall placement: when it beats eaves
Wall placement is the choice when your wall gives you better sun warmth and you can still mount the box high.
Why walls can work well
- A sunny wall can deliver the consistent warmth that many boxes need, especially in cooler regions.
- Brick or stone can help buffer temperature changes.
- It may be easier to mount the box than working under high eaves.
The RSPB guidance for bat boxes includes selecting a spot at about 3 meters up sheltered from strong winds and exposed to the sun for part of the day.
The Wildlife Trust guidance similarly emphasizes fixing the box high as possible in a sheltered position with sun for part of the day.
I actually follow this wall checklist:
- Height: least 3 meters it is better if you can safely go higher.
- Sun: aim for a spot that gets sun many guides target 6 to 8 hours when possible.
- Darkness: no direct lighting at night.
- Clear flight: space below avoid dense vegetation directly under or around the entrance.
- Practicality: do not place the box where guano becomes an annoyance, such as near windows or doors.
The wall trap is when people choose the visible spot, typically a front facade with lights and foot traffic.
If you want success the box should be placed for the bats not for aesthetics.
People often fail when they choose a spot that looks nice. It is not good for the bats.
You should place the bat box, for the bats not for how it looks.
EU climate reality is about direction and overheating.
When it comes to bat boxes people often say they should be south-facing. This is not true for all of Europe.
In the cooler and wetter parts of Europe like Northern and Western Europe
you will have luck with bat boxes that face east or southeast. This way they can still get some sun.
It is even better if you can have bat boxes that face different directions. This lets the bats choose which one is the temperature for them.
In the parts of Europe where the summers can be very hot
the problem is that the bat boxes can get too hot. If a dark bat box is in the sun it can get very dangerous for the bats.
In these cases it is safer to use a colour or put the bat box in a spot that gets partial sun.
My simple advice is this:
if the wall where you want to put the bat box gets a lot of sun in the afternoon do not just use a box.
Think about putting it in a spot that gets sun or use a design or colour that is meant for your climate.
This is also important when you are deciding whether to put the bat box under the eaves of your roof or, on the wall.
In parts of Europe it can be helpful to have the eaves shade to keep the bat box cool.
In cooler parts of Europe it is essential to have the bat box in a spot that gets some sun.
Terrace houses and small EU gardens: the real constraints
Terrace homes and compact gardens have the three problems that keep coming up.
These are the issues:
1) You only have two wall choices.
- These are the front and the back of the house.
- So you have to decide which side gets sunlight and which side is darker at night.
Most of the time the back of the house is darker because there are streetlights and fewer people walking by.
This can be an option for installation than the front of the house.
The rules about pollution are very clear about this. You should avoid putting lights near bat boxes or where birds fly.
2) Your neighbours lights can be a problem.
You can do everything right. Still have a neighbours security light shining on the box.
This is why I always check the area at night first.
3) You have to make sure the installation is safe.
Do not try to do a ladder job just to get the box to the perfect height.
It is better to have a mounted wall box at a safe height that is correctly oriented and not lit up.
This is better than doing an installation that you will never check again.
A safe installation is the option, for terrace houses and small European Union gardens.
The mistakes I see beginners make and how I fix them
If you want your article to be in the 5 this part is really important. People look for answers to these problems.
Mistake 1: I put the box in the shade so it will not get too hot
The shade is one of the reasons why boxes do not work. Not having sunlight is often the reason why people do not use them.
Fix: I give the box sunlight. I prefer morning sunlight if it is not possible to have sunlight all day.
Mistake 2: Installing the box near a security light
Many people warn against doing this.
Fix: I move the box or I change the lighting I use a shield. I change the angle I use timers or motion sensors that do not shine too much light on the box.
Mistake 3: Mounting the box low because it is easier
Most people say that the box should be mounted high usually 3 to 6 meters high or even higher if possible.
Fix: I mount the box higher if I can do it safely or I choose a spot to mount it where it is safer.
Mistake 4: Putting the box on a tree by default
Mounting the box on a tree can make it shady. Can make it easier for predators to get to it and it can block the way for the birds to fly.
Fix: I mount the box on a building when I can like on the roof or on the wall. If I have to mount it on a tree I choose the safest spot I can find.
Mistake 5: Expecting to see results away
Even if I put the box in the perfect spot it can take some time to see results. Some people talk about boxes as a way to give birds options and to teach people about birds but they are not a guarantee that birds will move in right away.
Fix: I install the box correctly I make the area around it nicer, for the birds. I am patient. I do not move the box every week.
Current Big Bat Box prices are shown on the store.
The official store has prices for Big Bat Box.
You can look at the prices. Say they start at a certain price and go up to a certain price because the prices can be different depending on the model and the color of the Big Bat Box.
The store also lets people change the country and the money they use to buy Big Bat Box so people in Europe can use euros or pounds to buy Big Bat Box.
Here are some prices for Big Bat Box:
- Single Chamber Bat House that is costs $29.99
- Two-Chamber Bat House that is made of cedar costs $45.90
- Three Chamber Bat House that is a cedar Big Bat Box and is brown costs $159.90
Big Bat Box prices start around $29.99 for a single-chamber Big Bat Box and go up to about $159.90 for a premium 3-chamber Big Bat Box and people can see the prices, on the store and change the money to euros when they buy Big Bat Box.
The final decision is about eaves or wall.
I would write down my thoughts on a piece of paper like this:
If I can put something up and it gets a lot of sunshine and it is dark at night then I think eaves are usually the better choice because the rules say to put things near the eaves on buildings.
If my eaves are in the shade and cold or if it is hard to put something safely then a sunny wall might be better than eaves especially in places where it is cool as long as I keep it dark at night and high up the wall can be a good choice for my solar panels I mean for things that need sunlight, for example solar panels in this case the wall can outperform the eaves.
