We analyse the kinetics of hydriding of metal nanoparticles in the generic case when the process is limited by diffusion of vacancies via the hydride shell. Our treatment is focused on the role of lattice strain related to the misfit of the hydride and metal structures. In the absence of strain, the kinetics exhibits an initial fast stage followed by slowdown. Depending on the relative contribution of strain to the H-metal interaction in the ground and activated states for diffusion, the initial fast stage of the kinetics is either nearly not manifested or becomes shorter and occurs up to somewhat higher conversion. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.