The best paper shredder overall
The Bonsai Paper Shredder offers large-scale capacity and superior performance when compared with other home paper shredders, yet still comes in at under $300. The 4S30 model offers a 10-sheet shredding capacity, so you can quickly shred even larger documents. Additionally, this shredder is strong enough to cut not only paper, but also credit cards, CDs and DVDs, clips, and staples, saving you time and making disposing of junk mail, files, and documents easy. The micro-cut shred creates tiny particles, protecting your personal information.
The shredder's 240-minute continuous running time allows you to shred large amounts of material in a single session. After 240 minutes, the shredder only needs a 10-minute cool-down time, so it's a great choice if you have large shredding jobs or plan to use the shredder frequently throughout the day. Automatic jam detection identifies when the machine is overloaded, preventing the jam from happening.
On Amazon, one user wrote, "The shreds are micro-fine so security is not arguable. It is fairly quiet — quite easy to have normal conversation over it. I bought it as an alternative to paying the shredding company over $1,500 to shred my business documents. It has run nearly eight hours a day for weeks on end and just keeps chugging along."
Pros: Shreds into micro-pieces instead of long strips, continuous run-time of 240 minutes, automatic jam detection, energy-saving system, capable of shredding paper, CDs, staples, credit cards, and more
Cons: Larger casters would roll more smoothly, no safety shutoff, high price point
The best budget paper shredder
A paper shredder with huge capacity and loads of features generally carries a higher price tag. For everyday use around the home, the Pen + Gear 6-Sheet Crosscut Paper/Credit Card Shredder strikes a balance between features and affordability. This shredder's six-sheet capacity and ability to shred credit cards, staples, and even small paper clips, means that it's up to the task of most home shredding needs. And, at under $40, it's an affordable purchase option if you only need a shredder that you occasionally use for junk mail and documents.
While this shredder is affordable, it still has plenty of features that make for an impressive performance. It's equipped with overheat protection, so you don't have to worry about potentially burning the motor out, and the ShredSafe feed-entry has an angled slot to prevent fingers from ending up where they shouldn't. The four-mode switch includes a jam-remover function, and the shredder's compact design means you can easily keep it under a desk or tuck it away into a corner of the room.
The Pen + Gear 6-Sheet Crosscut Paper/Credit Card Shredder has received positive feedback from Walmart buyers. One owner wrote, "In one day, this shredder knocked out six bags of shredded documents. Yes, it does overheat so you have to give it a little break every so often. But it did not jam one single time or malfunction in any way."
Another Walmart buyer said, "The size is perfect for our small home office since it doesn't take up too much floor space or is too noisy. The only complaint I find is the window on the front that allows you to see how full the basket is could be a tad larger."
Pros: Low price point, jam-remover function, overheat protection, suitable for shredding paper, credit cards, staples, and paper clips
Cons: Louder than some other units, six-sheet capacity means shredding larger documents can take a while
The best jam-proof paper shredder
If you have ever tried to undo a jam in a paper shredder, you know that it can take valuable time out of your day. The Fellowes Powershred Jam Proof Paper and Credit Card Shredder is designed to prevent jams from happening in the first place. This machine's jam-proof system helps to eliminate them and has the power to work through tough jobs. It can handle up to 12 sheets of paper at a time and is tough enough to shred credit cards, CDs, paper clips, and staples.
One of the most valuable features is its SafeSense Technology, which disables the shredder when hands touch the paper opening. Additionally, the shredder is equipped with an Energy Savings System to keep power consumption down.
This shredder can run for up to 10 minutes at a time before requiring a 20-minute cool-down period. Its cross-cut design eliminates the long pieces that other shredders create, making for a more secure shred.
The Fellowes Powershred Jam Proof Paper and Credit Card Shredder has a high Amazon rating among buyers. One owner wrote, "When the folded sheets hit the cutters, the shredder briefly stopped and put itself in reverse to clear the jam. It did that a few times and the folded sheets straightened themselves out and it chopped them up. I was pretty impressed."
Pros: Jam-proof system, safety shutoff when hands touch the paper opening, pull-out bin for easy cleaning, capable of shredding 12 sheets of paper and credit cards, CDs, staples, and more
Cons: Needs to cool down after 10 minutes of use, long cool-down period
The best high-volume paper shredder
The Swingline 20-Sheet Cross-Cut Commercial Shredder is a heavy-duty shredder capable of handling high-volume jobs. The generously sized 19-gallon bin allows you to shred for long periods at a time without stopping, and the shredder can process up to 20 sheets of paper at a time. The nonstop jam-free technology is designed for continuous, seamless operation, so you can focus on feeding more documents, rather than dealing with paper jams.
This shredder is ideal for a home office where you need to quickly shred large volumes and need a shredder that's dependable and easy to operate. This Swingline shredder can handle DVDs, CDs, credit cards, paper clips, staples, and paper. The cross-cut design results in a small shred size of 0.16 inches by 1.75 inches, for maximized security. This shredder is also equipped with a bin sensor that alerts you when the bin is getting full. The unit is backed by a two-year limited warranty, and the cutter comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
While this shredder offers the generous capacity and performance that you see in many top-of-the-line commercial units, it comes at a more reasonable price that's practical for a home business or home office.
Pros: Continuous operation without cool-down, capacity to shred 20 sheets at a time, nonstop jam-free technology, shreds credit cards, CDs, and more
Cons: Requires oil to function, higher price point than some lower-end shredders, pricey (and overkill) for casual home use
The best manual paper shredder
One downside to most paper shredders is that they're bulky, which can be an issue if you're tight on space. If you only use a shredder occasionally and don't want to sacrifice floor space to a unit that you don't need often, the Nakabayashi Co. 3-Way Manual Shredder could be an ideal solution. This manual shredder requires no power, is compact, and is portable. Measuring just 12.6 by 7.6 by 5.9 inches in size, it's small enough to tuck into a drawer for storage.
Though this shredder is small, it can shred a standard piece of A4 paper, CDs, and credit cards. Because the shredder operates by hand-turning the handle, it creates less noise than other electrically powered units.
The Nakabayashi Co. 3-Way Manual Shredder has generally positive feedback from owners. Buyers like that it's silent and performs well, but stress that it is for very light-duty shredding.
Pros: Compact, no need for electricity, quiet operation, capable of shredding paper, credit cards, and CDs
Cons: Suitable only for smaller-volume shredding, cannot shred paper larger than A4 size, handle is small