In short: Mkeka wa mbao costs KSh 1,299 per sqm, is laid in a day and can go over existing tiles, while ceramic tiles cost roughly KSh 1,800 to KSh 4,000 per sqm plus cement and labour but last decades. Excel Deco on Moi Avenue, Nairobi supplies mkeka wa mbao and SPC as alternatives to new tiles.

Side by side

Prices last updated October 2026. Ask on WhatsApp for today’s rate and stock.

When mkeka wa mbao is the better choice

You rent. The tiles are ugly but sound. You want a warm wood look this weekend without dust in the house. Mkeka wa mbao does all of that for about KSh 20,000 in a 4 by 4 bedroom.

When tiles are the better choice

You own the house and plan to stay. The floor is uneven or damp. You want a surface that takes heavy furniture and twenty years of mopping. Tiles cost more now and less over time.

What people get wrong

Mkeka wa mbao is not a rug. It is a sheet vinyl floor that is glued or taped down at the edges. Laid on a clean, level floor it does not lift or bubble. Laid on broken tiles it shows every edge.

Costs worked out for a 4 by 3 metre room

Take a bedroom in a house in Umoja that is 4 metres long and 3 metres wide. That is 12 sqm.

Mkeka wa mbao. The roll is 2 metres wide. Run two strips along the 3 metre side and they cover the full 4 metres. Each strip is 3.2 metres with trimming. 2 x 3.2 = 6.4 metres of roll, or 12.8 sqm. 12.8 x KSh 1,299 = KSh 16,627. Laid in a day.

Ceramic tiles. Roughly KSh 1,800 to KSh 4,000 per sqm. 12 x 1,800 = KSh 21,600 and 12 x 4,000 = KSh 48,000. That is before cement, grout, cut waste and the fundi. The room is out of use for several days while the work is done and the cement sets.

So mkeka costs well under half of mid range tiles for this room. Tiles win back some ground over time because they last decades while mkeka lasts about 5 to 8 years.

A middle road: SPC over your tiles

Many people asking this question already have old tiles that look tired. You do not have to choose between cheap mkeka and breaking out the tiles. SPC planks click together over flat tiles with no hacking and no cement.

SPC costs KSh 2,200 to KSh 2,900 per sqm. For the same 12 sqm room plus 8 percent for cuts, that is 12.96 sqm. 12.96 x 2,200 = about KSh 28,500. It looks like timber, it is waterproof and it lasts much longer than mkeka.

Read can you install SPC over tiles to check your floor is ready.

Tenants and landlords think about this differently

• Tenants. You cannot break out the landlord’s tiles. Mkeka laid over tiles gives you a warmer, softer room and you can lift it when you move.
• Landlords with long term tenants. Tiles are hard wearing and easy to clean between tenants. Mkeka is a cheap way to refresh a unit without a rebuild.
• Airbnb hosts. Guests notice the floor in photos. Mkeka is cheap to replace when worn. SPC looks more upmarket.

Our rental apartment flooring page goes into this in more depth.

Living with each in Nairobi

In the dry season both floors collect fine red dust. Tiles show it more on dark colours. Mkeka hides it better with its wood print.

In the rains, glazed tiles get slippery near the door. Put an anti slip mat there. Our anti slip mat price guide lists sizes. Mkeka gives a little more grip but must be wiped dry so water does not sit under the edges.

Underfoot, mkeka feels softer and a little warmer than bare tile on cold July mornings. Tiles stay cool, which some people like in hot towns such as Mombasa or Kisumu.

Cleaning is about the same. Both need a daily sweep and a damp mop. Grout lines in tiles darken over time and need a scrub now and then. Mkeka has no grout, so there is less to scrub, but the print slowly wears where you walk most.

Shop the products on this page

Vinyl Carpet Mkeka wa MbaoKSh 1,299Peel and Stick Vinyl Planks and TilesKSh 1,250Garage Grid Tiles 40 x 40cm 18mmKSh 949Rubber Gym Tiles 20mm InterlockingKSh 4,800

Questions buyers ask

Can mkeka wa mbao go over tiles?

Yes. The tiles must be clean, level and dry. Fill any missing tiles first.

Which is cheaper?

Mkeka wa mbao, by a wide margin, once you add cement, labour and removal to a tile job.

Which is better for a bathroom?

Tiles. Mkeka works in a bathroom only if the joints are sealed and the room dries well.

Does mkeka wa mbao look cheap?

The wood designs sold today look like laminate from standing height. Up close you can tell it is vinyl.

Can I lay tiles over mkeka wa mbao later?

No, you must lift the mkeka first. Tiles need a firm cement bed on screed or old tiles, not on a vinyl sheet.

Is mkeka wa mbao okay on a damp ground floor?

Not until the damp is fixed. Moisture trapped under the sheet causes smells, mould and lifting edges.

Which is quicker to put down?

Mkeka wa mbao is much quicker and a room is usually done in a morning. Tiles take several days because the cement and grout need time to set.

Shop and read next

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