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Nov 05, 2024

The best paper shredder in 2024, tested by editors | CNN Underscored

Best paper shredder: Aurora AU1060MA 10-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder Even in an age of digital financial statements and paperless billing, a paper shredder has a place in your home. Health information,

Best paper shredder: Aurora AU1060MA 10-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder

Even in an age of digital financial statements and paperless billing, a paper shredder has a place in your home. Health information, banking records and other private documents are going to show up in your mail. Shredding them into tiny, difficult-to-read scraps before tossing them out can go a long way in protecting your identity (and your money) from would-be thieves.

Shredders come in various sizes and shredding capabilities, so whatever your space limitations or security requirements, there’s one that can work for you. We sourced 11 popular shredder models for hands-on testing, comparing their ease of use, noise level, shredding capacity and potential jam issues to find the best shredder for your home office.

This Aurora shredder provides equally impressive security and productivity capabilities thanks to its P-5 micro-cut blades and 60-minute continuous run time.

This Aurora AU1060MA 10-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder strikes an ideal balance between high performance and maximum security document shredding, making it an obvious choice as our top pick.

Unlike other shredders that have a cluttered, overwhelming control interface, the Aurora features a straightforward layout that’s really simple to use. A large, four-setting control switch allows you to easily power the device on and off as well as switch between forward and reverse modes for clearing any potential jams. The four LED status indicators use visual icons and a text description, so it’s always clear what the Aurora is trying to tell you.

What truly separated the Aurora from the rest of the testing pool was its P-5 security rating. While the other micro-cut units tended to generate 4-by-12-millimeter pieces, the Aurora shreds everything inserted — even credit cards — into pieces half that size: 2 by 12 millimeters, about the same size and shape as a piece of long-grained rice. Generating 2,592 pieces per A4 sheet, it far surpasses the 2,000 pieces required to qualify for a P-5 rating. It’s worth noting that although the Aurora can handle small paper clips and staples, it cannot accept CDs or DVDs. (We didn’t consider this a significant downside, given the shrinking popularity of these media types.)

I was also really impressed with the overall power and endurance of the Aurora, especially considering the intense workload of a micro shredder’s blades. The advertised 60-minute continuous run time is the longest of the models in the testing pool, making it well suited to handle those large-quantity shredding projects you may have. The 6-gallon pullout bin is large enough to hold 380 sheets of paper, and the large viewing window makes it easy to monitor its fill level. A sensor will also activate the “empty bin” LED when it’s too full.

Though the Aurora advertises a 10-sheet limit, I could push that to 15 without incident. When I intentionally created a jam at around 18 sheets, the Aurora initiated its “auto-reverse” setting. With a little tug on the sheets from my end, it easily reversed the jam. Using the collection bin was convenient too, and I could slide it in and out of place without any frustrating jostling or shoving to make it fit.

Despite its large capacity, this shredder is still easy to roll around thanks to the four rolling casters. I would have liked the option to lock these, but the 24-pound weight seems to prevent any unwanted rolling around.

There are cheaper options available, but the combination of the high security rating, large bin capacity and super-long run time make the Aurora 10-Sheet Micro Cut Shredder worth the price.

If you’re at all concerned about identity theft — and you should be, since last year more than 1 million cases were reported to the FTC — a paper shredder can provide some peace of mind. According to the most recent data available from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, most cases of identity theft aren’t easy to trace to specific criminal activity, and identity theft often takes place digitally. Still, many experts suggest shredding sensitive documents as one element of a defensive strategy.

Access to physical paper documents can give criminals enough personal data to open up lines of credit, request loans or commit health care fraud in your name. Even seemingly harmless junk mail — preapproved credit card offers and courtesy checks, for instance — can be combined with other partial data to create a complete identity profile. By shredding these documents, a dumpster-diving thief looking for a treasure trove of personal information will only find a bag of confetti, and that’s much harder to piece together.

Paper shredders come in a few different types, with cross-cut and micro-cut being the most common. While both work essentially the same way, by feeding paper through a series of tiny blades, cross-cut models generate larger pieces than micro-cut shredders, making them less secure. If a thief were ever motivated enough to try to reassemble a shredded document, a cross-cut sheet would be extremely time-consuming, while a micro-cut sheet would be even more challenging.

These particle sizes can also vary within the same shredder type, which is where security ratings become useful. These standardized ratings assign a security level depending on the size of the particle, from P-1 (least secure) to P-7 (most secure), allowing you to compare cross- and micro-cut models even more accurately. If maximum security is your top priority, go with a micro-cut shredder at the highest security level you can afford. Recycling.com has a more detailed rundown if you want to learn more.

Because of their additional blades, micro-cut shredders tend to have lower sheet capacity limits and are more expensive. That said, if you want to ensure you’ve shredded your documents as finely as possible, it could be worth the investment in a higher-rated shredder.

While not the best for intense shredding sessions, Amazon's 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder does all the basics for less than half the price of our top pick.

The Amazon Basics 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder is strong enough to power through staples, small paper clips, credit cards and CDs, and the straightforward control panel was especially user-friendly. I also appreciated the portability of this shredder. Rolling casters allow you to smoothly and quietly guide it around a room, and the relatively compact size makes it convenient to store under your desk or anywhere else you don’t want it to take up too much room.

The pullout basket slides in and out without much trouble, and unlike some other compact models that are a little flimsy, it has a nice, sturdy feel. You’re getting a nice amount of security with this unit too, and the 4-by-12-millimeter shreds have a P-4 rating. The eight-sheet capacity and five-minute run time limit the productivity of this shredder, but if you don’t have a ton of paper to shred, that may not be an issue.

Questionable credit card shredding knocked this model down in our testing, but it otherwise performed well in various shredding projects. Micro-cut shredding gives you added security compared with the other Amazon Basics models we tested.

Combining a 12-sheet capacity, 6-gallon bin and micro-cut capabilities, the Amazon Basics 12-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder is a solid, middle-of-the-road model for those who want to be prepared for small and large projects. The four-mode power switch is simple to use, and the auto-reverse mechanism did its job to clear jams during my tests.

The main drawback to this shredder is that the separate credit card slot does not perform the same micro-cuts as the paper slot. When I shredded an expired card in my testing, it was only cut into three large pieces, one of which contained my entire credit card number! After rereading the manual, I learned you can shred credit cards in the paper slot if you want that extra security, but I still feel that could have been clearer on the control panel.

If you're not shredding often and don't want to spend on models that offer more features than you need, this is probably the shredder for you.

If you want a compact, low-cost, bare-bones model for the occasional shredding project, look no further than the Amazon Basics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut model. A four-mode control switch provides everything you need to clear any potential jams, and an LED indicator light lets you know when it needs a cooldown.

Unlike larger shredders that use a pullout basket, this unit requires you to lift off the entire shredder head when it’s time to empty it. This process isn’t the most convenient, but the large handle on the head makes it a bit easier. It’s worth noting that at 61 decibels, this is one of the loudest shredders I tested, so it may not be the best option for those who like things quiet or have a lot of shredding to do.

This small and light shredder is great for shoppers who plan on shredding in various locations, though with that maneuverability comes a P-3 rating that might not satisfy your privacy needs.

The Aurora AU1230XA Anti-Jam 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder is a great option if you don’t anticipate large-scale shredding projects and are satisfied with a lower security rating. Its compact size is convenient for those without a lot of space, and the light, 13-pound weight makes it easy to transport or reposition around the room.

The nice big handle on the shredder head makes it convenient to remove when the bin is filled up too. The auto-reverse feature is made for easy jam clearing, and if a serious jam issue does occur, the five-year warranty should have you covered. Its P-3 rating is on the lower end of the spectrum, though, so security-minded users will probably want to go with a P-4 or P-5 model.

A few user-interface flaws soured our experience with this workhorse shredder. You can do better.

A robust workhorse, the Bonsaii EverShred C169-B Shredder can shred continuously for 40 minutes without needing a break and process 14 sheets of paper at a time. The recommended protocol for clearing jams worked fairly well — just shift the control slider to “reverse” and yank the sheets out — and the overheat indicator light lets you know when it needs a cooldown.

Rolling casters also make it easy to wheel around your workspace or under your desk, although the side handles weren’t quite deep enough to be effective. Annoyingly, the Bonsaii uses the same color LED (red) for the “overload” and “overheat” error indicators and the power indicator, which makes it hard to distinguish problems in normal operation at a glance. Plus, the manual is full of grammatical and spelling errors, so overall the Bonsaii is just not as polished or easy to use as it should be.

Getting micro-cut shredding — and one of the quietest models we tested — is a serious win at this price. Our biggest complaint is a manual crank for clearing jams.

It’s not perfect, but for a micro-cut shredder at this price, it’s hard to deny the value of the Bonsen High-Security Micro-Cut Paper Shredder. Two recessed handles take away some of the hassle of emptying the bin, and although its 4-gallon capacity is on the lower end, light-duty users shouldn’t be too affected. Plus, generating just 48 decibels at peak shredding, this model ranked as one of the quietest shredders I tested.

Unlike most other shredders that auto-reverse the blades in the event of a jam, this one requires you to manually turn the control switch to reverse to clear the stuck sheets. This isn’t a huge deal, but it’s worth noting for those who prefer something with automated maintenance features.

This 16-sheet shredder is worth the money if you know you'll regularly tackle large stacks of paper. Extra kudos for its "jam-proof" claim that lived up to its name, denying any stacks that were too large and bound to jam the machine.

The 16-sheet capacity of the Fellowes Powershred 79Ci makes it ideal for those who need to shred a lot of paper in a short amount of time, and I found its “jam-proof” technology claim to be accurate during my testing. The feed slot automatically senses if your stack of paper is too large, and unlike most other shredders that jam halfway through and need to reverse the paper back out, it simply doesn’t start shredding until the stack is reduced to a manageable quantity.

A colored LED status bar also lets you know if the machine is close to overheating, and the SafeSense technology immediately pauses the shredder if any fingers or paws make contact with the feed slot. The 4-by-38-millimeter particle size is on the larger end, but if high security isn’t a priority — and you can catch it when the price is on sale — this shredder could be a great choice.

It's an investment, but the Powershred LX22M did almost everything right. It has a huge capacity, looks sharp, includes lubricant, has a P-4 security rating and was tied for the quietest noise level we tested.

Boasting a beefy 20-sheet capacity and 8-gallon bin, the Fellowes Powershred LX22M shredder is designed for productivity and efficiency. Its sleek, minimal look is a refreshing alternative to other office-equipment-style models, and the side-oriented pullout basket allows for a little more flexibility when it comes to storage. It also features the same convenient “jam-proof” technology as the Fellowes Powershred 79Ci and includes a bottle of lubricant, which will extend the overall lifespan of the blades and motor.

Green, yellow and blue LEDs on the “efficiency meter” give you a real-time indicator of the current status and let you know when you’re getting close to shredding beyond the optimal sheet count. Its blades pulverize each sheet of paper into 1,257 shredded pieces — giving it a solid P-4 security rating — and the 48-decibel noise level was tied for the lowest of all the models I tested.

We found this shredder to be more powerful than its advertised 16-sheet capacity, and even our tester's doctor's office gave it their stamp of approval.

A sleek, minimal control panel gives the Tru Red 16-Sheet Cross-Cut Commercial Shredder a high-end, professional look, and the 8-gallon storage bin is ideal for large shredding projects. It’s powerful enough to shred 16 sheets at a time and even managed a stack of 25 in my testing before finally jamming. Its auto-reverse function kicked in right away, and with a little pulling on my end, cleared easily.

The entire unit has a sturdy, solid feel, and I appreciated that it includes an entire box of plastic waste bags and a lubricant sheet you feed right into the paper slot. Plus, unlike many shredders that have a cluttered, sometimes confusing interface, the Tru Red’s backlit status and error indicators only appear when relevant. If you’re looking for a higher-end shredder that’s easy to use, it could be worth the price tag. I also discovered that my doctor’s office uses the micro-cut version of this model, and despite the high workload, office employees agreed that they’d never had any issues with it.

We found value in this wastebasketless shredder from the same brand as our top pick. Infrequent users should have an easier time storing this than they would with a shredder on wheels.

A paper shredder with no bin? If that sounds absurd, consider that most shredders aren’t dumping scraps into anything fancy. It’s usually just a trash can on wheels. The Aurora AU800SD assumes you already own a trash can and comes with no receptacle of its own, which is mighty helpful for storing it between uses. It does, however, have an extendable arm so it can mount atop bins of varying widths.

The AU800SD performed admirably in our latest round of testing, living up to its billed eight-sheet capacity. It destroyed an old credit card with ease and has a separate slot for destroying CDs. Instructions, controls and overheating warnings were clear, and for the price, that’s a fair amount of features fit for anyone doing occasional shredding. But it’s not for highly confidential material, carrying just a P-1 security level.

A micro-cut shredder is better if security is your top priority. While there’s a range within the category, micro-cut shredders slice the paper into far smaller pieces than cross-cut shredders. Good luck trying to piece together a document shredded by a quality micro-cut shredder like our top pick, the P-5-rated Aurora AU1060MA.

With proper maintenance, paper shredders can last several years even with consistent use. However, it’s important to follow the lubrication instructions in your machine’s manual. The brand behind our top pick, Aurora, recommends using vegetable oil or shredder oil once a month on its shredders’ blades.

Yes, but local guidelines often require you to dispose of your shreds separately from other recyclables. It’s best to check what’s accepted in your area. Unfortunately, shredded credit cards and CDs are more difficult to sustainably dispose of. Some card issuers will take expired cards back and handle disposal for you. But even after shredding, both cards and CDs can’t mix with the usual bottles and cans because of the different plastics within. Earth911’s recycling center search is a useful resource for finding a proper recycling plant or program nearby.

Security levels range from P-1 (least secure) to P-7 (most secure), and we recommend going as secure as you can afford if security is your main priority. Our favorite shredder, the Aurora AU1060MA, gives terrific P-5-level security for a good price. However, there are more affordable models with lower security ratings that still get the job done, such as the Amazon Basics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder.