The 7 Best Paper Shredders of 2024 - Paper Shredder Reviews

These models safely dispose of sensitive materials like tax documents and medical records in seconds.

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We may live in an increasingly digital-first world, but chances are you have some sensitive documents in your home or office. Even if it’s just junk mail, there’s enough information for someone to open a credit card in your name or commit other types of fraud. Rather than toss it all into the garbage can, opt for a good paper shredder to give yourself peace of mind that your personal information is properly destroyed.

Paper shredders are relatively compact and most are small enough to fit underneath your home office desk. They shred multiple sheets at once, run continuously for roughly 20 to 40 minutes, and most rip through staples and paper clips. Some high-end models can even shred things like cardboard and credit cards.

No matter which type of unit you’re looking for—or how much you want to spend—read on for the best paper shredders we tested and researched. This buying guide includes our recommendations along with what to consider before shopping, plus expert tips on maintenance.

First gauge how much and how often you plan on shredding. Paper capacity lists the approximate number of sheets a paper shredder can handle at once. Small paper shredders have a capacity of 8 to 10, though if your shredding needs are few and far between, you can get away with a six-sheet model. Mid-size paper shredders have a 25-sheet capacity and the largest we recommend, the Aurora, auto-feeds 10 sheets at once from a 120-sheet auto-feed tray. It’s a great if you want to set up a big shredding project and go get other work done

Manufacturers advise you not to shred cardboard. However, some have the ability to chomp cardboard and credit cards. Our Best Overall pick Amazon Basics is known to efficiently shred a large amount of cardboard.

Paper shredders have different cut types, and the most common are micro-cut and crosscut. Paper shredders are graded on seven levels of security (noted as P-1 to P-7) according to the international standard for secure shredding of data media developed by the German Institute for Standardization (DIN). Crosscut paper shredders have ratings pf P-3 and P-4, whereas micro-cut paper shredders have ratings of P-4 and higher. For a visual, crosscut pieces are about the size of a dime and micro-cut pieces are like confetti.

Most of our options have a P-4 rating because they’re time-efficient, relatively inexpensive, and offer plenty of security. We do note the models that have a P-5 rating, but most of these machines are more expensive and overkill for what most people need. Anything P-3-rated or under isn’t worth it.

Paper shredders collect pieces in a waste bin as your shred. Some require you to take the shredder off to empty the bin, which isn’t the most convenient. Pull-out waste bins are preferable because they’re easier to empty and safer; you don’t have to handle the shredder or put your hands near the blades.

To avoid a mess, we recommend putting a liner inside the waste bin so you can tie it off and throw it away without any pieces escaping. For occasional shredding, a three- to five-gallon bin is plenty, but shredders with a larger bin for a home office should have a seven- or eight-gallon capacity.

Paper shredders can run anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes before needing to cool down, though smaller budget machines may only run for up to five minutes or so. The cooldown time is typically greater than the paper shredder’s runtime to ensure the machine is no longer hot. If you ignore the advised runtime, your paper shredder may overheat.

Some higher-end models have LEDs on the control panel to alert you when the waste bin is full, if the shredder is about to overheat, and if it’s overloaded. Many troubleshoot issues like a paper jam or if the shredder isn’t properly attached to the waste bin. Most larger paper shredders that weigh upwards of 20 pounds have rolling casters. There are also auto-feed paper shredders, which are ideal for big jobs.

We’ve been using paper shredders for years–in home and office settings–for both security and basic paper disposal purposes. We kept this experience in mind when selecting the models for this list, and also performed extensive online research. We called in two popular models from Amazon Basics to test and see how they performed and measured the shredded pieces to see if they delivered on their claimed P-4 ratings.

For models we didn’t test, we looked to trusted brands and vetted specs t0 ensure the shredders met our standards for quality and value. Since customers have a wide range of jobs and projects in mind when choosing a paper shredder, we made sure to include a variety of sizes, as well as a range of prices.

Admittedly, this Amazon paper shredder impressed us more than we expected. It shredded a stack of 28 papers and worked the entire runtime promised by the product description—a full 40 minutes without overheating.

It’s a crosscut shredder, but the resulting pieces are considerably smaller than other similar models. It cut 24 sheets down to 4 by 30-millimeter pieces in just under 14 seconds. The output is relatively quiet as we measured its noise level at 70 decibels—about the same as a standard washing machine or dishwasher.

We didn’t shred cardboard during testing and recommend you stick to what the manufacturer instructions say. But it’s worth noting this exact model is touted as a “cardboard shredding beast” on Reddit and is great for composting.

It’s likely overkill for the average home office, and it doesn’t come cheap. But it offers solid performance all around. The only caveat is that the pull-out bin is a bit awkward and messy to clean up.

This shredder looks similar to our top pick but didn’t impress us nearly as much. That said, at such a low price point, our complaints are admissible. It’s solid enough for those who want a machine that can shred the occasional batch of papers and won’t take up room under your desk. It doesn’t have wheels, but, it being only eight pounds, we didn’t really miss them when moving it around.

The resulting pieces were closer to what you expect from crosscut shredders. It jammed up on us a couple of times but was easy to clear and continue shredding. We were able to shred seven sheets continuously but not the claimed eight.

Still, it achieved shredding at the rate of one sheet per second and is only slightly louder than the 24-sheet model above. It’s good for handling light jobs around your home and office.

This Fellowes model has a sleek design and the impressive performance to match. It micro-shreds 20 sheets into tiny particles with ease offering more security than a crosscut shredder.

Its eight-gallon bin holds up to 750 shredded sheets of paper before it needs to be emptied and pulls out from the side—preferable over those that require you to lift the shredder off the bin and empty from the top. It also has a safety feature that pauses if it senses hands are too close to the blades and automatically resumes when the coast is clear.

LED lights notify when the bin is almost full and when it’s about to finish its runtime. It’s one of the quieter options out there, with a noise level of about 50 decibels, comparable to the hum of a refrigerator. It can’t shred CDs but can handle paper clips, staples, and credit cards.

This Bonsen has a relatively small capacity but features that rival higher-end models. It shreds paper, credit cards, and staples into micro confetti-sized pieces to ensure documents are beyond resurrection and boasts a P-5 rating.

It has a simple control panel with just three buttons: power, forward, reverse. It also has LED indicators to alert you if it’s overheating, it’s overloaded, the bin is full, or the bin is out. There’s a learning curve in figuring which issue each indicator is referencing, but it’s a user-friendly experience overall.

The bin pulls out and fills a bit less slowly since the confetti pieces take up less room. There’s also a window on the front to give you an idea of when to empty it.

The micro-cut shredding capabilities of this model, combined with the power to rend CDs and credit cards, make it a great option if you prioritize maximum security. It can shred continuously for 12 minutes, though it requires a 40-minute cooldown time if it overheats. However, it automatically powers off after five minutes, saving energy and thus reducing the chance of damage.

The pull-out waste bin has a window to check when it’s nearly full, but the shredder also has LED notifications that alert you for things like when there’s a paper jam.

We’re also big fans of the five-year warranty on the cutting cylinders, and the one-year plan for the rest of the components.

If you have a lot of shredding to do, this Aurora shredder is your best bet thanks to its convenient auto-feeder. The feeder tray also has a 120-sheet capacity, which is considerable.

This shredder creates compact micro-cut pieces for maximum security, and it can handle paper clips and staples. It can shred for up to 30 minutes at a time before needing a break. The waste bin has a convenient pull-out design for easy emptying.

This low-budget shredder is powerful enough to handle six sheets at once, can process 36 sheets per minute, and has the strength to chew through staples and credit cards. Plus, there’s an overheat warning indicator to let you know when it’s time to give it a rest.

The large window on the bin allows you to see when it’s ready to empty, and the top-mounted handle makes it convenient to do so.

Extend the life of your paper shredder with some best practices and operational tips.

Danny Perez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.

Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. His work has also appeared in Business Insider's Insider Picks, and before his writing career, he was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie.

Matt Crisara is a native Austinite who has an unbridled passion for cars and motorsports, both foreign and domestic. He was previously a contributing writer for Motor1 following internships at Circuit Of The Americas F1 Track and Speed City, an Austin radio broadcaster focused on the world of motor racing. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona School of Journalism, where he raced mountain bikes with the University Club Team. When he isn’t working, he enjoys sim-racing, FPV drones, and the great outdoors.

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