Types of wire mesh: which wire for poultry, fencing, windows and security
The main types of wire mesh and fencing wire sold in Kenya are chicken wire (twisted hexagons, for poultry and light fencing), welded mesh (rigid squares, for cages and small animals), gauze (fine screen for windows), coffee-tray mesh (for drying racks and heavier screening), galvanized wire (for straining and tying fences) and razor wire (for security on walls and fence tops). At AHIHQ Traders in Nairobi, in October 2026, these rolls run from KSh 990 for a 3 ft chicken wire roll to KSh 7,250 for a 15 kg roll of soldered coffee-tray mesh.
Types of wire mesh at a glance
| Type | Roll size | Price (Nairobi, October 2026) | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knicker chicken wire mesh | 3 ft or 6 ft × 30 m, 1/2" to 1-1/2" mesh | KSh 990 to KSh 3,045 a roll | Poultry, gardens, plaster joints |
| Knicker welded wire mesh, 1 cm aperture | 3 ft × 25 m | KSh 4,350 a roll | Cages, hutches, small-animal runs |
| Knicker green gauze wire | 3 ft × 25 m | KSh 1,885 a roll | Window and vent screens |
| Knicker nylon gauze wire | 4 ft × 30 m, green or blue | KSh 16,675 for a bag of 10 rolls | Window insect screens |
| Knicker coffee tray wire mesh, soldered | 3 ft × 25 m, 13 kg or 15 kg | KSh 6,235 or KSh 7,250 a roll | Drying racks, heavier screens |
| Knicker coffee tray wire mesh, unsoldered | 3 ft or 4 ft × 25 m | KSh 4,640 or KSh 6,235 a roll | Drying racks |
| Knicker galvanized wire | 25 kg roll, gauge 8 to 16, or 22 gauge | KSh 6,525 or KSh 7,250 a roll | Fence line wire, tying, binding |
| Knicker razor wire | 10 m roll, 45 cm or PVC green coated | KSh 1,740 or KSh 2,395 a roll | Security on walls and fence tops |
Most of these are sold by the single roll. The nylon gauze is the exception: it comes in a bag of 10 rolls, which works out at about KSh 1,668 a roll.
What is chicken wire used for?
Chicken wire is thin wire twisted into hexagons. It is light, flexible and quick to put up, which makes it the usual choice for poultry houses, runs and garden fencing. We stock it in 3 ft and 6 ft widths, all in 30 m rolls, with mesh openings of 1/2", 3/4", 1" and 1-1/2". Prices run from KSh 990 (1" × 3 ft) to KSh 3,045 (1/2" × 6 ft). Masons also use strips of it over joints before plastering.
Its weakness is strength. Twisted mesh can be pushed out of shape and cut with ordinary pliers, so on its own it marks a boundary rather than securing one.
What is welded mesh, and when is it better than chicken wire?
In welded mesh the wires cross at right angles and are joined at every crossing, so the openings stay square and the sheet holds its shape. The Knicker welded wire mesh has a 1 cm aperture and comes in a 3 ft × 25 m roll at KSh 4,350.
Choose it over chicken wire for rabbit hutches, bird cages, small-animal runs and anywhere the mesh has to stay flat and stiff. It costs more per roll than 3 ft chicken wire, and the roll is 25 m rather than 30 m.
Which wire mesh is used for windows?
Gauze. It is a fine screen that lets air through and keeps insects out. We have two kinds. The Knicker green gauze wire is a 3 ft × 25 m roll at KSh 1,885. The Knicker nylon gauze wire is 4 ft wide × 30 m long, in green or blue, and is sold as a bag of 10 rolls for KSh 16,675, about KSh 1,668 a roll. The nylon bag suits window fabricators and contractors fitting many windows; the single green gauze roll suits one house.
What is coffee-tray mesh?
Coffee-tray mesh is the mesh laid on raised drying beds for coffee and other crops, and it is also used as a heavier screen. It comes two ways. The soldered type has its crossings bonded so the mesh stays square when cut; it is a 3 ft × 25 m roll at KSh 6,235 for the 13 kg roll or KSh 7,250 for the 15 kg roll. Both are the same size, so the 15 kg roll carries more wire. The unsoldered type is woven only, and costs KSh 4,640 for 3 ft × 25 m or KSh 6,235 for 4 ft × 25 m.
Which wire for fencing a plot?
A plot fence is usually built from three things: posts, line wire strained between them, and a mesh or a security top. Knicker galvanized wire does the straining and tying; it comes in 25 kg rolls at KSh 6,525 for gauges 8 to 16 and KSh 7,250 for 22 gauge. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire, so the heavier gauges are for line wire and the lighter ones for tying the mesh on. The thin 22 gauge is for binding.
Fill the fence with chicken wire for a light boundary, or welded mesh where you want it stiffer. Posts are not part of this range.
Which wire for security?
Razor wire. It has sharp blades along a coiled wire and is fixed along the top of a wall or fence to stop people climbing over. The Knicker razor wire comes in 10 m rolls: KSh 1,740 for the 45 cm type and KSh 2,395 for the PVC green coated type. Handle it with heavy leather gloves and eye protection, and lay it out with two people.
Which one should you buy?
- Poultry house or run: chicken wire, 3/4" or 1" mesh.
- Hutches, cages, small animals: welded wire mesh, 1 cm.
- Windows and vents, one house: green gauze wire, KSh 1,885 a roll.
- Windows on a whole project: nylon gauze wire, a bag of 10 rolls.
- Crop drying racks: soldered or unsoldered coffee-tray mesh.
- Straining and tying a fence: galvanized wire, 25 kg roll.
- Keeping people out: razor wire along the top of the wall or fence.
Where to buy
Every roll above is in our wire mesh and netting collection, part of the wider tools and hardware range. Our trade counter is at Royal Business Park, opposite Complast, Old Mombasa Road, Nairobi, open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 to 17:30. We deliver countrywide for a flat KSh 350, and delivery is free on orders over KSh 15,000. You can pay by M-Pesa or card. Contractors and shops can ask for our trade lists at our trade page, or send a list on WhatsApp on +254 724 505 919 and we will price it for you.
Related guides
- Chicken wire price in Kenya (2026): every roll size and width
- How much wire to fence a plot in Kenya: rolls, extras and real costs
- Construction site PPE checklist: what each crew member needs
Common questions
What is the difference between chicken wire and welded mesh?
Chicken wire is twisted into hexagons and is light and flexible. Welded mesh is joined at every crossing, so it is stiffer and keeps square openings. Ours: chicken wire from KSh 990 a 30 m roll; welded mesh KSh 4,350 a 25 m roll.
Is chicken wire good enough to fence a plot?
It marks a boundary and keeps birds and small animals in or out, but it is easy to cut. For security, add razor wire on top.
What does gauge mean on galvanized wire?
It is the wire thickness. A lower gauge number means a thicker wire, so gauge 8 is much heavier than gauge 16 or 22.
Is razor wire sold by the metre?
No, by the 10 m roll: KSh 1,740 for 45 cm and KSh 2,395 for PVC green coated (Nairobi, October 2026).