10 Best Shredders 2025 in the United States

The Amazon Basics 24 Sheet Cross Cut Shredder is a solid choice for home or small office use, especially for those looking to securely dispose of sensitive documents. Its cross-cut design turns paper into tiny pieces, providing a commendable security level (P-4), which is crucial for personal and financial information. With a robust sheet capacity of up to 24 sheets at a time, it suits moderate shredding needs efficiently. This makes it great for users who frequently handle documents that require shredding, alongside the ability to shred CDs, DVDs, and credit cards—albeit one at a time.

A notable strength is its decent run time of 40 minutes, allowing for extended use without frequent breaks. However, it does require a 50-minute cool down period after this, which could be a limitation for users with larger shredding tasks. The shredder includes helpful features like an auto-start function, anti-jam reverse, and LED indicators for alerts, enhancing usability.

On the downside, it weighs about 31.6 pounds, which may make it less portable than lighter models, and its size could take up significant desk space. Users should also be cautious not to attempt shredding metallic items as this can damage the machine. Additionally, while the pull-out bin holds 7 gallons, frequent emptying may be needed if used for large projects.

The Amazon Basics 8-Sheet Cross Cut Paper Shredder is a reliable option for personal or small office use. It meets security level P-4 standards, meaning it cuts paper and credit cards into small pieces (0.2 x 0.7 inches), offering a good level of security for confidential documents. With an 8-sheet capacity, it can handle moderate shredding tasks but might not be suitable for heavy use. The shredder also handles staples and small paper clips, which adds to its convenience. However, it is not designed for metal credit cards.

The 3-minute runtime is relatively short, followed by a 30-minute cool down period, which might be inconvenient for larger shredding jobs. The device includes safety features like overheating protection, automatically shutting off to prevent damage, and has a 4-mode control switch plus LED status indicators for ease of use. The 3.7-gallon bin is easy to empty but might need frequent emptying during extensive use.

The shredder is quality tested, ensuring reliability, though you might notice some paper shreds from this testing process. Users should be cautious not to use aerosol products near the shredder and avoid shredding certain items, as advised in the user manual. This shredder is compact and lightweight, weighing 8.7 pounds, making it easy to move around. It is best suited for users who need a compact, efficient shredder for regular, but not heavy-duty, shredding tasks.

The Amazon Basics 150 Sheet Autofeed Micro Cut Paper Credit Card Shredder is a robust option for those seeking high-security shredding for both documents and credit cards. Its micro-cut technology shreds paper into tiny confetti-like pieces, meeting the P-4 security standards, which is significantly more secure than standard cross-cut shredders. This makes it ideal for sensitive information disposal. The shredder can handle up to 150 sheets via auto feed and 10 sheets manually, which is suitable for both large and small shredding tasks.

Additionally, it doesn't require you to remove staples or small paper clips before shredding, adding to its convenience. Its 8.5-gallon bin capacity is ample for extended use before needing to be emptied. The machine runs for up to 60 minutes with a 45-minute cool-down period when using the auto feed and 10 minutes with a 45-minute cooldown when using the manual slot. Users should be aware of the cool-down times to avoid disruptions.

One notable benefit is its anti-jam auto-reverse feature, which helps prevent paper jams, ensuring smooth operation. However, it's essential to avoid shredding metallic credit cards and using aerosol products near the shredder to prevent damage. LED indicators and energy-saving sleep mode are handy features that contribute to ease of use and efficiency. This shredder is particularly beneficial for offices and individuals requiring high-security document disposal and capable of handling substantial shredding volumes.