Whether you are at home or in the office, you are surrounded by sensitive information. Credit card receipts, tax documents, banking info. All of these items are vulnerable to identity theft. That’s why it’s important to have one of the best paper shredders handy when sorting through and discarding paperwork.
A key to efficiency? Staying organized. A recent survey of 2,000 hybrid and remote office workers shows a lot of time is spent sifting through documents. The average respondent uses 11 different applications and platforms in their day-to-day work — between email, messaging platforms, and project management tools. With all those different platforms, perhaps it’s not surprising that the average respondent needs to search for documents or other information 35 times per week, or about seven times each day. This time adds up. On average, respondents will spend 13 minutes searching on their own before asking for help — adding up to almost a full workday of potentially wasted time per week.
With the ever-growing concern for privacy, like how 60% of Americans think the government is tracking their activity, securely disposing of personal and business-related documents is very important. While you can’t shred sensitive online data, leaving documents lying around is not smart either.
One way to increase your productivity, is by investing in a shredder. Reducing clutter and lowering your paper volume will have your documents streamlined in no time. StudyFinds compiled a list of the five best paper shredders, from ten expert websites, to keep your information safe and secure before disposal. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the comments below!
The List: Best Paper Shredders, According to Expert Reviews
1. Fellowes Powershred 79Ci 100% Jam Proof Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
This multi-use paper shredder scores high grades from reviewers. However, it’s pricey. The cost? $371.99. “Simple to operate and able to shred all sorts of office material, the well-rounded Fellowes Powershred 79Ci can work well as a home or home-office shredder, or as a personal shredder in a small office,” according to PCMag.
This shredder can handle slicing and dicing items like credit cards and CD’s, so it’s not just for paper. Creative Bloq adds, “it can run continuously for up to 20 minutes before needing to cool off for half an hour. If you’re buying a paper shredder that multiple people are going to use, for an office or similar, then this is a great choice.”
Tech Gear Lab named this their best model for high-volume shredding: “It produces long strips rather than confetti-style shreds produced by micro-cut blades. That being said, cross-cuts still offer a very decent level of security, and disposing of lots of shreds at once makes piecing the information back together even less feasible.”
Aside from the steep price, some reviewers did note that it still occasionally jams, despite claims of being 100% jam proof.
2. Amazon Basics 8-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Shredder
If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a shredder, this model from Amazon Basics is a solid home office choice. The price? $65. It features a convenient pull-out basket too. “It posts a maximum speed of 96 sheets per minute and easily chews through stuffed junk mail envelopes and even credit cards — more than enough performance for most home offices,” according to Tech Gear Lab.
The New York Times calls it ‘the best home-office paper shredder’ adding, it’s “slightly bigger than eight-sheet shredders with lift-up tops, it still fits under most desks, and we think the pull-out bin and wheels are conveniences that make it easier to keep up a shredding habit.”
“Want a nice cheap paper shredder than also works on credit cards? Then we recommend this highly affordable model from Amazon Basics,” adds Creative Bloq. “As the name suggests, it’s quite a basic device. So it only offers two minutes’ continuous run time, with 30 minute cool down time. And you can only load in six sheets at a time.”
One downside? Reviewers point out it’s a bit noisy.
3. Aurora AS420C 4-Sheet Light Duty Cross-Cut Desktop Shredder
Maybe you don’t have the space for a large shredder. This model from Aurora is great for smaller jobs. You can find it for between $30 to $40, depending on the retailer. “This Aurora desktop-style paper shredder is an affordable option that weighs only half a pound and measures a slight 9 by 7 by 10 inches. Despite its small size, it has a hefty P-4 security rating. The cross-cut shredder can handle up to four sheets of paper or one credit card per pass,” suggests Bob Vila.
The Sacramento Bee points out, it’s “portable and easy to empty in the trash can. The default shred is a crosscut design, but you can also choose a strip cut if you prefer. This shredder also has thermal protection to avoid overheating.”
“It is also small enough to inconspicuously live on a shelf or the corner of your desk until you need to pull it out, making it great for personal use. The noise it makes is also surprisingly innocuous and doesn’t have the usual whine we expect from smaller, less expensive machines,” adds Tech Gear Lab.
However, if you have bigger jobs, you’ll want to skip this light duty shredder.
4. Bonsaii Evershred C149-C Paper Shredder
This shredder is ideal for heavier jobs. It can run for longer periods, and it’s not as loud as some other heavy-duty shredders. TechRadar notes it, “features a jam protection system with autostart and autoreverse, which saves you from dealing with the frustration of paper jams, and its 17-liter pull-out bin, while not class-leading, is plenty sufficient.”
This shredder can handle 18 sheets of paper at once. The Bonsaii Evershred is also great for cutting up credit cards, CD’s and staples. Money adds, “its motor is reasonably quiet, with a noise level of 62 decibels (dB). That’s comparable to a conversation in an office setting. In addition, Bonsaii offers a one-year warranty on all parts.”
“It’s a low-noise shredder as well, so will be less annoying if you have to frequently have it running in the background,” adds Creative Bloq.
5. Royal 112MX 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
This mid-range shredder is well-equipped for home-office jobs. It’s on wheels, and features a pull-out bucket for easy cleaning. “In addition to a large 9-inch entry slot, a 12-sheet capacity lets you get more shredding done in less time. The device also offers an option to dispose of credit cards and CDs. A 3.25-gallon basket is in charge of storing the waste,” according to Good Housekeeping.
USA Today notes, “it devoured single sheets for five minutes without returning an error or pausing. It was able to shred stacks of paper with thicknesses of 1 to 12 sheets without jamming, and powered through credit cards. DVDs weren’t a problem, either, thanks to a separate disc slot, designed specifically for them.”
However, reviewers did mention this shredder is a bit loud.
Sources:
- PCMag
- Creative Bloq
- Tech Gear Lab
- The New York Times
- Bob Vila
- The Sacramento Bee
- TechRadar
- Money
- Good Housekeeping
- USA Today
You might also be interested in: