The Best Shredders for 2024
The Best Shredders for 2024
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- Quiet.
- Fast.
- Large waste bin.
- Can shred close to 20 sheets at once.
- Handles staples, optical discs, plastic cards, and junk mail in addition to paper.
CONS
- Large and heavy.
- On the pricey side.
- Not secure enough for secret documents.
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$322.29 Amazon
$456.62 Walmart
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Fellowes Powershred 99Ci 100% Jam Proof Cross-Cut Shredder ReviewFellowes AutoMax 130C Auto Feed Shredder
Best Shredder for Micro Offices Needing Fast Shredding
4.0 Excellent
Bottom Line:
The Fellowes AutoMax 130C Auto Feed Shredder can automatically shred a stack of up to 130 sheets, and you can manually feed twice as many sheets as it is rated for.
PROS
- Can automatically shred a paper stack of up to 130 pages.
- Shreds paper clips, staples, and credit cards, as well as paper.
- Manual feeder shreds more than twice as many sheets at a time as Fellowes claims.
- Matched its rated manual-shredding speed.
CONS
- Can't shred CDs.
- Engine noise continues for a while after shredding is complete
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$395.97 Amazon
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Fellowes AutoMax 130C Auto Feed Shredder ReviewSwingline Style+ Super Cross-Cut Shredder
Best Shredder for Appearance-Conscious Small Offices
4.0 Excellent
Bottom Line:
The Swingline Style+ Super Cross-Cut Shredder is small, stylish, and lightning fast, and it holds more shredded paper than you might expect in its tiny basket.
PROS
- Inexpensive.
- Stylish.
- Compact.
- Wicked-fast shredding, at nearly double its rated speed.
- Small shred size means greater security.
CONS
- Strictly for light-duty use.
- Noisy.
- No jam protection.
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$225.00 Amazon
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Swingline Style+ Super Cross-Cut Shredder ReviewTRU RED 16-Sheet Micro Cut Commercial Shredder
Best Shredder for Businesses Requiring Heavy-Duty, Secure Shredding
4.0 Excellent
Bottom Line:
The TRU RED 16-Sheet Micro Cut Commercial Shredder does nearly everything right, combining secure shredding of up to 20 sheets at once, good basket capacity, the ability to shred many non-paper items, and sustained shredding before required cool-down periods.
PROS
- Secure micro-cut shredding.
- Large collection basket.
- Can cut large sheafs of paper at once.
- Also handles paper clips, staples, optical discs, and credit cards.
CONS
- Slower than some other shredders in its class.
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$171.86 Amazon
$219.99 Staples
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TRU RED 16-Sheet Micro Cut Commercial Shredder ReviewFellowes Powershred 99Ms Micro-Cut Shredder
A Solid Alternative to the TRU RED
4.0 Excellent
Bottom Line:
The Fellowes Powershred 99Ms Micro-Cut shreds paper into small enough pieces to provide secure disposal, even for very sensitive documents.
PROS
- Tiny shred size makes for greater security.
- Decent shredding speed.
- Solid bin capacity.
CONS
- Somewhat pricey.
- Can't shred optical discs.
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$423.20 Amazon
$499.99 Adorama
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Fellowes Powershred 99Ms Micro-Cut Shredder ReviewFellowes Powershred 79Ci
Best Shredder for Households and Home Offices
3.5 Good
Bottom Line:
Simple to operate and able to shred all sorts of office material, the well-rounded Fellowes Powershred 79Ci can work well as a home or home-office shredder, or as a personal shredder in a small office.
PROS
- Simple to use.
- Shreds CDs, paper clips, staples, and credit cards, as well as paper.
- Matched its rated speed in our testing.
CONS
- Not as jam-proof as promised.
- Casters are hard to attach.
- Unusually heavy lid.
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$249.63 Amazon
$218.99 Office Depot® & OfficeMax®
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Fellowes Powershred 79Ci ReviewBuying Guide: The Best Shredders for 2024
One way of classifying shredders is by the way they cut paper. Strip-cut shredders cut sheets of paper into long strips. They are fast, but they don't provide much security, as the strips are usually large enough that they could be reassembled by a patient, determined person. Cross-cut shredders, somewhat more secure, chop the paper into short, thin strips. And micro-cut shredders dice paper into tiny diamonds or bits of confetti, and are suitable for shredding confidential—and in some cases secret—papers.
Shredder security, measured by the smallness of the shredded bits, is determined by the internationally accepted DIN 66399 standard. The range of security runs from P-1 (insecure) to P-7 (suitable for shredding top-secret documents). A P-4 security level is fine for most offices, while ones needing to dispose of particularly sensitive documents may want to up that to P-5.
Modern shredders can handle more than sheets of paper. Many of today's models can slice through CDs, credit and ID cards, paper clips, and staples. Some can make quick work even of thick envelopes full of junk mail.
Speed, based on the number of sheets you can feed through the shredder, one after another, is important. So is the feeder capacity (how many sheets you can shred at once) and the size of the basket where the shredded paper ends up. Run time—the length of time you can continuously feed paper through the shredder before it needs to cool down—and the length of the cooling-down period are other factors.
Key Shredder Features: What to Look For
The best shredder for you depends on your particular needs: Consider its speed, capacity, run time, and security (or the size of its shred). For example, a smaller office may want a fast shredder to run through a modest amount of paper quickly, while a larger office with more paper to dispose of may want a higher capacity or a longer run time. Offices that handle very sensitive documents will want a micro-cut shredder to dice the paper into fine confetti. Note also that the smaller the shred size, the more paper that will fit in the waste bin before you need to empty it. Strip-cut shredders tend to generate large, airy bundles of shredded materials; the finer shredders' output is easier to compact.
Compact shredders can fit in small spaces, and these may be best for home-office use, or as personal shredders in either a home or an office. Some offer safety features such as automatic shutoff if one's hand touches the feeder slot. Others offer jam protection. Shredders, as a group, are not known for their exterior elegance, but some compact shredders are stylish enough to blend in nicely with an office's décor.
The Kindest Cut of All
Don't put a price on security—a shredder can be a terrific investment. And though you may find it most useful in the spring, after you've prepared and submitted your taxes, it can help you protect your finances and your identity throughout the whole year, all with just a few minutes of work. The shredders featured here run the gamut from personal and home-office models to ones suitable for heavy-duty shredding in a large office.
One final note: Before you start shredding, you might want to check out our reviews of the top scanners we've tested for digitizing your documents before destruction.
Best shredders in 2024
The best shredders do a lot more than just tear a few sheets of paper into strips. They're essential tools in the office and home office, letting you securely shred masses of data-sensitive documents, old credit cards, even chewing through staples without breaking pace.
Today's top shredders are more compacter and quieter, while shredding paper, plastics, and metals into even smaller pieces for greater data security and protection. If you're security-conscious or need to stay compliant, a shredder is a must-have. But what makes a good shredder for the home and office?
Our team of hardware experts have tested everything from the best printers to the best business laptops - so we know what to look for and what you need to avoid when choosing a new shredder. During our review process, we've compared the specs, size, and shredding speed, noting sheet-capacity, noise-levels, and which materials the device is capable of shredding to bits.
Best shredder overall
(Image credit: Fellowes)
1. Fellowes Powershred 79Ci Paper shredder
Excellent large capacity shredder for home offices
Average Amazon review:Specifications
Size:
26.5 x 39 x 54.2 cm
Weight:
28.2lb
Features:
100% jam proof, continuous shredding
View at AmazonView at NeweggView at WalmartReasons to buy
+
6 gallon (23l) capacity
+
100% jam proof claim
+
Safesense for hand protection
+
16 sheet input
Reasons to avoid
-
Pricey
-
P4 security
The Fellowes Powershred 79Ci Paper shredder has a 6-gallon (23l) capacity and is an excellent choice all-round for the office and home. It uses a cross-cut mechanism to slice and dice anything you feed into it in two ways for maximum security. Realize that this model has P4 protection, which will cross-cut a standard piece of 8.5” x 11” paper into about 400 pieces, each about 5/32 x 1-½ ”, which is suitable for highly confidential documents, but not the highest level of security, namely Top Secret.
One of the best things about this model is that it is 100% jam-proof, so you will never have to wrestle with it to pull out paper that has got stuck. It is designed not to reverse but to increase the power of the motor through. Along with writing, the shredder can destroy plastic cards and CDs and handle paper clips and staples, enhancing efficiency as they do not need to be removed as a separate step. It is also designed to handle junk mail, which is quite satisfying to put the entire intact envelope in and have it shredded as a single step without the need to open and process each page separately.
It also packs SafeSense Technology that immediately disables the unit if anybody’s fingers, or even a pet, get dangerously close to its internal components, making it a suitable option for home offices. It has a max sheet input of 16 sheets, double what you will find on most budget variants. Also, the maximum runtime is a solid 20 minutes, with a 30-minute cool-down time, designed to be energy efficient. Finally, we like the two-year machine warranty, with a lifetime on the cutter, and the low noise impact due to the SilentShred feature.
Best home shredder
(Image credit: Bonsaii)
2. Bonsaii Evershred model C149-C18
A good all-purpose paper shredder
Average Amazon review:Specifications
Size:
36 x 28.5 x54.5cm
Weight:
16.8lbs
Tiantai supply professional and honest service.
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60 minutes continuous shredding, low noise
Check AmazonVIEW AT AMAZONReasons to buy
+
18 sheet input
+
Thorough shredding
+
Jam protection
+
Shreds CDs and staples
+
6 gallon capacity
Reasons to avoid
-
Needs maintenance
-
1 year warranty
-
Misses P4 security standard
With up to a 30-minute running time, the Bonsaii Evershred can shred 3500 sheets of A4 paper on a single charge, making it a great option to chew through all the documents you have been waiting to dispose of. Like the Fellowes shredder at the top of our list, it has a maximum of 14 sheets shredding capacity and cuts paper into tiny 5mm x 50mm particles – and it will even shred credit cards, CDs, and staples.
This model features a jam protection system with autostart and autoreverse, which saves you from dealing with the frustration of paper jams, and its 17-liter pull-out bin, while not class-leading, is plenty sufficient. There's an overheat and overload protection technology to protect the shredder's blades and motor and extend its life. Not to mention, the low-noise design presents a quiet and peaceful shredding experience.
Overall, given the features, we think this model from Bonsaii represents a good value for a home user that needs to shred more than average.
Best budget shredder
(Image credit: Amazon)
3. Amazon Basics 8-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Shredder
Excellent value shredder
Average Amazon review:Specifications
Size:
22.6 x 32.9 x 49.5 cm
Weight:
17.24 lbs
Features:
8 sheets
Check AmazonVIEW AT AMAZONReasons to buy
+
Affordable price
+
Credit card and optical disk slot
+
Meets P4 security standard
+
Easy to move on casters
Reasons to avoid
-
Limited to 8 sheets at a time
-
Short run time
Amazon Basics items tend to prioritize value over top-end performance, so keeping that in mind, this shredder from Amazon fulfills that mission. It checks plenty of boxes that buyers like, including cross-cut shreds that are 4 x 12 mm- small enough to meet the P4 standard. We also like the 4-gallon bin, the dedicated credit card slot, and that it sits on four casters, making it easy to move when needed.
However, remember that this comes in at a lower cost than some higher specced competitors. This includes that this shredder is limited to only eight sheets at a time to process fewer documents simultaneously. We also think the relatively short runtime of 5 minutes, with a 30-minute cool down in between, is also limiting. It also does feature a transparent window to know when to empty the bin.
Overall, this Amazon Basics model is certainly worth a look for a home user who needs the destruction of documents but at a lower price point than some other models and can tolerate the lower sheet rating and shorter runtime.
Best shredder for security
(Image credit: Bonsaii)
4. Bonsaii DocShred C261
High security rating shredder
Specifications
Size:
31.4x38.9x18.9cm
Weight:
11lbs
Features:
Auto start/stop, 5.5 gallon waste bin, transparent window
Check AmazonVIEW AT AMAZONReasons to buy
+
High P4 security rating with micro cut shredding
+
Affordable
+
4.2 gallon (21l) bin
Reasons to avoid
-
Noisy
-
Short run time
-
6 page limit
Capable of destroying multi-page documents up to six pages at a time, this shredder is a tremendous security-conscious shredder for any home office. It has a high P-4 security rating and can destroy staples, clips, ATM receipts, credit card bills, and even CDs with a 4 x 12 mm micro-cut pattern.
Its motor kicks into action once its light sensor detects something to be shredded, and a reverse mode lets you easily unblock jams. Its 4.2-gallon (21l) bin is an ideal size for preventing the need for frequent trips to the bin. It has a limit of only six pages at a time, and the 4-minute runtime is shorter than most, but this is not a problem if you only shred occasionally.
The DocShred doesn't operate too fast but keeps in mind the price point. It may be slow if you have to shred hundreds of sheets, but it should get the job done just fine if you're only doing a few dozen sheets at a time.
Best shredder for basics
(Image credit: Robert Dyas)
5. Robert Dyas 6-sheet Cross-Cut paper Shredder
Versatile paper shredder
Specifications
Size:
39 x 16.4 x 31cm
Weight:
8.8lbs
Features:
Overheat protection, 15L basket volume
Check AmazonReasons to buy
+
Shred by width or length
+
Regular features
+
Handle for transport
Reasons to avoid
-
Basic
This compact and affordable shredder can cut paper lengthways and widthways, making it harder to read personal information once it has been shredded. Its adequately sized 15-inch mesh bin stores plenty of waste, and you can shred up to 6 sheets at a time without worry of it overheating, thanks to the automated overheating protection. The Robert Dyas 6-sheet shredder can shred credit cards too, but it struggles if the sheets are too thick.
The shredder has a two-minute shred cycle that then powers off to reset. It packs many of the regular features that you will find on a shredder, including auto shutdown, a reverse function for unblocking paper jams, and an access handle for easy transportation.
This inexpensive and premium-looking shredder is also relatively quiet, making it suitable for home use.
Best shredders: Frequently asked questions
What is a shredder?
Paper shredders are devices for cutting paper into thin strips or tiny particles. These machines are generally used to destroy sensitive documents, with some of the best shredders able to shred credit cards, optical discs, and minor metals like staples or paperclips.
What are the types of shredders?
It is easiest to divide shredders into the types of cuts that they make. This then determines the level of destruction of the document, and also how expensive the device will be.
At the lowest level is the strip cut shredder. This design tends to be efficient at cutting paper into approximately ¼” strips. However, the downside is that this is the lowest level of destruction, and the easiest to put back together, so it is not appropriate for sensitive documents.
In the middle of shredder designs is the cross cut shredder. This type of model chops the paper into small strips, into about 200 pieces for a standard piece of paper for a P3 model. This is a more secure method of paper destruction, and far harder to reconstruct.
One step even better is a micro cut shredder. This follows a similar pattern than a cross cut, but the pieces are even smaller, as small as 3/32” wide for the P5 standard, which makes it extremely difficult if not impossible to reconstruct. This type of model is appropriate for more secure of documents.
Yes, there even is a P6 standard which creates even smaller pieces for the complete destruction of the most sensitive documents. The pieces created are as small as 3/64” wide by 15/64” long which are really quite tiny.
How to choose the best shredder for you
To choose the best shredder for yourself, you’ll first want to consider what your regular shredding requirements are.
If you need to destroy large piles of documents, you’ll want a shredder that can cut up multiple sheets at once as that will determine how efficiently the job can get done. Furthermore, depending on the number of documents you have to eliminate, you’ll want to check the shredder’s run-time and cooling down-time. If you have a need to shred a larger number of documents, this will often come into play. Be aware that nNot all shredders can run continuously for 30-45 minutes, particularly those intended for the home market and sold at alower price point, as some can only run for 2-10 minutes before they will completely stop, and need a cooldown period of 15-30 minutes before shredding can resume.
While most shredders can work through paper, there are some that can destroy credit cards and CDs too. If you often need to destroy these materials, pick a suitable shredder for the task. They typically will have a dedicated slot for handling these non-paper items. You’ll also want to consider the shredder’s noise levels. If it’s too noisy, it may not be suitable for home use, or it may interfere with meetings or phone calls at the office.
How we test the best shredders
Our team of experts have tested loads of office and home office devices, including the best business printers, the best digital copiers, and the best fax machines for staying connected to customers and clients.
But whether we're analyzing speeds of the best scanners, or comparing specs on shredders, we take the same rigorous approach to all.
We tested various shredders to arrive at our choices for the best ones. We looked at multiple aspects of their design and functionality, starting with how swiftly they work through documents, how many sheets they can cut simultaneously, and how long their running and cooling down times are.
We considered what materials they could destroy, whether there were safety mechanisms to prevent finger injuries and the waste bin size. We also assessed the shredder's noise, size, and weight to judge whether it’d be suited for home use or office use, among other aspects. Finally, we considered the cost and the value at the price point for its intended mission in the market.
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