How often are building material prices updated on Fundi Link?

Building material prices are updated monthly based on supplier price lists and market feedback to reflect current trends and costs in Kenya.

What factors influence the cost of building materials in Kenya?

Prices shift due to fuel costs, import duties, seasonal demand, and regional supply variations across towns and counties.

Where can I find the current price range for cement in Kenya?

The article provides indicative retail prices for 50 kg bags of Portland cement ranging from KES 750 to 900 in Nairobi and major towns. Prices vary by brand and location.

How can I estimate the quantity of materials needed for my construction project?

Fundi Link offers free calculators such as the concrete-calculator, plaster-calculator, and brick-block-calculator to help estimate quantities and costs based on your project requirements.

Are timber prices in Kenya listed by piece or by length?

Timber prices are given per piece or foot-run depending on the yard, with examples like 2×2 cypress (12 ft) costing between KES 180 and 280 per piece.

Can I rely on these prices for formal contracts or BOQs?

No, these prices are indicative for budgeting purposes only. For formal Bills of Quantities or contract sums, consult a quantity surveyor or experienced contractor and verify prices with suppliers before purchase.

Cost of Building Materials in Kenya: Cement, Steel, Sand & Timber Prices (Updated Monthly/Quarterly)

ByFundi Link29 August 20264 min read

Indicative cement, steel, sand, and timber prices in Kenya — updated monthly. Use with our free calculators to estimate quantities and costs for your build.

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Cost of Building Materials in Kenya: Cement, Steel, Sand & Timber Prices (Updated Monthly/Quarterly)

Building material prices in Kenya shift with fuel costs, import duties, seasonal demand, and regional supply. This living guide tracks indicative cement, steel, sand, and timber prices so you can budget before visiting the hardware store or signing a contract.

Last updated: August 2026. We refresh this page monthly — bookmark it and check back before major purchases.

How to use this price guide

Figures below are indicative retail ranges in Kenya shillings (KES), gathered from major suppliers and market checks. Actual quotes vary by town, brand, delivery distance, and payment terms. Always confirm with your local dealer before ordering.

Use our free calculators to turn these prices into quantities for your project — tiles, cement bags, steel lengths, and more.

Construction Cost Estimator

Ballpark total build cost from floor area and a cost-per-square-metre rate — clearly not a formal quote.

Estimate total build cost

Cement prices in Kenya

Portland cement (50 kg bag) is the baseline for concrete, mortar, and plaster. Prices differ between Bamburi, Mombasa Cement, Savannah, National, and regional brands.

Product	Indicative price (KES)	Notes
50 kg OPC bag — major brands	750 – 900	Nairobi / major towns
50 kg PPC bag	720 – 850	General purpose blended
Bulk cement (tonne, ex-works)	Quote on request	Large projects only

Update this table each month in the editor when you receive new supplier quotes.

Concrete Calculator

Calculate concrete volume for slabs and pads. Add thickness, wastage, and optional bag counts.

Calculate concrete volume & bags

Plaster Calculator

Estimate plaster bags for walls or ceilings using area, thickness, and coverage per bag.

Estimate plaster bags

Steel & reinforcement prices

Deformed bars (Y-bars), mild steel, binding wire, and BRC mesh track global steel indices and local mill capacity. Length and diameter drive the final line item.

Product	Indicative price (KES)	Notes
Y12 bar (6 m length)	850 – 1,050	Per piece, retail
Y16 bar (6 m length)	1,400 – 1,750	Per piece, retail
Binding wire (25 kg roll)	4,500 – 6,000	Varies by gauge
BRC mesh A142 (3.6 × 2 m sheet)	6,500 – 8,500	Standard slab mesh

Beam Span Estimator

Rule-of-thumb span-to-depth guide for timber or reinforced concrete beams — consult an engineer for real designs.

Rule-of-thumb beam depth guide

Roofing Sheet Calculator

Estimate roofing sheets (mabati) for a rectangular roof — pitch, overlap, wastage, and optional screw counts.

Estimate roofing sheets

Sand, ballast & aggregate

River sand, pit sand, and machine-crushed ballast are sold by the tonne or 7-tonne lorry load. Moisture content affects volume — weigh where possible on large orders.

Product	Indicative price (KES)	Notes
River sand (per tonne)	2,500 – 3,500	Washed, delivered
Ballast / aggregate (per tonne)	2,000 – 3,000	Crushed stone
Machine-cut hardcore	1,800 – 2,500	Per tonne
7-tonne lorry load (sand)	18,000 – 24,000	Incl. delivery, Nairobi area

Brick & Block Calculator

Estimate blocks or bricks for a wall, including mortar joints, openings, wastage, and pack counts.

Estimate blocks for walls

Timber prices

Softwood (cypress, pine) and hardwood (mvule, mahogany) are priced per foot-run or whole length depending on the yard. Treat all structural timber for termites and moisture where required.

Product	Indicative price (KES)	Notes
2×2 cypress (12 ft)	180 – 280	Per piece
2×4 cypress (12 ft)	350 – 550	Per piece
6×1 flooring board (12 ft)	450 – 700	Per piece
Treated pole (2.5 m)	800 – 1,200	Fencing / pergola

Skirting Calculator

Estimate skirting boards from room dimensions or perimeter, with door deductions and wastage.

Estimate skirting boards

Free calculators for your project

Once you know your unit prices, run our calculators to estimate quantities — then export a combined shopping list for site.

Tile Calculator

Estimate how many floor or wall tiles you need for a room, including wastage and optional box counts.

Calculate tiles needed

Paint Calculator

Estimate paint litres and tins for interior walls, exterior walls, or ceilings — with coats and coverage rate.

Calculate paint litres

Material Bundle Export

Combine tile, paint, and concrete estimates into one PDF shopping list for your project.

Export combined shopping list

How we update this page

We review supplier price lists and market feedback monthly. When you spot a significant change in your area, leave a comment — it helps other readers. For formal BOQs and contract sums, work with a quantity surveyor or experienced contractor.

Disclaimer: Fundi Link publishes indicative prices for general guidance only. This is not a quote, contract offer, or financial advice. Always verify prices, specifications, and delivery terms with your supplier before purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often are building material prices updated on Fundi Link?: Building material prices are updated monthly based on supplier price lists and market feedback to reflect current trends and costs in Kenya.
What factors influence the cost of building materials in Kenya?: Prices shift due to fuel costs, import duties, seasonal demand, and regional supply variations across towns and counties.
Where can I find the current price range for cement in Kenya?: The article provides indicative retail prices for 50 kg bags of Portland cement ranging from KES 750 to 900 in Nairobi and major towns. Prices vary by brand and location.
How can I estimate the quantity of materials needed for my construction project?: Fundi Link offers free calculators such as the concrete-calculator, plaster-calculator, and brick-block-calculator to help estimate quantities and costs based on your project requirements.
Are timber prices in Kenya listed by piece or by length?: Timber prices are given per piece or foot-run depending on the yard, with examples like 2×2 cypress (12 ft) costing between KES 180 and 280 per piece.
Can I rely on these prices for formal contracts or BOQs?: No, these prices are indicative for budgeting purposes only. For formal Bills of Quantities or contract sums, consult a quantity surveyor or experienced contractor and verify prices with suppliers before purchase.