We often go to greater lengths to protect sensitive, personal information. Whether in the form of paper documents, CDs, or credit cards, we all have something to protect. However, when it’s time to dispose of, such vital information can end up in the wrong hands. Are you looking for the best solution? Well, it’s high time you try out the best paper shredders. They reduce documents into cross-cuts, micro-cuts, or strip cuts, making it impossible for anyone to salvage sensitive information.
Whether for home, office, or small businesses, there are decent models out there that will meet your needs and budget. In this article, we break down the features of our top picks to help you narrow down your choices.
Table of Contents
- Table of the Best Paper Shredders Reviews
- 10. Aurora AU870MA 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper Shredder
- 9. Bonsaii Commercial Crosscut Paper Shredders – Shredders for Small Office & Home Use
- 8. Fellowes Powershred Heavy Duty Cross-Cut Paper Shredders
- 7. AmazonBasics Home and Office Paper Shredder for Cutting Document, CD and Credit Card
- 6. Fellowes Powershred 79Ci 100% Jam-Proof Home Paper Shredder
- 5. Fellowes Powershred 225Ci Commercial Paper Shredder
- 4. Aurora AS890C 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
- 3. Bonsaii C209 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder for Office and Home Use
- 2. AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper & Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- 1. Bonsaii Heavy Duty Paper Shredder Machine – Staples Paper Shredders for Office
Table of the Best Paper Shredders Reviews
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10. Aurora AU870MA 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper Shredder
Aurora AU870MA shreds eight sheets of paper at a time. It isn’t the largest capacity out there. However, it’s excellent for light to medium tasks.
The high-security micro-cut makes this paper shredder stand out. Unlike typical cross-cut models, it shreds paper six times smaller. At 4mm x 12mm, it offers a P-4 level of protection, the highest possible. Aside from micro-cutting papers, it can also destroy credit cards, staples, and clips.
This paper shredder has an angled feed to keep your fingers safe. It runs 5 minutes non-stop and has overload protection to avoid serious paper jams. Thanks to LED indicators, it’s easy to know the status of the machine.
Aurora AU870MA has a 3.9-gallon wastebasket. It holds 230 sheets worth of shredded paper. Hence, it can go a long way before you empty. Also, this paper shredder has a built-in handle. It makes it easy to lift the top off the wastebasket for easy emptying.
Verdict
Aurora AU870MA is quiet, efficient, and effective. It shreds paper into a size smaller than other competitors. So, despite the average capacity, it offers the highest level of security.
9. Bonsaii Commercial Crosscut Paper Shredders – Shredders for Small Office & Home Use
Bonsaii 6-sheet paper shredder has the smallest capacity on our list. However, it’s an aggressive little machine for home and small office use.
Light-operated automatic function sets it apart from other models in its category. Hence, that explains the high yet affordable price tag. It senses paper that needs to be shredded, making it less of a hassle to operate.
This machine shreds paper to 4mm x 45mm, hence providing a P-3 level of security. It runs 4 minutes non-stop, shredding up to 150 sheets of paper. Also, it has a reverse button to clear out jams.
The waste bin holds 3.5 gallons. Not to mention, it has a large transparent window. Hence, it’s easy to know when to empty. A built-in handle offers easy portability.
Bonsaii C204 handles more than paper. It can destroy credit cards, ATM receipts, pay stubs, among other documents.
Verdict
The light-operated automatic function is a significant selling point of this paper shredder. And with a see-through window, it performs way above standard 6-sheet paper shredders. Overall, Bonsaii C204 is a handy choice for small office and home use.
8. Fellowes Powershred Heavy Duty Cross-Cut Paper Shredders
Powershred 99Ci claims to be child and pet safe. The safe-sense feature, in particular, makes it one of the safest paper shredders out there.
At 18 sheets, the capacity of this paper shredder is more than average. Hence, it’s perfect for household use and beyond. Moreover, it has a maximum run time of 30 minutes. That makes it ideal for 1 to 3 users.
Powershred 99Ci cross-cuts paper to 4mm x 38mm particles. It offers a P-4 level of security. Also, it makes light work of CDs, DVDs, credit cards, staples, clips, and other documents.
As the name suggests, this machine is jam-proof. Hence, it can power through tough jobs easily. The pull-out bin makes it easier to empty. Moreover, it has a 9-gallon capacity. So, you don’t have to empty frequently.
Powershred 99Ci has a low noise level of 56dB. As such, it’s comfortable for use in shared workspaces. Moreover, it has energy-saving features to lower electricity bills.
At 39 pounds, Powershred 99Ci is a bit heavier than standard models. But with the swivel casters, you can wheel it around easily.
Verdict
Powershred 99Ci offers quiet, jam-proof operation. Moreover, it’s remarkably portable and safe. It’s a decent paper shredder for up to 3 users.
7. AmazonBasics Home and Office Paper Shredder for Cutting Document, CD and Credit Card
AmazonBasics 8-sheet paper shredder is a budget model. However, it offers decent performance. After all, it’s among the best-sellers for a reason.
It’s a strip-cut shredder ideal for basic shredding and light use. It shreds paper to a width of 1/4 inches. Not to mention, it has a dedicated slot for destroying DVDs, CDs, credit cards, and more.
AmazonBasics shred at the rate of 9.84 feet per minute. Though not the fastest, it saves a great deal of time. The machine offers a light-operated automatic function. It runs non-stop for 2 minutes and has manual reverse to clear jams.
The wastebasket has a capacity of 3.2 gallons. It’s the smallest on the list. However, easy portability is an excellent trade-off.
Verdict
AmazonBasics shredder is pretty efficient at doing strip cuts. It’s an excellent choice for basic and light use. The machine is a bit loud. But for unshared workplaces and home use, this paper shredder will suffice.
6. Fellowes Powershred 79Ci 100% Jam-Proof Home Paper Shredder
Powershred 79Ci is a medium-duty shredder with cutting-edge features. It holds the record for the quietest paper shredder on the market. At 54dB, it’s far quieter than a normal conversation.
But this paper shredder offers more than a super-silent operation. It has an impressive run time of 20 minutes. Though not the best, it can shred a decent amount before cool down.
Powershred 79Ci accommodates 16 sheets in one pass. Not to mention, it offers cross-cuts of 4mm x 38mm for P-4 level protection.
Moreover, the machine provides three levels of jam prevention. Hence, it can power through most jobs to maximize productivity.
Like other Powershred machines, it has an advanced safe-sense feature. It disables the shredder to protect your hands. As such, this shredder is among the safest for places with kids and pets.
Powershred 79Ci has a 6-gallon pull-out bin. Also, the bin has a view window to know when it’s full. This paper shredder comes complete with wheels for easy portability.
Verdict
Powershred 79Ci combines all the features you need in a paper shredder. Overall, it’s a decent choice for an ultra-quiet medium-duty shredder for shared workspaces.
5. Fellowes Powershred 225Ci Commercial Paper Shredder
Powershred 225Ci doesn’t stop shredding paper. The heavy-duty motor offers continuous run time, making it ideal for commercial applications.
The 22-sheet capacity allows it to shred more in one pass. Not only does it shred large, but it also cross-cuts paper into 4mm x 38mm particles. Hence, it’s efficient and with a high-grade security shredding.
Like most of the brand’s paper shredders, it adopts safe-sense technology to keep your hands safe. At the same time, it’s 100% jam-proof for frustration-free operation.
Moreover, Powershred 225Ci has a silent-shred feature. At 56dB, it offers hushed performance, making it ideal for shared workspaces.
Powershred 225Ci shreds pretty much everything. It makes light work of credit cards, staples, DVDs, and other junk mail. Also, it has a 16-gallon wastebasket. As such, it saves you the frequent trips of going to empty when full.
This paper shredder weighs 93 pounds. However, it has casters that make it easier to wheel around all the bulk.
Verdict
Powershred 225Ci saves a great deal of time and powers through tough jobs. The continuous run time, in particular, makes it ideal for commercial tasks.
4. Aurora AS890C 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
Aurora AS890C isn’t a highly-decorated paper shredder. But that’s something to expect from a budget buy. Also, on the brighter side, it has all the basic features you can ask for in a paper shredder.
The 8-sheet capacity isn’t bad for a start. After all, it beats most models out there. Also, Aurora AS890C boasts stainless steel blades that cross-cut paper and other documents into 1/5-inch scraps, keeping vital information safe.
The shredding speed, though not the best, is impressive for a budget model. It shreds at the rate of 8.36 pages per minute. Also, it has an auto-start mode for maximum convenience.
Aurora AS890C comes with a wastebasket that holds up to 125 sheets. Not to mention, a full-bag indicator that lets you know when to empty.
Verdict
Aurora AS890C doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other models. But for a budget buy, it offers impeccable performance.
3. Bonsaii C209 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder for Office and Home Use
Bonsaii C209 is a powerhouse among personal paper shredders. Moreover, it adopts a multi-purpose design, allowing it to shred more than paper.
This shredder makes light work of 10 sheets of paper in one pass. Not to mention, cross-cuts them into 5mm x 40mm particles. At the same time, it offers a run time of 4 minutes. Well, that’s enough to fulfill small office and home tasks.
Light-indication is a nice touch. It lets you know the status of the machine. First-time users, in particular, will reap more from this feature. Also, Bonsaii C209 has overload protection to prolong its lifetime.
At 5.5 gallons, the bin can hold a good amount of waste. The brand claims it can hold 320 sheets of shredded paper. Hence, there’s no need to empty frequently. Moreover, there’s a transparent window that lets you know when the bin is full.
Verdict
Bonsaii C209 is a decent shredder, both for professional and home use. Not to mention, it’s less of a hassle to operate. Though a bit louder than other models, the 70dB noise level is bearable.
2. AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper & Credit Card Home Office Shredder
Though basic, there are a ton of other things to like about this paper shredder. The 2-minute run time, though one of the shortest out there, is sufficient for home and small office use.
Moreover, it shreds paper to 5.6mm x 36mm. It’s not the smallest cross-cut. However, it’s enough to keep vital information from the wrong hands.
This paper shredder comes with a 3.8-gallon wastebasket. It can hold more than 20 pounds worth of shredded paper. Also, it has a handle that lifts off the top, making it easier to empty the bin.
AmazonBasics 6-sheet paper shredder has a noise level of 70dB. It’s not overly loud. Hence, depending on the conditions, you can use in shared workspaces of 1 to 2 people.
Verdict
AmazonBasics 6-sheet paper shredder is a decent choice for light use. Also, if you want a budget-friendly model, this paper shredder will suffice.
1. Bonsaii Heavy Duty Paper Shredder Machine – Staples Paper Shredders for Office
It doesn’t provide a continuous run time, the likes of Powershred 225Ci. However, the 30-minute run time gives it an edge over other models. No wonder it’s built for heavy-duty shredding tasks.
The patented cooling system is the secret to a longer run time. It can destroy 3500 sheets of paper in one cycle. Not to mention, shred 14 sheets in one go. For the record, the machine shreds paper to 5mm x 40mm.
The automatic stop and reverse functions are a nice touch. It saves you from the frustrations of jamming. Also, the machine has light indicators for added convenience.
At 4.5 gallons, the bin goes a long while before emptying. Also, it has a large viewing window that lets you know when it’s full. The sides of the bin have a deep recess, which forms molded carry handles.
Verdict
The patented cooling system maximizes productivity. It minimizes downtime tremendously, making the C169-B ideal for heavy-duty tasks.
