A paper shredder can help you destroy sensitive documents, old paperwork, bank statements, magazines, or even credit cards and CDs. In today’s world, throwing away documents with your name, address, bank information, or any other type of personal information can easily lead to identity theft. That’s why it’s important to thoroughly shred your documents and old mail before throwing them away or recycling them. Businesses are even more in need of a paper shredder since they are required to destroy certain client and employee information according to industry regulations. With identity theft and fraud running rampant, a good quality paper shredder is essential at home or business.
Not all paper shredders are the same, however. To help you choose the best one for you, we reviewed 25 of the best paper shredders:
Budget Paper Shredders
AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Strip-Cut Shredder
This strip-cut paper shredder has an eight-sheet capacity and also destroys credit cards, CDs, and DVDs. It quickly and easily turns paper into 1/4-inch-wide strips to destroy ATM receipts, credit-card bills, mortgage statements, and more.
Key Features:
- Auto manual reverse helps clear paper jams
- 3.2-gallon wastebasket for ease of use
- One year limited warranty
Cost: $34.99
AmazonBasics 12 Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
This cross-cut paper shredder cuts paper into cross-sections, which is more secure than shredders that cut into single strips. It also has a slot to shred credit cards, CDs, and DVDs.
Key Features:
- Five minute continuous run with a 30-minute cooldown
- Can handle up to 600 sheets per day
- One year limited warranty
Cost: $45.99
Bonsaii 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
This paper shredder quickly and easily shreds your sensitive documents and results in smaller particles than standard cross-cut shredders. It features a 3.5-gallon wastebasket capacity so you don’t have to empty it as frequently.
Key Features:
- Four-minute continuous run time with 40-minute cooldown
- Auto start and manual reverse help clear paper jams automatically
- One year warranty
Cost: $33.99
Aurora AU870MA High-Security 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder Black
This paper shredder features a high-security micro-cut that results in tiny pieces of paper (just 5/32 by 15/32 inches). It features an eight sheet capacity and can also handle credit cards, clips, and staples.
Key Features:
- Five minute continuous run time
- 3.9-gallon wastebasket for less frequent emptying
- One year limited warranty
Cost: $42.97
Aurora AU1220XA 12 Sheet Crosscut Shredder
With an angled feed entry, this cross-cut shredder helps prevents accidents to your hands and fingers. It also features overload jam auto-stop prevents serious paper jams.
Key Features:
- Large 5.2-gallon wastebasket with LED indicator lights that let you know when it’s full
- Shreds paper into tiny pieces (just 1/6 inch by an inch)
- Twelve sheet capability at one time
Cost: $48.97
Aurora AU800SD Professional Strip Cut Shredder
Without its own wastebasket, this shredder gives you just what you need, right where you need it. It shreds up to eight sheets of paper into tiny, 1/4-inch shreds.
Key Features:
- Quickly shreds at a speed of 9.8 feet per minute
- Shredder is 8.7 inches wide and fits over most wastebaskets
- One year warranty
Cost: $26.49
AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder
The micro-cut shredder turns a single sheet of paper into about 2,235 pieces, making it perfect for a high level of security. Conveniently, it can even handle paper clips and staples so you don’t have to take the time to remove them.
Key Features:
- Large 4.1-gallon wastebasket
- Three minute continuous run time with 30-minute cooldown time
- One year warranty
Cost: $41.99
Aurora AU650MA High-Security 6-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder
This high-security micro-cut has a six-sheet capacity, including credit cards. It provides the ultimate protection against identity theft with particles six times smaller than typical cross-cut shredders.
Key Features:
- 3.7-gallon wastebasket
- Automatic shut off upon forced entry to prevent accidents
- Shreds credit cards, staples, and paper clips
Cost: $42.99
Aurora AS420C Desktop-Style Cross-Cut Shredder
This shredder sits right on your desktop for easy accessibility and portability. It shreds up to four folded sheets of paper or one credit card per pass.
Key Features:
- Wastebasket holds up to 40 sheets of paper
- 4.5-inch wide paper feed entry
- Thermal protection prevents machine from overheating
Cost: $24.97
Shreddie Mobile Paper Shredder
This handheld shredder makes secure shredding easy, compact, and portable. It can be powered via a USB cord or four AA batteries so you can truly take it on the go.
Key Features:
- Shred sheets up to 4.5 inches wide (just fold a piece of paper in half)
- Can be tucked in a bag or drawer for easy storage
- Can shred paper, photos, and receipts
Cost: $9.99
This cross-cut shredder shreds up to ten sheets of paper at a time and can also cut through plastic credit cards, CDs, and DVDs. It features rolling casters so you can roll it exactly where you need it to go.
Key Features:
- Shreds up to ten sheets of paper at a time
- Easily fits under any desk
- Up to three minutes of continuous operation
Cost: $49.97
If the introduction of your new paper shredder is too many electronics for your outlet, then you’ll definitely want to check out The Best Surge Protectors.
Mid-Range Paper Shredders
AmazonBasics 15-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
Use this cross-cut shredder to destroy 15 sheets of paper at a time, but also CDs, DVDs, and credit cards. it quickly and easily prevents paper jams with auto-start and auto-reverse that helps clear the system when it overloads.
Key Features:
- Cross-cut shredder provides a P-4 security level
- Oversized six-gallon wastebasket
- Rolling casters for easy portability
Cost: $98.74
Bonsaii DocShred C156-D 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
This cross-cut paper shredder features an easy-to-use twelve sheet capacity. It quickly and easily shreds paper into tiny pieces measuring .25 by 1.8 inches.
Key Features:
- Automatic manual reverse to clear paper jams
- Three to five-minute continuous operation
- One year warranty
Cost: $56.99
Sentinel FM121P 12-Sheet High Security Micro Cut Shredder
This micro-cut shredder shreds up to twelve sheets of paper or a credit card in a single pass. It quickly shreds to a level 4 rated security at a rate of seven feet per minute.
Key Features:
- Large four-gallon capacity pull out waste bin
- Ultra-quiet operation is only 72 decibels
- One year limited warranty
Cost: $84.64
Fellowes Powershred W11C, 11-Sheet Cross-cut Shredder
This cross-cut shredder shreds eleven sheets of paper in a single pass so you can get through mounds of paper quicker. It features a pet and child safety lock disables shredder that helps prevent accidents.
Key Features:
- 4.75- gallon wastebasket with an easy lift-off handle
- Five minutes of continuous run time
- One year product warranty and three-year cutter warranty
Cost: $73.28
Swingline 14 Sheet Paper Shredder
This powerful shredder can handle up to fourteen sheets of paper in a single pass and also shreds DVDs, CDs, staples, and paper clips. It allows a twenty-minute continuous run time so you can get more done in a single session.
Key Features:
- Five-gallon wastebasket gives you plenty of shred capacity
- Shreds one sheet of paper into more than 400 pieces
- Two-year warranty
Cost: $89.74
Royal 112MX 12-Sheet Cross Cut Shredder
With rolling casters, you can always transport this shredder right to wherever you need it. This cross-cut shredder can shred up to twelve sheets of paper in a single pass quickly and easily.
Key Features:
- Also shreds CDs, DVDs, and credit cards
- 3.25-gallon wastebasket with a clear window so you can see when it needs to be emptied
- Powerful 1/2 horsepower motor is designed for heavy-duty use
Cost: $69.99
Premium Paper Shredders
AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
This shredder features LED indicators that let you know when the product is on standby, is stopped due to overheating or overloading, and a door open alert. It shreds twenty-four sheets of paper in a shingle pass.
Key Features:
- 25 minute continuous run time so you can get more done in a single session
- Seven-gallon wastebasket holds more paper without the need for emptying
- One year limited warranty
Cost: $152.00
Bonsaii EverShred C149-C 18-Sheet Heavy Duty Cross-Cut Shredder
With an impressive continuous run time of 60 minutes without the need for cool down, this shredder is a powerhouse that will let you fly through your shredding in no time at all. It cross-cuts paper into tiny pieces just .25 by 1.5 inches.
Key Features:
- Four rolling casters so you can move the shredder wherever you need it most
- Six-gallon wastebasket cuts down the number of times you need to empty it
- Auto start and auto reverse functions help reduce paper jams
Cost: $151.99
Fellowes Powershred 79Ci 100% Jam Proof
This shredder features a 100% jam proof system that puts an end to paper jams and powers through whatever you throw at it. It also features an energy savings system that uses less energy.
Key Features:
- Shreds 16 pages in a single pass
- SafeSense technology stops the shredder when hands touch the opening
- Six-gallon wastebasket
Cost: $169.99
Boxis Autoshred AF60 Autoshred 60-Sheet Micro Cut Shredder
This powerhouse shredder can handle up to sixty sheets of paper at a single time. It quickly destroys your documents at speeds of eleven feet per minute.
Key Features:
- 20 minute continuous run time
- 3.6-gallon wastebasket
- Ultra-quiet operation of 65 decibels
Cost: $127.99
Aurora AU1210MA Professional Grade 12-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder
Featuring a high-security micro-cut, this shredder has a twelve sheet capacity. It also destroys CDs, DVDs, credit cards, staples, and small paper clips.
Key Features:
- Five-gallon bin with LED indicator lights
- Non-stop 60 minutes of run time before needing to cool down
- AutoReverse technology helps prevent paper jams
Cost: $118.87
Fellowes Powershred 73Ci 100% Jam Proof 12-Sheet Shredder
With a twelve sheet capacity, this shredder cuts each piece of paper into 397 pieces. It also features a 100% jam proof system that put an end to paper jams and churns through even the toughest jobs.
Key Features:
- Shreds staples and paper clips so you don’t need to remove them before you shred
- Six-gallon pullout wastebasket with see-through window and LED indicator
- Continuously runs up to ten minutes at a time
Cost: $149.99
Fellowes 3825001 Powershred 225Ci 100% Jam Proof 22-Sheet Cross-Cut Commercial Grade Shredder
This professional-grade shredder features continuous run time. In fact, it requires no recovery time between uses and features three levels of jam prevention that eliminate frustrating paper jams during operation.
Key Features:
- Shreds paper into cross-cut sections
- 16-gallon waste bin with see-through window
- SafeSense technology stops shredding if hands touch the opening
Cost: $624.99
Royal 1840MX 18-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
This cross-cut shredder features 40 minutes of continuous run time. It can handle 18 sheets of paper in a single pass, allowing you to get more done quickly.
Key Features:
- Shreds a sheet of paper in five seconds
- 8.5-gallon waste bin with see-through window indicator
- Rolling casters allow you to move the shredder where it’s needed most
Cost: $201.25
