Black & Decker 5-Bar LED Under Cabinet Lighting Kit (Cool White, 9-inch)

Why I picked this kit

I wanted an under-cabinet solution that was bright, easy to install, and didn’t saddle me with battery swaps. This five‑bar Black & Decker under‑cabinet kit checked those boxes on paper: slim light bars, a touch‑free motion sensor, ten brightness levels, and an optional three‑hour timer. After living with it in a busy kitchen, I can say it’s a straightforward, capable system with a few quirks worth planning around.

Setup and installation

The promise of tool‑free installation is mostly true. The kit includes low‑profile bar clips and wire clips that can be adhered under the cabinet, plus screws if you prefer a more permanent mount. I mapped out bar placement first, dry‑fit the jumpers, then committed the clips. That pre‑planning matters; the kit includes a mix of short and long jumper wires (from a few inches up to several feet), and choosing the right lengths keeps the run tidy and prevents sag.

Each bar is 9 inches long, only about 0.3 inches thick and 0.7 inches wide. That profile hides easily behind most cabinet lips. The bars snap into the clips, and the modular connectors make routing a simple daisy chain. You can bridge gaps or corners with the included jumpers—the variety of lengths is genuinely useful when cabinets aren’t perfectly aligned.

The system is corded. You’ll need an outlet for the AC adapter and a place to mount or tuck the small control box and motion sensor module. If you can place the control box near the cabinet bottom and route the power cable along the back edge, the whole setup reads clean. If you don’t have an outlet in a convenient location, you may need to drill a small pass‑through hole or accept a visible power cord.

Time from unboxing to light on? Well under an hour with a bit of forethought.

Design and build

The bars feel solid for how slim they are. They’re light, rigid, and clip securely without wobble. The low height keeps the LEDs out of sight lines, so you get illumination without seeing the emitters. The finish is subdued and disappears under most cabinet styles.

This kit includes five bars—two with an end‑mounted power button and three without—plus a control box, the motion sensor, AC adapter, and plenty of clips and jumpers. The modular connectors feel positive; they don’t wiggle loose when you open and close cabinet doors. An ultra-slim profile means you can run a continuous line or split across separate cabinet banks, depending on your layout.

One spec that matters but often gets overlooked: the LEDs are rated up to 50,000 hours. I can’t verify that lifespan today, but the thermal performance is good; the bars get warm, not hot, even at higher brightness levels during long sessions.

Controls and usability

You get three ways to control the lights:

• A touch‑free motion sensor that toggles on/off. I placed it at the edge of the cabinet run so a quick hand wave as I walk into the kitchen brings the lights up. It’s responsive without being jumpy—no phantom triggers from across the room in my setup.
• Physical push buttons on two of the bars. Handy if you’re standing right there and want to toggle or adjust brightness without reaching for the sensor.
• An optional three‑hour auto‑shutoff. I use this in the evening so I don’t have to remember to turn things off before bed.

Brightness is adjustable in ten steps. Full power is bright enough for prep work on darker countertops, while the lower settings create a soft, comfortable glow for late‑night snacking. The dimming increments are sensible, not jumpy.

Light quality and performance

This kit is tuned to a cool white color temperature. In practice, it reads as a clean, neutral‑cool task light—crisp on cutting boards, accurate on food, and excellent for reading labels. If your kitchen leans warm (lots of wood tones), the cool white can feel a bit clinical at higher brightness. Dropping the level a couple of steps softens the vibe without sacrificing usefulness.

The light distribution is even. I didn’t see scalloping or hot spots on my backsplash, and the bars don’t cast distracting multi‑shadow edges across the counter. There’s no audible hum, and I didn’t notice any visible flicker at any brightness level on video or to the naked eye.

With five 9‑inch bars spread across a standard 4‑ to 5‑foot cabinet run, coverage is uniform. If you have a longer stretch, the linkable design lets you add another bar set to fill gaps.

Cable management and aesthetics

Under‑cabinet lighting lives or dies by cable management. This kit gives you the right pieces, but you still need a plan. The included wire clips keep jumpers tucked against the underside of the cabinet. Used thoughtfully, they prevent droopy wires and keep the installation invisible from typical eye level.

Two things to watch:

• The control box and motion sensor add two elements to hide. They’re small, but choose locations before you stick them down.
• Smooth, finished cabinet undersides may challenge adhesive clips if you reposition them. Clean the surface thoroughly and test your routing before peeling the backing.

Once everything is secured, the installation looks purpose‑built. From normal standing positions, I can’t see bars or wires—only the light.

Energy use and longevity

The manufacturer claims about 85% less energy use compared to incandescent. That tracks with typical LED savings, and the dimming control compounds the benefit. Heat is modest, suggesting the LEDs aren’t being driven excessively hard. Combined with the 50,000‑hour rating, this feels like a set‑and‑forget solution for years of daily use.

What I’d change

• Color temperature options: This kit is cool white only. I’d love a warm or tunable white version for spaces where ambiance matters as much as task light.
• Hardwire choice: It’s a corded system, which is straightforward for renters and quick installs, but a clean hardwire option would be nice in a remodel.
• Fewer boxes: Combining the control box and sensor into a single lower‑profile module would simplify mounting and concealment.

None of these are deal‑breakers, but they’re worth noting if you’re prioritizing aesthetics or specific color temperatures.

Where this kit shines

• Quick, renter‑friendly upgrades. Tool‑free mounting is real, and you can remove it later with minimal trace if you stick to adhesive clips.
• Task lighting for busy kitchens and hobby benches. Ten brightness levels let you tune for chopping, soldering, or soft background light.
• Modularity. The linkable design and varied jumper lengths adapt to weird cabinet geometries and multi‑section runs.

Who should look elsewhere

• If you’re committed to a warm, cozy look under natural wood cabinets, the cool white output may not be your favorite.
• If you want a fully recessed, hardwired setup with zero visible components, a pro‑grade, built‑in system will finish cleaner—at a higher cost and effort.

Tips for a cleaner install

• Map the run with painter’s tape and measure jumper spans before mounting anything.
• Place bars toward the front underside of the cabinet to minimize backsplash glare and improve counter illumination.
• Keep the motion sensor near a common entry path so a natural reach triggers it.
• Use the shortest jumper that fits cleanly; extra slack is what creates wire loops you’ll fight to hide.

Final thoughts and recommendation

This five‑bar Black & Decker under‑cabinet kit hits a practical sweet spot: bright, even light; genuinely easy setup; flexible controls; and a slim design that disappears once installed. The cool white output is excellent for task work, the motion sensor makes day‑to‑day use effortless, and the optional three‑hour timer is a thoughtful touch. Cable management takes a bit of care, and the corded power means you’ll need a nearby outlet, but the included clips and jumper assortment make a tidy install achievable without breaking out a toolbox.

I recommend this kit for anyone who wants fast, reliable under‑cabinet lighting with adjustable brightness and touch‑free control, especially in kitchens and hobby spaces. It’s a practical, modular system that balances performance with an approachable install, and once it’s in place, it simply makes the work surface better every time you switch it on.