What are the best paper shredders for home use?

Question

Paper Shredders

What are the best paper shredders for home use?

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Considered

27

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May 10, 2019

Last
Updated

4 Options Considered

Best paper shredders for home use	Price	Security level	Weight
3 AmazonBasics Micro-Cut Paper Shredder	$99.99	P-4	26 lbs
-- Fellowes Powershred 79Ci	$169.98	P-4	32 lbs
-- Royal 1840MX	$177.17	P-2	38 lbs
-- HAMA Professional M12CD	$244.96	P-5	-

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score 13 · Answer 1

AmazonBasics Micro-Cut Paper Shredder

Top Pro

It's an excellent budget option for home use

Although there are shredders better suited for heavy-duty use, if you're looking for something to use at home, this is one of the best options out there. For a budget price, it offers a rather powerful shredding mechanism and a very high degree of privacy (making shredded documents virtually impossible to reassemble). See More

Top Con

You have to deal with jams manually

There is no automatic solution or prevention mechanism for jammed paper. To resolve the issue, you have to put the shredder into reverse mode and retry disposing of your documents. This can get annoying, especially if you’re in a hurry. See More

Specs

Security level:P-4

Weight:26 lbs

Bin capacity:6.7 gallons

Cooldown:45 min

See All Specs

Top Pro

It can be used to dispose of highly sensitive documents

This shredder cuts paper into pieces 6 times smaller than the average cross-cut shredder, which are considered highly secure in their own right. Documents that go through this machine are virtually impossible to re-assemble. See More

Top Con

Not the safest option if you have kids

This shredder doesn’t have a safety lock that would prevent it from being activated by accident. If you have children at home, it would be wise to unplug it every time you leave the house. See More

Top Pro

It runs quietly

AmazonBasics Shredder runs twice as quiet as the average shredder. While working, it produces around 80 dB of noise, a little quieter than your kitchen blender. See More

Top Con

It can't shred large paper clips and staples

To prevent jams, you should remove large paper clips and staples that hold paper together before shredding. See More

Top Pro

Built-in protection from over-heating

To prevent the motor from over-heating, this shredder has thermal sensors that shut it down before any damage can be done. See More

Top Con

You have to install the wheels yourself

The wheels included with the shredder come separately. You will have rely on the user's manual to install them succesfully. See More

Top Pro

It's highly portable

This shredder is easy to move around thanks to the detachable wheels that come along with it. See More

Top Pro

It's extremely convenient to use

In auto-mode, shredding starts once sensors detect paper being put into the device, and you don't even have to press a single button. See More

Top Pro

Large waste bin

The capacity of this shredder's bin is bigger than average - 6.7 lbs of paper. Since the paper shreds it produces are very small, they easily get compressed inside the bin, further ensuring that you don't have to take it out to trash very often. See More

Top Pro

Shreds miscelanous items as well as paper

With this paper shredder you can also dispose of IDs, credit cards, CDs, DVDs, and small paper clips. See More

Top Pro

It can handle large batches of paper sheets

This shredder can handle 12 sheets of paper at once, compared to the 6-8 for most alternatives. See More

See All

score 9 · Answer 2

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

Top Pro

Runs longer without cooldown than alternatives

This shredder can run for as long as 20 minutes before it requires to cool down. It also needs shorter breaks to work properly - 30 minutes compared to 40-45 minutes that other shredders require. See More

Top Con

May feel like an overkill for home use

This shredder is extremely efficient and powerful, but that comes at a high price. You need to consider carefuly whether you truly need all of these advanced features, or if a cheaper machine will be sufficient. See More

Specs

Top Pro

Paper never jams

One of the main selling points of this Fellowes shredder is that it's absolutely jam-safe. Thanks to the patented Jam Proof System, the company claims to have completely eliminated the problem of paper getting stuck between the blades. It can even power through paper clips and staples that get caught in the shredder along with paperwork. See More

Top Con

You have to install the wheels yourself

The wheels included with the shredder come detached. You will have rely on the user's manual to install them succesfully. See More

Top Pro

Fast and efficient shredding

This machine can handle up to 16 sheets of paper at once, twice the capacity of an average shredder. See More

Top Pro

Completely safe to use

To keep your fingers safe, this shredder uses SafeSense Technology that stops the blades immediately when your hand touches the paper opening. See More

Top Pro

Can be used to dispose of highly sensitive documents

The paper that comes through this shredder is virtually impossible to reassemble. It cuts documents in pieces with a total area less than 160 mm². This makes it compliant with the P-4 security level, sufficient to dispose of highly sensitive and/or personal data. See More

Top Pro

It shreds miscelanous items as well as paper

With this shredder you can also dispose of credit cards, CDs/DVDs. It shreds paper clips and staples. See More

Top Pro

It has a full-bin indicator

A handly little feature - LED light that indicates when the waste bin is filled to maximum capacity. See More

Top Pro

Highly portable

Despite this 32-pound shredder being on the heavier side, it's easy to move around thanks to the detachable wheels that come along with it. See More

See All

score 4 · Answer 3

Royal 1840MX

Top Pro

Very fast and efficient shredding

This shredder can handle up to 18 sheets of paper at once, that's three times more than most of the alternatives. It takes as little as 5 seconds to dispose of one A4 page. See More

Top Con

It's a hefty investment

This shredder is extremely efficient and powerful, but that comes at a high price. You need to consider carefully whether you truly need all of these advanced features, or if a cheaper option will be sufficient. See More

Specs

Top Pro

Runs longer without cooldown than alternatives

This shredder can run for as long as 40 minutes before it requires a cooldown, way longer than most competitors. It also needs shorter breaks to work properly - 30 minutes compared to 40-45 minutes that other shredders require. See More

Top Con

Not the safest option if you have kids

This shredder doesn’t have a safety lock that would prevent it from being activated by accident. If you have children at home, it would be wise to unplug it every time you leave the house. See More

Top Pro

Extremely quiet

While running, this shredder creates about 60 dB of noise. That's 2-4 times more quiet than most alternatives. See More

Top Con

You have to install the wheels yourself

The wheels included with the shredder come detached. You will have rely on the user's manual to install them succesfully. See More

Top Pro

Can shred almost anything

You don't have to worry about putting cardboard, CDs, DVDs, junk mail, IDs, and credit cards into the shredder. It can easily power through large paper clips and staples. See More

Top Pro

It's pretty portable

Despite this 38-pound shredder being on the heavier side, it's easy to move around thanks to the detachable wheels that come along with it. See More

Top Pro

It doesn’t require lubricating

Unlike most shredders that need you to oil regularly, the Royal doesn’t require any lubricating. In fact, doing so will void your warranty. See More

Top Pro

Automatic jamming prevention

If paper gets jammed inside the shredder, reverse mode kicks in automatically and the issue is resolved without any intervention on your side. See More

Top Pro

It starts and ends shredding automatically

In auto mode, this machine will automatically start shredding once it detects that you inserted paper and turn off once the job is done. See More

Top Pro

You don't have to empty the bin very often

Maximum bin capacity of this shredder is 8.5 gallons, that's twice as much as most competitors. You won't have to take it to the trash very often. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 4

HAMA Professional M12CD

BIN CAPACITY:7.4 gallons

SECURITY LEVEL:P-5

SHEET CAPACITY:12

See All Specs

Answer 5

What are the best paper shredders for home use?

4 Options Considered

AmazonBasics Micro-Cut Paper Shredder

My Recommendation for AmazonBasics Micro-Cut Paper Shredder

My Recommendation for AmazonBasics Micro-Cut Paper Shredder

It's an excellent budget option for home use

You have to deal with jams manually

It can be used to dispose of highly sensitive documents

Not the safest option if you have kids

It runs quietly

It can't shred large paper clips and staples

Built-in protection from over-heating

You have to install the wheels yourself

It's highly portable

It's extremely convenient to use

Large waste bin

Shreds miscelanous items as well as paper

It can handle large batches of paper sheets

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

My Recommendation for Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

My Recommendation for Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

Runs longer without cooldown than alternatives

May feel like an overkill for home use

Paper never jams

You have to install the wheels yourself

Fast and efficient shredding

Completely safe to use

Can be used to dispose of highly sensitive documents

It shreds miscelanous items as well as paper

It has a full-bin indicator

Highly portable

Royal 1840MX

My Recommendation for Royal 1840MX

My Recommendation for Royal 1840MX

Very fast and efficient shredding

It's a hefty investment

Runs longer without cooldown than alternatives

Not the safest option if you have kids

Extremely quiet

You have to install the wheels yourself

Can shred almost anything

It's pretty portable

It doesn’t require lubricating

Automatic jamming prevention

It starts and ends shredding automatically

You don't have to empty the bin very often

HAMA Professional M12CD

My Recommendation for HAMA Professional M12CD

My Recommendation for HAMA Professional M12CD

Don't see your favorite option? Add it.

Bonsaii DocShred C560-D

My Recommendation for Bonsaii DocShred C560-D

My Recommendation for Bonsaii DocShred C560-D

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