Having a dependable paper shredder that either cross cuts or micro cuts paper is essential for everyone to have at home. You don’t want a strip-cut shredder because the large pieces can be reassembled.
To find the best home paper shredder, we analyzed cross-cut and micro-cut shredders that have high ratings. After going through several shredders ourselves, we’ve found what type of features are best for home use. Let’s dive right in to help you quickly find the right shredder that’s not going to drive you crazy.
Contents
- 1 Most Recommended Paper Shredders for Home Use
- 2 10 Best Paper Shredders for Home Use:
- 2.1 1. AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- 2.2 2. Fellowes Powershread Jam Proof Cross-Cut Shredder
- 2.3 3. AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- 2.4 4. Fellowes Powershread 11-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder with Safety Lock
- 2.5 5. Bonsaii Evershread 18-Sheet Heavy-Duty Cross-Cut Shredder
- 2.6 6. Aurora High-Security 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder
- 2.7 7. AmazonBasics 6-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- 2.8 8. Royal 18-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
- 2.9 9. HSM ShredStar X20 Cross-Cut Shredder
- 2.10 10. Bonsaii DocShred 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper, CD and Credit Card Shredder
- 3 Making the Decision
Most Recommended Paper Shredders for Home Use
- AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- Run time : 2 min
- Cooldown time : 30 min
- Sheet capacity : up to 6 sheets of 20-pound bond paper
- Bin Capacity : 3.8-gallon
- Warranty: 1 year
- Dimensions: 12.10 x 7.70 x 15.00 inches
- Fellowes Powershread Jam Proof Cross-Cut Shredder
- Run time : 20 min
- Cooldown time : 30 min
- Sheet capacity : 16 sheets per pass
- Bin Capacity : 6-gallons
- Warranty : N/A
- Dimensions: 10.44 x 15.38 x 21.31 inches
- AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- Run time : 3 min
- Cooldown time : 30 min
- Sheet capacity : shreds up to 8 sheets of 20-pound bond paper
- Bin Capacity : 4.1-gallons
- Warranty : 1 year
- Dimensions: 12.8 x 7.3 x 15.9 inches
10 Best Paper Shredders for Home Use:
1. AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- Paper is cross-cut shredded into 7/32 by 1-27/32 inches pieces for improved security
- 3.8-gallon bin holds plenty of shredded paper
- Auto start for seamless paper shredding
- Credit card slot to securely destroy credit cards
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
When you use a paper shredder at home, you can get away with a paper shredder that has a low run time. This cheap paper shredder has a continuous run time of two minutes and a 30-minute cooldown time.
If you don’t allow paper to pile up that you need to shred, we think this is the best paper shredder under $50 for your needs.
It can shred one credit card at a time and up to six sheets of paper at a time. The shredder comes with a one-year limited warranty.
It has auto start and manual reverse. If auto reverse for paper jams is important to you, then continue reading below to find a shredder with this feature.
Paper is shredded small in a cross-cut fashion to make it more difficult for someone to piece it back together.
You can also dispose of your shredded paper in different trash bags or recycling bins for additional peace of mind.
What Consumers Are Saying
Customers describe this paper shredder as a good basic shredder for home use. They like the safety features, low cost and effectiveness in shredding.
- Effective and reliable cross-cut shredding
- Credit card slot
- Auto mode
- Can shred up to six sheets at a time
- Inexpensive
- One-year limited warranty
- Reverse is manual instead of auto
- Short continuous runtime
2. Fellowes Powershread Jam Proof Cross-Cut Shredder
- SilentShred technology quietly shreds your paper
- 100% jam proof to reliably shred everything without slowdowns
- 16-sheet capacity for extremely fast paper shredding
- Auto reverse remedies shredding problems without you needing to press any buttons
- 6-gallon wastebasket doesnt need to be emptied often
- Cross-cut thoroughly shreds paper to help prevent the pieces from being reassembled
- 20-minute continuous run time to get through a large stack of papers in one use
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
If you want an auto reverse function, the Fellowes Powershread Jam Proof Cross Cut Shredder is one of your best options.
It has a 16-sheet capacity and a 6-gallon bin. Aside from paper, this shredder can take credit cards, CDs, DVDs, junk mail, staples and paper clips.
It will stop shredding if your hands touch the paper opening. This safety feature is especially reassuring if you have small kids or pets.
Although you shouldn’t leave a shredder plugged in, you’ll still like the extra safety.
We also like that this shredder is quieter than others. If you don’t like the sound of a shredder, this is a suitable choice for you.
We think the Fellowes Powershread Jam Proof Cross-Cut Shredder is the best shredder for home use on a larger budget.
It costs a few hundred dollars, which is the downside.
What Consumers Are Saying
Some customers say this shredder is better than the other shredders they’ve tried. They like the quality blades that can handle tough shredding jobs.
- Quiet
- Safe to use
- Auto reverse
- Shreds up to 16 sheets at a time
- Can shred CDs, DVDs, staples, paper clips and credit cards
- Big wastebasket
- Small window lets you see how much shredded paper is inside
- Expensive
3. AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- 8-sheet capacity to shred your papers faster
- Cross-cut meets level P3 security standards
- Overheat LED indicator gives you certainty in whats wrong if the shredder overheats
- See-through window lets you see when the bin needs emptied
- Credit card slot to destroy credit cards
- Auto mode for convenient shredding
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
If you liked the AmazonBasics shredder we ranked No. 1, but you wanted a higher sheet capacity, consider the AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder.
It’s a cheap paper shredder only costing you a few extra dollars.
There are a few differences between the two shredders.
You’ll notice this one has a different design and a viewing window, so you can easily see when the wastebasket needs emptied.
We like the angled entry on this shredder because it improves safety.
This AmazonBasics shredder also has a longer run time of three minutes compared to the 6-sheet model.
What Consumers Are Saying
Customers like that this shredder is quieter than expected and has a window for knowing when to empty the wastebasket.
They also like the safety features of this home paper shredder.
- You don’t need to remove staples or small paper clips
- Auto mode
- Can shred credit cards
- One-year limited warranty
- Cheap
- You can check if the bin needs emptied without opening the shredder
- Reverse is manual instead of auto
4. Fellowes Powershread 11-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder with Safety Lock
- SafetyLock disables the shredder to prevent it from running until you turn SafetyLock back off
- Cross-cut delivers level P4 security
- Credit card shredding capability to securely destroy credit cards
- 11-sheet capacity to shred your papers faster
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
Are you looking for one of the longest run times in an affordable home paper shredder?
We recommend this model because it has a five-minute run time and costs under $100.
It can shred staples as well as paper and credit cards.
The cooldown period is 20 minutes, which is shorter than the previous four shredders.
You can disable the shredder through the SafetyLock feature. This makes it safer if your household has pets or young children.
The shredder also comes with a three-year cutter warranty and a one-year product and service warranty.
What Consumers Are Saying
Most customers are happy with the quality of this shredder.
One of the downsides of the shredder mentioned is it’s loud.
- Long run time for its price range
- Can shred credit cards and staples
- Affordable
- Has a SafetyLock feature
- No window to view how much shredded paper is inside the bin
5. Bonsaii Evershread 18-Sheet Heavy-Duty Cross-Cut Shredder
- 60-minute run time to shred all of your paper without concerns of overheating
- Four caster wheels make the shredder able to smoothly roll across the floor
- Cross-cut to shred your papers into small pieces
- Auto start for convenient operation
- Pull-out wastebasket makes for convenient dumping of shredded paper
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
This heavy-duty paper shredder can shred credit cards, CDs, DVDs and staples.
You can roll the shredder across the floor to easily move it.
If you have a mountain of paper that needs shredded by the time you get around to shredding, you’ll love the 60-minute run time.
The Bonsaii EverShread 18-Sheet Heavy-Duty Cross-Cut Shredder also has auto reverse to prevent paper jams.
You can see when the shredded paper needs emptied through the transparent window.
The 6-gallon wastebasket can be pulled out for easy emptying.
What Consumers Are Saying
Customers confirm this shredder keeps operating for an hour and effectively shreds their paper.
They also say that it shreds quietly just as stated in the product description.
- Long run time
- Quiet
- Automatically prevents paper jams
- Bin is easy to monitor and empty
- Can be wheeled around to move it
- Can shred credit cards, DVDs, CDs and staples
- Not for shredding clips
6. Aurora High-Security 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder
- Micro-cut for maximum security in shredding your documents
- Overheat LED indicator alerts you to overheating
- Auto mode to conveniently begin shredding when you feed paper into the machine
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
If you only feel secure with a micro-cut shredder, this is one of your best options on a low budget. It costs around $50.
The basket will take 230 sheets before needing emptied, and continuous run time is five minutes.
An overheat LED indicator will let you know if the shredder has overheated.
It also has an angled feed entry to improve your safety while shredding.
You’ll receive a one-year limited warranty with this shredder.
The Aurora High-Security 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder is a good paper shredder for those who want an inexpensive machine for shredding sensitive documents into confetti-size pieces.
What Consumers Are Saying
Customers say this shredder reliably shreds their paper and doesn’t have overheating problems.
- Shreds paper into confetti-size pieces
- Has auto mode
- Can manually reverse to stop paper jams
- Cheap
- Can shred credit cards
- Can’t shred credit cards that have chips
7. AmazonBasics 6-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
- Micro-cut for high security
- Manual reverse to remove paper jams
- Auto start shreds paper as you feed it
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
Another good option in micro-cut home paper shredders is the AmazonBasics 6-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder.
It’s available under $50 and has a three minute continuous run time and 30-minute cooldown time.
The shredder also has auto start and manual reverse.
If you don’t let sensitive documents build up, this shredder is suitable for your needs.
What Consumers Are Saying
Many paper shredder reviews cite this shredder as the best cheap option for home micro-cut shredding needs.
It reliably shreds paper into pieces tiny enough that they can’t be reassembled.
- Shreds paper so tiny no one can reassemble it
- Cheap
- Has auto mode
- Compact
- Reverse is manual instead of auto
8. Royal 18-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
- Cross-cut shreds paper both vertically and horizontally for added security
- 60-minute run time to shred a stack all at once without needing to wait on a cooldown
- Pullout wastebasket for convenient disposal of shredded paper
- Four caster wheels to move the shredder around without picking it up
- Safesense technology turns off the shredder when hands come too close to the blades
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
Do you want the largest possible wastebasket capacity?
The Royal 18-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder has an eight-and-a-half gallon pullout wastebasket that’s convenient to empty.
It has a 60-minute run time, so you don’t need to frequently take breaks while trying to shred a large stack of papers.
You can also see when the wastebasket is full through a transparent window.
What Consumers Are Saying
Customers like that this shredder doesn’t need to be lubricated.
The machine also works reliably for a long time, making it one of the best paper shredders for home use.
- Effective and reliable shredding
- Easy to slide around on the caster wheels
- Doesn’t need lubrication
- Long run time
- Turns off if your hand gets too close to the blades
- Not compact due to having a larger wastebasket capacity
9. HSM ShredStar X20 Cross-Cut Shredder
- Dedicated slot and collection container for shredding CDs to extend the lifespan of your paper shredder
- Operating status LED indicator gives clarity on whats going on with the shredder
- Cross-cut to shred sensitive documents into small pieces
- Removable waste container for conveniently dumping out the shredded paper
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
If you’re looking for a home shredder with the highest sheet-capacity while still being a quality machine, we recommend the HSM ShredStar X20 Cross-Cut Shredder.
It has a sheet capacity of 20 and can shred credit cards, staples, paper clips, CDs and DVDs.
The shredder has a dedicated slot for shredding CDs as well as a separate container to collect the pieces.
We also love the operating status LED indicator that lets you know when the shredder is powered on, is overloaded, is overheated and has the door open.
This powerful shredder would make a good shredder for small business operated out of your home.
A lifetime warranty on the cutting cylinder comes with the product.
What Consumers Are Saying
People with heavy shredding needs gave this shredder high ratings for its reliability and quality. They didn’t have problems with it overheating. Customers also like its quiet operation.
- Easy to move on caster wheels
- Dedicated slot and container for CD shredding
- High sheet capacity
- Doesn’t easily overheat
- Will let you know if it’s overloaded or overheating
- Expensive
10. Bonsaii DocShred 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper, CD and Credit Card Shredder
- 12-sheet capacity for fast paper shredding
- Cross-cut to improve security
- Manual reverse to fix paper jams
- Auto start begins shredding paper the second you feed it to the shredder
- 5.5-gallon wastebasket capacity to collect a lot of shredded paper
- Window to easily view when the wastebasket needs emptied
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
If you have CDs, staples and clips that you need to shred as well as paper and credit cards, then we recommend this shredder.
We have found it the best paper shredder under $100 that’s capable of shredding all of these items. A drawback is the reverse function is only manual.
The shredder does a great job of shredding, and you can get through shredding fast thanks to its 12-sheet capacity.
It also has a small window on the bin, so you can see when it’s full.
Like the AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder, it has a continuous run time of 2 minutes.
But, its cooldown time is a little longer at 40 minutes.
What Consumers Are Saying
People love that they don’t have to open the shredder to check if it’s full.
They also say the machine does a great job of reliably shredding paper.
- See when the wastebasket needs to be emptied without taking the lid off
- Effective and reliable shredding
- Large wastebasket capacity
- Can shred credit cards, CDs, DVDs, staples and clips
- Auto mode
- Short continuous run time
Making the Decision
Finding the best home paper shredder for your needs will save you frustration in getting the wrong shredder. Our top pick is the AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder because it’s cheap and works well. The downside is you can only feed it six sheets at a time. Other shredders on this list have a higher sheet capacity if that’s an important factor to you
