How to stock a hardware shop in Kenya: an opening-stock guide
To stock a hardware shop in Kenya, start with the lines that every fundi and household buys again and again: fixings, hand tools, door hardware, paint tools, safety wear and wire. Buy one carton of each of the most-asked sizes rather than many sizes of a few items. In Nairobi, in October 2026, the 19-pack starter basket below costs KSh 193,625 at AHIHQ Traders wholesale prices, and every line in it is sold by the carton, case, bag or roll.
A starter basket at a glance
This is an example, not a rule. It takes one pack of one common size in each line, so you can see what an opening order across six categories ties up in cash.
| Category | Product | Pack | Pack price (Oct 2026) | Unit cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixings | Wood screws 1" x 8 | Carton of 100 packets | KSh 10,585 | about KSh 106 a packet |
| Fixings | Wall plugs S6 x 30mm | Carton of 100 packets | KSh 9,425 | about KSh 94 a packet |
| Fixings | Steel nails 2", 650g packets | Carton of 25 packets | KSh 4,715 | about KSh 189 a packet |
| Fixings | Gypsum screws 3.5 x 25mm | Carton of 48 boxes | KSh 6,265 | about KSh 131 a box |
| Hand tools | Claw hammer, rubber handle 27mm | Carton of 36 | KSh 12,530 | about KSh 348 a piece |
| Hand tools | Screwdriver, black handle 4" | Carton of 240 | KSh 11,140 | about KSh 46 a piece |
| Hand tools | Super pliers 8" | Carton of 60 | KSh 11,310 | about KSh 189 a piece |
| Hand tools | Measuring tape 5m | Carton of 120 | KSh 10,440 | about KSh 87 a piece |
| Door hardware | Ordinary hinges 3" Light | Case of 30 dozen | KSh 7,615 | packed by the dozen |
| Door hardware | A-type tower bolt 4" | Carton of 60 dozen | KSh 14,355 | about KSh 20 a piece |
| Door hardware | Padlock 63mm | Carton of 60 | KSh 14,355 | about KSh 239 a piece |
| Paint tools | Paint brush #510, 2" | Carton of 480 | KSh 18,100 | about KSh 38 a piece |
| Paint tools | Paint roller 9", plastic H/D | Carton of 60 | KSh 8,265 | about KSh 138 a piece |
| Paint tools | Masking tape 1" x 15m | Carton of 144 | KSh 6,265 | about KSh 44 a piece |
| PPE | Rubber gloves "SUN" 100g | Bag of 300 pairs | KSh 26,100 | about KSh 87 a pair |
| PPE | Safety helmet, light | Carton of 50 | KSh 7,975 | about KSh 160 a piece |
| PPE | Dust mask, blue frame | Carton of 200 | KSh 6,670 | about KSh 33 a piece |
| Wire | Galvanized wire, 25 kg roll | Roll of 25 kg | KSh 6,525 | one roll |
| Wire | Chicken wire 1" x 3' x 30m | Roll | KSh 990 | one roll |
How much capital does a starter carton list tie up?
Add the cartons up by category:
- Fixings: 10,585 + 9,425 + 4,715 + 6,265 = KSh 30,990
- Hand tools: 12,530 + 11,140 + 11,310 + 10,440 = KSh 45,420
- Door hardware: 7,615 + 14,355 + 14,355 = KSh 36,325
- Paint tools: 18,100 + 8,265 + 6,265 = KSh 32,630
- PPE: 26,100 + 7,975 + 6,670 = KSh 40,745
- Wire: 6,525 + 990 = KSh 7,515
Total: 30,990 + 45,420 + 36,325 + 32,630 + 40,745 + 7,515 = KSh 193,625. That is the stock cost of the basket at wholesale pack prices. It is above KSh 15,000, so delivery anywhere in Kenya is free; below that it is KSh 350 flat. Shelving, rent, licences and your float are extra, so budget for them separately.
You can make the same basket cheaper or dearer by changing sizes. For example, a carton of 240 4" screwdrivers is KSh 11,140, while 240 of the 8" is KSh 15,660. A carton of 60 63mm padlocks is KSh 14,355, while 240 of the 38mm is KSh 27,840.
Why does buying by the carton matter?
- You know your unit cost. Divide the carton price by the count and you have the cost of each piece, packet or pair. That is the number to set your shelf price against.
- You know what you hold. Cartons have fixed counts, so stock-taking is counting cartons and loose pieces, not guessing.
- Re-ordering is simple. When a carton is close to empty, order one more. Over time you learn which lines move in weeks and which in months.
- It is the only way this range is sold. Every product in the tools and hardware range is sold wholesale by its pack, never as a single piece.
What should a new hardware shop stock first?
Fixings
Screws, plugs and nails sell every day and in small amounts, so they are worth starting with. Wood screws come 120 pieces to a packet, wall plugs in packets of 200 (S6), steel nails in 650g packets of 1" to 4", and gypsum screws in boxes of 200 for ceiling and partition work. Add roofing bolts and self-drilling roofing screws if you are near building sites.
Hand tools
Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers and tapes are the tools people come in for when one breaks or goes missing. Start with a claw hammer, screwdrivers, pliers and a 5m measuring tape, then add hand saws and adjustable spanners as you learn what your customers ask for.
Door hardware
Hinges, bolts and padlocks sell to builders, carpenters and home owners alike. Ordinary hinges are packed by the dozen in cases, A-type tower bolts by the dozen in cartons, and padlocks in cartons of 60 to 240. Start with the middle sizes, such as 3" hinges and 4" bolts, and add the others as customers ask.
Paint tools
Paint brushes, rollers and masking tape go out with every paint job. Paint brush #510 cartons hold 480 of the 2" size, 9" rollers come in cartons of 60, and masking tape in cartons of 144 (1") or 72 (2"). Sandpaper rolls and scrapers are the next step.
Safety wear (PPE)
Site workers buy gloves, helmets and masks often because they wear out or get lost. Hand gloves are packed in bags of pairs, safety helmets in cartons of 50 (Light) or 30 (Medium), and dust masks in cartons of 200 (Blue Frame). Reflector jackets and safety goggles round out the shelf.
Wire and mesh
Galvanized wire comes in 25 kg rolls and chicken wire in 30m rolls, both sold by the roll. They are bulky, so stock one or two rolls and re-order as they sell.
Which one should you buy?
- Small shop, tight budget: start with fixings and hand tools, then add door hardware.
- Near building sites: add gypsum screws, roofing screws, helmets and gloves early.
- In a residential area: lean on hinges, padlocks, paint brushes and rollers.
- Farming areas: add chicken wire, galvanized wire, pangas and spades.
- Selling sealants as well: see which silicone sealant to use.
Where to buy
Every line above is in the tools and hardware range. The range is sold wholesale only: each product is sold by its pack (carton, case, bag or bundle), never as a single piece. Prices quoted here are wholesale pack prices in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2026. Buy online or at the trade counter at Royal Business Park, opposite Complast, Old Mombasa Road, Nairobi, open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 to 17:30. Pay by M-Pesa or card. Credit terms are available depending on the client and the order. Businesses can contact us to ask about credit terms. Delivery is KSh 350 flat anywhere in Kenya, and free on orders over KSh 15,000. For a trade quote, send your list through the trade page or on WhatsApp +254 724 505 919.
Related guides
- Tools a fundi needs by trade: mason, carpenter, plumber and electrician
- Roofing screws price in Kenya (2026): every size and box count
- Construction site PPE checklist: what each crew member needs
Common questions
How much stock do I need to open a hardware shop in Kenya?
It depends on your area and space. As an example, one pack each of the 19 common lines above costs KSh 193,625 at wholesale prices in Nairobi in October 2026, before shelving and other set-up costs.
Can I buy loose pieces to test a line?
No. This range is sold by the carton, case, bag or roll only. If a full carton is too much, share it with another shop owner while you test the line.
Is delivery free on a starter order?
Delivery is free anywhere in Kenya on orders over KSh 15,000. Below that, it is KSh 350 flat.
How do I work out the cost of one piece?
Divide the carton price by the number in the carton. A carton of 36 rubber-handle claw hammers at KSh 12,530 works out at about KSh 348 a piece.