Fellowes Manufacturing Powershred P-55C (Confetti-C...
36 Stores $35 - $120
Paper Shredder Buying Guide
Horror stories about identity theft are leading many consumers to buy a paper shredder for the home. While a paper shredder won’t guarantee you immunity from identity theft, it will prevent thieves from stealing personal information from your trash, or from your home during a burglary. Finding the right paper shredder for your home or business is a question of how much you need to shred and how thoroughly you want it destroyed. Pronto’s Paper Shredder Buying Guide will help you find the best tool for disposing of those documents.
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the five
What are the five key points I need to look at?
Strip-cut versus cross-cut shredders
Choose strip-cut paper shredders that cut documents into long, thin strips for general home use and cross-cut paper shredders that use multiple sets of blades to cut the paper into tiny diamond shapes resembling confetti if you want extra security. Paper shredders are graded on a scale of one to six for security, and most home users will get good results from a shredder scoring a two or three on the scale.
How much can it shred?
Sheet capacity ratings are generally inaccurate—count on being able to shred 50%-75% of what the manufacturer claims a paper shredder can handle. To avoid overheating, estimate two to three times the volume you think you’ll need when looking at capacity.
Not just for paper anymore
If you want a paper shredder that can handle CDs, DVDs, staples, paper clips and credit cards, look for a machine that advertises those functions. Paper shredders designed for these items feature more powerful motors, damage-resistant blades and guards to protect the user from shards of plastic or metal.
Make it go away!
Look for a paper full indicator or paper level window to know when larger paper shredders need emptying. Cross-cut shredders generate more compressed waste, making them the best choice for those who shred large quantities of documents.
Additional features
Look for an auto-on switch that only powers the motor up when it needs to shred. Reversible motors make it easy to clear paper jams. Larger paper shredders should have built-in casters so you don’t have to lift them when they need to be moved. If you have children in your home, look for narrow openings that keep small fingers away from the blades and a child lock.
pronto pick
What product do we recommend?
We like the Fellowes DS-1 Shredder, which offers auto-on, reverse and a built-in safety mechanism that shuts the machine down if the paper entry is touched. This cross-cut paper shredder features an 11-page sheet capacity, daily capacity up to 220 sheets and a removable wastebasket that makes paper waste disposal a breeze.
experts say
BuyerZone.com—“A bin full indicator, which alerts you when a bag is full of shreds, can be a very useful feature, particularly for shredders that are housed in a cabinet. Overflowing bags of shredded paper are one of the most common causes of paper jams.” Source: BuyerZone.com
Paper Shredder Choices—“Shredder security levels are graded from 1 to 6 with the higher the number the more secure the shredder, and the smaller the shred size.” Source: Paper Shredder Choices
Machine Advantage—“Deskside shredders generally destroy up to 16 sheets of paper at a time, with an exception or two. If you have higher volumes of material that you need to shred, you may want to look in to the tabletop models designed for heavy-duty operation.” Source: Machine Avantage
hot buzz
What's the latest in the world of paper shredders?
If you’re going green, don’t go crazy with the paper shredder. An increasing number of states and communities will not recycle shredded paper because plants that recycle paper can’t use it. Shredded paper has plant fibers that are too small for proper recycling, which creates weak recycled paper or extra waste at the recycling plant. If you’re trying to reduce and recycle, you should only shred paper that contains personal information and send the junk mail and newspapers to the curb. Shredded paper can be thrown in the compost heap or used as bedding for small animals like mice and hamsters.
Wallet Impact
What can I expect in my price range?
| Price | Description | Good Pick (see all Paper Shredders) |
| $ | Budget paper shredders are a good choice for home users who only need to shred a few documents each day. These shredders sit on top of a wastebasket and offer varying levels of security, but you’ll need to remove staples and paperclips to keep them in good condition. |
Compare prices at 3 stores $48 - $80 |
| $$ | Midrange paper shredders are cross-cut floor models that provide excellent security and higher shredding capacities. Look for built-in casters, paper full indicators and the ability to destroy CDs and thin plastic. These paper shredders are the best choice for small offices that need to destroy 100-200 documents a day. |
Compare prices at 6 stores $125 - $297 |
| $$$ | High-end paper shredders are built for large businesses that shred hundreds of documents each day. These machines feature capacities of up to 40 pages per pass or 750 pages per minute. Look for reversing motors and wastebaskets that can be fitted with standard-size trash bags for easy waste disposal. |
Compare prices at 19 stores $1,449 - $2,949 |
shop talk
What are the terms and definitions I need to know about?
Auto-on
A feature that starts a paper shredder when you feed paper into the paper entry and turns it off when shredding is complete. This feature helps to keep the paper shredder motor from overheating.
Cross cut
A paper shredder that uses angled blades to cut documents into small diamond shapes, resembling confetti. Cross-cut paper shredders offer greater security and generate more compressed paper waste.
Daily capacity
The number of documents that a paper shredder can destroy at one time before its motor turns off to prevent overheating.
Sheet capacity
The number of documents that you can feed into a paper shredder at one time. Most manufacturers overrate sheet capacity by anywhere from 50% to 75%.
Strip cut
A paper shredder that uses a single set of blades to cut documents into long, thin strips. Strip-cut paper shredders need to be emptied frequently and strips that are too wide may make it easy for someone to reassemble documents.
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