Black & Decker 2-Bar LED Under Cabinet Lighting Kit (12-inch, Natural Daylight)

I installed the Black & Decker under‑cabinet kit to tame a shadowy stretch of countertop, and it did more than just fill the dark gap. The two 12-inch bars are slim, bright, and unobtrusive once in place, and the control box adds useful smarts without complicating the setup.

Setup and mounting

Out of the box, the kit gives you options. You can mount the bars with magnetic feet (handy on metal surfaces like a range hood) or use the low-profile bar clips and screws for wood cabinets. I test-fit both. The magnets held well to painted steel and made it easy to reposition during layout. Under my painted wood cabinets, I switched to the bar clips with screws for a more permanent install.

A few notes from my bench:

• Surface prep matters. If you’re relying on adhesive-backed clips or magnets on a painted surface, clean with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry. On slick lacquered finishes, I found screws more dependable.
• The bar clips slide into channels on the light bars. They need to be aligned well; a second set of hands makes it easier to hold position while you mark and drive the screws.
• The control box doesn’t have obvious screw mounts. The included adhesive pad held fine under a cabinet frame, but I ultimately used a stronger double-sided tape to be safe.

Cable management is better than most kits I’ve used. In the box you get a generous assortment: two 4-inch jumpers, one 12-inch, two 30-inch jumpers, plus a jumper extender, along with wire clips and mounting screws. That let me keep the runs tidy and avoid sagging loops. If you need to cross a wide gap (say, spanning a sink or a window), plan your measurements—30 inches sounds long, but routing around cabinet dividers and backs can eat up length quickly.

Design and light quality

The bars are ultra-slim and disappear under standard cabinet lips. The diffuser is even, so you don’t see distracting LED hotspots reflected on glossy countertops. The “natural daylight” color temperature lands in a neutral, clean zone—neither blue nor yellow—which makes food prep and reading labels comfortable. Color rendering is solid for task work; ingredients don’t look washed out, and wood tones hold their character.

Brightness is adjustable in ten steps. At full power, two bars were enough to turn a formerly dim six-foot run into legitimate task lighting. I typically settled around mid-level in the daytime and bumped it up for evening cooking. The steps are evenly spaced, so you’re not fighting with a jump from too dim to too bright.

Heat output is negligible. After an hour at full brightness, the bars were barely warm to the touch. No buzzing, no flicker to the eye.

Controls and daily use

The control box adds three things I actually used:

• On/off by motion: The sensor reliably picked up movement in front of the countertop. It’s sensitive enough to turn on when I step in to cook, but not so twitchy that it kept re-triggering from the hallway. Placement matters—if you put it near a walkway, you may want to angle it slightly inward to avoid stray activations.
• Ten-level dimming: A simple button cycles brightness. The steps are clear, and adjustments are immediate. I wish there were a small indicator to show level at a glance, but in practice I learned the step count I preferred and just tapped to it.
• Optional three-hour auto-off: This is a set-and-forget safety blanket. I enabled it on day one and have left it on since. It hasn’t once cut me off mid-task, and it means I don’t worry about leaving the lights on overnight.

One small ergonomic plus: the control box button has a positive click, so you’re not guessing whether a touch registered. I mounted the box near the cabinet edge for easy access while keeping the sensor aimed toward the work area.

Linkability and layout

The linkable design is the unsung hero here. I ran the two bars under separate cabinets and used a 12-inch jumper to bridge the small gap around a stove surround. The connectors feel secure and click in with a reassuring snap. Daisy-chaining from a single power feed keeps the install clean and avoids the “octopus” look you get when each bar has its own plug.

If you’re planning a longer run, the included jumpers cover most typical kitchens, and the extender helps when you need just a bit more slack. For wide obstacles, be realistic: you might need a longer jumper than what’s provided or a second power/control location. Measure twice; route once.

What could be better

• Adhesive mounting is hit or miss. On smooth, satin-painted wood, the included pads were borderline. Screws solved it, but renters may prefer reversible installs. Consider removable command strips for the control box if you can’t use screws.
• Bracket alignment is fussy. The slide-in clips keep the bars low-profile, but the tolerances mean you need to be precise during placement. A template in the box would make this easier.
• The default jumper assortment is generous, yet a gap wider than 30 inches still requires a workaround. One 48-inch jumper in the kit would reduce friction for common sink/window spans.
• The motion sensor has a broad field. It’s great near work zones, less ideal near doorways. A sensitivity setting would be a nice addition.

Energy and longevity

Black & Decker rates the LEDs at up to 50,000 hours and claims about 85% lower energy use than incandescent. I can’t verify the exact numbers, but after hours of use across a few weeks, heat output stayed low and performance stayed stable. If you cook often, the efficiency here means you can leave them on as ambient light without worrying about your power bill.

Tips for a cleaner install

• Sketch your run and mark jumper lengths before drilling anything.
• Dry-fit the bars and test the sensor location while plugged in, then finalize mounting.
• Wipe surfaces with isopropyl alcohol if you’re using adhesive; let it cure before hanging cables.
• Use the included wire clips every 6–8 inches for tidy lines, especially near corners.
• If your cabinets are shallow, pull the bars forward to avoid lighting the backsplash more than the counter.

Where it works best

This kit shines under kitchen cabinets, obviously, but it’s just as useful over a workbench, inside deeper display cabinets, or along a laundry folding counter. The neutral color temperature fits mixed-use spaces where you want clarity without the clinical look of very cool LEDs.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker under‑cabinet kit strikes a smart balance: simple mounting, thoughtful accessories, neutral and even light, and controls that add convenience without confusion. It isn’t perfect—adhesive mounting can be fickle on certain finishes, and spanning wide gaps may require a longer jumper or a second control point—but in daily use it did exactly what I wanted: deliver bright, even task lighting that I can bump down to a soft glow when the cooking’s done.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit to anyone who wants a straightforward, plug‑in under‑cabinet solution with real dimming control and motion-activated convenience. It’s especially good for kitchens where hardwiring isn’t in the cards and for users who value a neutral “daylight” look over warmer, moodier tones. If you’re crossing a wide sink or can’t use screws under your cabinets, plan your mounting and jumper lengths carefully or budget for a longer cable. Otherwise, it’s an easy, effective upgrade that makes counters far more usable, day and night.