Blackout vs Sunscreen Blinds
Do you want the room dark or do you just want the glare gone?
Blackout blinds use a coated fabric that blocks almost all light. Sunscreen blinds use a mesh that cuts glare and heat while you still see outside. At Excel Deco, blackout blinds cost KSh 3,999 per sqm and sunscreen blinds KSh 3,499 per sqm.
- Prices last updated October 2026
- Delivery and fitting across Nairobi
- Showroom at Summit House, Moi Avenue
In short: Blackout roller blinds cost KSh 3,999 per sqm and suit bedrooms, while sunscreen roller blinds cost KSh 3,499 per sqm and suit living rooms and offices where you want light and a view. Excel Deco on Moi Avenue, Nairobi measures, supplies and fits both.
- Blackout roller blinds: KSh 3,999 per sqm
- Sunscreen roller blinds: KSh 3,499 per sqm
Prices last updated October 2026. Excel Deco Solutions, Summit House Room 9, Moi Avenue, Nairobi.
Prices at Excel Deco
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Blackout roller blinds | KSh 3,999 per sqm |
| Sunscreen roller blinds | KSh 3,499 per sqm |
Prices last updated October 2026. Ask on WhatsApp for today’s rate and stock.
Side by side
| Feature | Blackout | Sunscreen |
|---|---|---|
| Light | blocks almost all | softens glare |
| View out | none when down | kept |
| Night privacy | full | low with lights on |
| Heat | blocks a lot | cuts some |
| Best rooms | bedrooms, boardrooms, cinemas | offices, living rooms, glass walls |
Picture a home office in Lavington with one window behind the screen. Blackout made the room feel like a cave. Sunscreen kept the view and killed the glare on the laptop.
Cost worked out: a two bedroom flat in Kilimani
Here is an example mixing both types, which is what most homes end up doing.
| Room | Blind | Sum | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two bedrooms, 1.5 x 1.4m windows | Blackout roller | 4.2 sqm x KSh 3,999 | KSh 16,796 |
| Living room, two 2.4 x 1.5m windows | Sunscreen roller | 7.2 sqm x KSh 3,499 | KSh 25,193 |
| Kitchen, 1.2 x 1m window | Sunscreen roller | 1.2 sqm x KSh 3,499 | KSh 4,199 |
| Total | 12.6 sqm | KSh 46,188 |
Doing every window in blackout would cost 12.6 x 3,999 = KSh 50,387 and make the living room darker than most people want. Fitting is quoted on WhatsApp. For a full flat budget, see the cost of blinds for an apartment in Nairobi.
Your own windows will differ, so measure each one and send the sizes for an exact figure.
Choose in five questions
- Who sleeps in the room? Babies, night shift workers and light sleepers need blackout.
- Do you work on a screen there? Sunscreen cuts glare and keeps the view.
- Does the window face west? Afternoon sun is strongest. Sunscreen cuts glare. Blackout stops it completely.
- Do you want the view? Sunscreen lets you see out by day. Blackout hides it.
- Is the window at street level? At night, sunscreen shows shapes when the lights are on inside. Blackout keeps full privacy.
Our bedroom blinds page goes deeper on sleep and privacy.
If two or more answers point to blackout, go blackout. If most point to light and a view, go sunscreen. A room that needs both is a sign to use zebra blinds or two blinds on one window.
Mistakes people make
- Blackout fitted inside a shallow recess. Light leaks round the sides. Fit outside the recess with an overlap for a truly dark room.
- Sunscreen in a ground floor bedroom. Great by day, see through at night with the lights on.
- Wrong colour. A white sunscreen fabric feels brighter. A dark one gives a clearer view out.
- Guessing sizes. Measure width at three points and height at three points. Our guide on how to measure windows for blinds shows how.
Another common mistake is putting blackout in a home office to stop screen glare. It works, but you end up with the lights on all day. A sunscreen blind cuts glare and keeps the daylight, which is better for a long day at the desk.
A middle option and care tips
If you cannot decide, zebra blinds give you both in one. Bands of sheer and solid fabric slide over each other. A standard zebra is KSh 3,399 per sqm and a blackout zebra is KSh 3,799. See zebra blinds prices.
To clean either roller blind, roll it fully down and dust it with a soft brush or the brush head of a vacuum. Dab marks with a damp cloth. Do not soak the fabric. In dusty months, a quick dust every two weeks keeps the colour fresh.
Ready to order? Send your window sizes on WhatsApp to 0757 753 748 or visit us at Summit House, Room 9 on Moi Avenue. You can feel both fabrics side by side before you choose.
Shop the products on this page
Blackout Roller Blinds Kenya, Full Light Blocking & Privacy BlindsKSh 3,999
Sunscreen Roller Blinds Kenya, UV Protection BlindsKSh 3,499
Blackout Window FilmKSh 999
Bamboo Roller BlindsKSh 5,999Questions buyers ask
Which is better for a bedroom?
Blackout.
Which is better for an office?
Sunscreen, unless it is a boardroom used for projection.
Can I have both on one window?
Yes. A double roller holds both fabrics on one bracket. Ask us on WhatsApp.
Do sunscreen blinds give privacy?
In the day, yes. At night with lights on, people can see in.
Do blackout blinds keep a room cooler?
Yes, they block direct sun, so the room heats up less in the afternoon. A sunscreen blind cuts some heat while still letting light in.
Can I see out through sunscreen blinds?
Yes, during the day you see out clearly while people outside see much less. At night with lights on inside, the effect reverses.
Is there a blind that does both?
Yes, a zebra blind switches between sheer and solid bands. A blackout zebra at KSh 3,799 per sqm gives a dark room when closed.
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Get your quote today
Send your sizes or a photo of the space on WhatsApp 0757 753 748, call 0757 753 748 or email info@exceldeco.co.ke. Visit the Excel Deco Solutions showroom at Summit House Room 9, Moi Avenue, Nairobi. We deliver and install across Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado.