Black & Decker 1-Bar LED Under Cabinet Lighting Kit, Cool White, 18"

Why I tried this under‑cabinet light bar

I spend a lot of time prepping meals in a corner of the kitchen that always seems to fall into shadow, even with ceiling cans blazing. I wanted something slim, bright, and simple to install—ideally without dragging out a drill. The Black & Decker under‑cabinet light bar checked those boxes on paper: a low‑profile 18‑inch LED strip with tool‑free mounting, 10 brightness levels, a motion on/off sensor, and an optional three‑hour auto‑off timer. After living with it for a few weeks, here’s how it behaved in real use.

Design, build, and what’s in the box

The bar is an ultra‑slim 18 inches long and roughly half an inch thick and wide, which helps it disappear under a face frame. The housing is clean and minimal, and the integrated diffuser spreads light evenly across the counter without visible LED pinpoints. It feels well made and rigid enough to stay straight, which matters for tidy installs under longer cabinet runs.

The kit is more complete than most single‑bar packages I’ve used. In my box:

• 1 LED light bar (with an on‑bar power button)
• 1 control box (handles motion on/off, dimming, and the 3‑hour timer)
• AC adapter
• 4 bar mounting clips
• 6 wire clips for cable management
• 2 screws for optional screw‑mounting
• Jumper extender and three jumper cables (4 in., 12 in., and 30 in.)

That assortment of jumpers is especially handy if you plan to link additional bars later or need to route around cabinet obstacles.

Installation: truly tool‑free, with a caveat

Mounting is as straightforward as advertised. The bar clips and control box have foam adhesive backing; I cleaned the underside of the cabinet with isopropyl alcohol, stuck the clips where I wanted them, snapped the bar in, and routed cables with the included wire clips. Start to finish took under 15 minutes. No holes, no dust.

Two tips from my install:

• Surface prep matters. Any residue—especially cooking oils—will defeat adhesive. Degrease thoroughly and let the surface dry before sticking anything.
• If you’re mounting above a range or onto a rough underside, consider the included screws for the bar clips and control box. In areas with heat and airborne grease, adhesive can let go over time. I ended up adding screws for peace of mind over the stovetop, while leaving the rest adhesive‑only.

The low profile helps the bar sit far enough back to reduce countertop glare. If you have glossy stone, aim for the back third of the cabinet bottom and test a few dimmer steps to dial in reflections.

Controls and daily use

You can operate the system a few ways:

• Motion sensor on/off: A quick hand wave under the control box toggles the bar. I found it responsive without being twitchy, which is ideal in a busy kitchen.
• Physical power button on the bar: Useful as a manual override if you place the control box farther away.
• Dimming: Ten brightness settings accessed on the control box provide fine granularity. The steps are close enough that I could pick a comfortable level for chopping versus ambient evening glow.
• Three‑hour timer: Tap to enable if you want the bar to auto‑shutoff later. I used this as a “leave-on” night light when hosting; it reliably turned itself off before bedtime.

One nuance: the motion sensor toggles power, but dimming adjustments are done on the control box. Once set, that brightness carries forward until you change it again.

Light quality and performance

The light is a cool white—think clean and crisp, closer to daylight than to a warm incandescent glow. For actual task lighting, it’s excellent. On higher settings, it floods a standard 24‑inch‑deep countertop with bright, even illumination, and I could easily read fine print on recipe cards and check knife edges. The diffuser keeps hotspots out of sight, and I didn’t notice any buzzing or visible flicker across the dim range.

That cool white tone does have a personality: it emphasizes clarity and contrast but isn’t “cozy.” If you’re chasing warm, mood‑centric under‑cabinet ambiance for a dining nook, this isn’t the vibe. If you want to see what you’re doing, especially with food prep or hobby work, it excels.

With the bar mounted toward the back of my cabinet, shadows were minimal—even with larger pots on the counter—because the bar’s length spreads light across the working area. If you plan to place it closer to the front edge, expect more direct light on the backsplash and more pronounced reflections on glossy counters.

Linkability and cable management

Although this kit includes a single bar, it’s designed to be linkable. The included 4‑, 12‑, and 30‑inch jumpers made it easy to test a second bar in a separate bay while keeping the wiring tidy and out of sight. The cable clips are basic but effective; I used all six and could have used a couple more for a perfect run. If you’re adding bars across multiple cabinets, plan your cable routing first—measure where the control box and power entry will live to minimize exposed lead lengths.

Energy use and lifespan

LEDs are rated up to 50,000 hours, and the manufacturer claims about 85% less energy use than incandescent. I can’t measure lifespan in a few weeks, but thermals were encouraging: the bar gets warm on higher brightness, not hot, which is a good sign for LED longevity. On mid levels, it runs barely above room temperature. For households that leave under‑cabinet lights on for long stretches, the three‑hour timer is a smart backstop.

Small misses and wish list

No product is perfect, and a few things could be better:

• Adhesive limitations: The tool‑free install is real, but adhesives are always at the mercy of surface cleanliness and texture. The included screws solve it; I just wish there were a few more for the wire clips.
• Color temperature options: The cool white works brilliantly for task work. I’d love a warm‑white variant or adjustable CCT option for people prioritizing ambiance.
• Control placement: Dimming is fixed to the control box, which is fine once you pick a preferred level. A combined gesture for dimming via the motion sensor would streamline operation.

None of these are dealbreakers, but they’re worth knowing so you can plan your install and expectations.

Where it fits best

• Kitchens where task visibility matters more than mood lighting
• Laundry rooms, utility areas, and workbenches
• Rental situations or quick retrofits where tool‑free mounting is a plus
• Spaces where a set‑and‑forget brightness and an occasional wave‑on gesture are desirable

If you’re designing a layered lighting scheme for a cozy bar or dining area, you might pair this with a warmer accent source to balance the tone.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker under‑cabinet light bar is a practical, thoughtfully equipped kit that prioritizes bright, even task lighting in a slim package. Installation is fast and genuinely tool‑free if your surfaces are clean and smooth, with screws included for more demanding spots. The 10‑step dimming, reliable motion on/off, and optional three‑hour timer make daily use simple. Light quality skews cool and clinical—in a good way for tasks—and the linkable design plus generous jumper selection set you up for future expansion.

Recommendation: I recommend this light bar for anyone who needs clear, dependable task lighting under cabinets or in utility spaces and wants a clean install without hardwiring. It’s easy to mount, bright, and flexible in control. If your priority is warm, ambient under‑cabinet glow, look for a warmer color temperature. Otherwise, this kit is a solid, no‑nonsense upgrade that solves the “shadowy counter” problem with minimal fuss.