If you are working with sensitive data in your workplace, or just want to be discrete about your financial situation, you are more than aware of the importance of shredding the documents, bills, etc. before you dispose them into the garbage. As you already know, many people may misuse the information found in your garbage and as a result discover business secrets, your financial situation and in general sensitive data.

For that reason, it is essential to destroy your documents before disposal and there is no better way to do that than using the best paper shredders. These devices will give you comfort and much-needed security that all your secrets will be kept hidden.

So, what is the best paper shredder for you? What are the things you need to look for in order to get the best possible deal? The answer is simple and is listed in the following lines. It only requires a few minutes of your time.

Top Picks

How to Choose the Best Paper Shredder

Number of Sheets

Paper shredders, in general, can be compared by the volume of sheets they can shred in one pass; the higher the volume, the better overall performance and speed of a device.

However, although this might sound like an easy task, the fact is that with the rise of volume, the price also rises. In other words, you need to find the right balance.

If you are just a home user, six or eight sheets that can be shredded in one pass are more than enough for you. Nevertheless, if you are a heavy user, these volumes should certainly go as high as possible, which means that you will have to reach pretty deep into your pocket.

What It Can Shred

Although paper shredders are primarily made for paper, as their name suggests, the fact is that they are also used for the destruction of other items, such as DVDs or credit cards, which may prove to be very practical. For that reason, pay closer attention to the sorts of components your future shredder can handle and get the best multi-functionality possible.

How Long It Can Continuously Work

Many people are not familiar with this characteristic of paper shredders – they can continuously work for only a certain amount of time, after which they require rest, and as you have guessed, the longevity of that work is in direct correlation with the price of a device. Therefore, the heavier usage you demand, the more money you will have to spend.

Jamming

Jamming is a common thing for paper shredders, especially more affordable ones. Because of that, pay closer attention to what the specs say about this problem: are there any anti-jam functions, or guarantees about that, and what are the ways to handle this problem if it occurs. Choose the device that handles this issue the best.

6 Best Paper Shredders

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

An Excellent Paper Shredder for Home Use

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci is a quiet performing (its noise level is only 54 decibels) and feature-rich paper shredder, designed for home or small-office use. It is equipped with a jam-proof and energy saving function, and more importantly, SafeSense technology that stops the shredding process whenever the paper opening is touched by hands.

This shredder can handle 16 sheets in one pass and allows for continuous usage of up to 20 minutes after which it needs 30 minutes to cool off. It is equipped with a bin that has a six-gallon capacity and can shred not only paper, but credit cards, CDs, DVDs, and staples as well.

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci is easy to use and clean and in general offers a very good balance of price and quality. It provides reliable and smooth performance, and overall delivers everything you would expect from the best paper shredder for home use.

Pros:

• Quiet
• SafeSense technology
• Jam-proof system
• It can shred CDs, DVDs, staples, etc.

Cons:

• It can work only for 20 minutes in continuity
• Not the best build quality

Check Prices


 

AmazonBasics 17-Sheet Shredder

A Solid Paper Shredder at an Affordable Price

If you are looking for a decent paper shredder for your home that is easy to use and doesn’t cost too much, AmazonBasics 17-Sheet Paper Shredder is the device for you.

This shredder offers quiet operations (65dB); it has a 17-sheet shredding capacity in one pass and a bin that can accept up to seven gallons of trash. It can chop paper, CDs, DVDs, credit cards and many more, as well as micro-cut the documents, providing you the highest level of security against theft.

AmazonBasics 17-Sheet Paper Shredder comes with a one-year warranty and allows for continuous 20-minute work, after which it needs 50 minutes of cool-down time. Furthermore, this device provides an energy-saving function that turns it off after five minutes of inactivity and a very handy auto-mode that starts shredding the documents or paper as soon as it detects it.

All in all, if you want an efficient shredding tool that is affordable at the same time, AmazonBasics 17-Sheet Paper Shredder is definitely one of the best paper shredder options out there.

Pros:

• It turn-off automatically when not in use for five minutes
• It can also shred CDs, DVDs and credit cards
• Easy to use
• Affordable

Cons:

• It can continuously work only for 20 minutes after which it requires for a 50-minute cooling period
• A bit slow

Check Prices


 

Bonsaii C220-A Paper Shredder

A Compact and Highly Mobile Paper Shredder

Finding a practical, but efficient paper shredder that can be easily moved from one place to another is something that many users are looking for, and Bonsaii C220-A is a device that perfectly fits into that role.

Thanks to its compact size and four removable wheels, its transport can be done with ease, while its overheating and overload protection systems prevent you from going too far with its exploitation.

Bonsaii C220-A has a one-year warranty and allows for destruction of clips, staples, as well as CDs and DVDs and up to 12 sheets of paper in one pass.

Unfortunately, this shredder also has a couple of downsides, such as a rather limited bin capacity with its 3.5 gallons and the ability to work for only five minutes in continuity, after which it demands for a 45-minute break. These characteristics prove that this device is designed for small-volume consumers that need this type of device only occasionally.

Altogether, if you belong to home users and don’t demand a paper shredding on a daily basis, this device is a great option for you. Otherwise, better go for some larger-volume machine.

Pros:

• Compact
• Easy to use
• Easy to move thanks to its four wheels

Cons:

• Low capacity bin
• It allows for only five minutes of continuous work

Check Prices


 

Aurora AU1210MA

Great Characteristics at Affordable Price

If you need a decent paper shredder that you can place next to your monochrome laser printer for the destruction of all the clutter or badly printed documents, Aurora AU1210MA is the thing for you.

This shredder is easy to use; it is equipped with the anti-jam system and provides very quiet operations that may prove to be vital in crowded spaces, such as offices. Its five-gallon bin could be a bit larger; however, it can still accept a lot of shredded pieces.

Aurora AU1210MA is able to shred paper, credit cards, DVDs and CDs and work continuously for up to 60 minutes, which is an impressive number for such an affordable device. Moreover, this device can handle 12-paper sheets with one pass, it has LED status indicators for easier use and comes fitted with a set of wheels that make it highly mobile and practical for use in a larger space.

All in all, if you need the best heavy duty paper shredder for your office, Aurora AU1210MA is pretty much it.

Pros:

• Good price
• It can continuously work for 60 minutes
• It comes equipped with wheels

Cons:

• Not the best customer service

Check Prices


 

Bonsaii DocShred C156-C

A Cheap, Home-Use Paper Shredder

Bonsaii DocShred C156-C is a compact paper shredder designed for low-volume or occasional users that are looking for a cheap, but efficient paper, staples, CD, DVD and credit card shredder.

With this device, you won’t get super speeds and great performance. However, you will get an ease of use, good portability thanks to its small size and provided handle, as well as a practical and quick way to destroy your unwanted CDs and DVDs that are shredded in a separate slot.

When talking about Bonsaii DocShred C156-C’s downsides, it must be mentioned that this device lacks power when shredding a CD or multiple sheets of paper at once, which results in a noisy performance. Also, we should mention its running time of four minutes, after which it needs 40 minutes of cooling, which isn’t that great, either.

Nevertheless, this shredder is made for light use. Therefore, if you are expecting some high performance, with zero noise, you’d better go for some other product.

Bonsaii DocShred C156-C, with its shredding capacity of eight sheets in one pass and 5.5 gallons wastebasket, as well as a one-year warranty, doesn’t present much for some people. However, the fact is that considering its low price, good portability and overall satisfying performance, this shredder is still a great option for many, which makes it probably the best paper shredder for the money.

Pros:

• It can shred CDs, DVDs and credit cards
• Affordable
• Compact
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Prone to paper jamming
• It lacks power when shredding multiple sheets
• It requires for 40 minutes of cooling after four minutes of work
• Noisy

Check Prices


 

AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Shredder

A Solid, Low-Volume Paper Shredder

If you are looking for a cheap and discrete, but efficient paper shredder that can easily blend with your other office equipment such as a scanner, photo printer, or PC, AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Paper Shredder is a tool for you.

This is a small paper shredder that offers cross-cut shredding and can handle up to six sheets at once. It can shred paper, staples, DVDs, as well as credit cards and comes fitted with a modest 3.8-gallon bin that should be enough for occasional home use.

AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Paper Shredder comes with a one-year warranty, thermal protection with auto shut-off and overall provides ease of use.

Unfortunately, this device can work for only two minutes in continuity, after which it demands a 30-minute break. In other words, it is strictly built for home or occasional office use.

For that reason, if you need an affordable, but decent performing paper shredder that will be just frequently used, AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Paper Shredder is a good solution for you.

Pros:

• Compact
• Cheap
• Decent performance

Cons:

• Low capacity
• It struggles with thicker components
• Noisy

Check Prices


 

Conclusion

Who doesn’t love shredding paper? It really makes us feel like we are in a movie, right? And if you actually really need one in your home or office, all the more reason to get one as soon as possible. Consider your needs and wants and make sure to follow our guidelines, and we’re sure you’ll find your perfect match!