Dealing with private and sensitive documents may require you to eliminate them carefully. You can easily do that with the help of the best paper shredder, which will ensure no piece is left uncut. Paper shredders help keep private information private because once the paper is shredded, nobody can fix it to see what was written there.
If you plan to buy a shredder, it is important to buy one that offers cross-cut or micro-cut. That ensures that your privacy is completely protected. In addition, there are models of paper shredders that you can use to shred CDs or credit cards.
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Types of Paper Shredders
There are different types of paper shredders, depending on how they cut. So I'd like us to discuss that briefly before going on.
a). Strip-Cut
A strip-cut shredder slices papers into long straight cuts. It does offer some sense of security, but a determined person can reassemble the papers and recover data.
b). Diamond Cut/Cross-Cut
A cross-cut shredder cuts paper crossways and lengthwise. This makes smaller chunks that are not easy to reassemble, no matter how much the person is determined to access your privacy.
c). Micro-Cut
Micro-cut shredders are the gold standard of shredders. They cut paper into tiny, confetti-like chips, making it virtually impossible to rearrange a document in any meaningful way.
Which Is The Best Paper Shredder For Home Use?
1. Amazon Basics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder
- 6 sheet crosscut paper/credit card shredder
- Auto Start and overheat protection
- Thermal Protection to prevent overheating
- manual reverse to clear paper jams
- shreds credit cards; small paper clips; staples
You can easily tell that this shredder is one of the best, just from the sales and the customers' ratings. It is not for nothing that it is highly-rated, but because of its incredible features.
You can be sure that your privacy will not be interfered with once you shred documents with sensitive information with this shredder. It's a cross-cut shredder; it cuts papers and credit cards diagonally in both directions to ensure not even little information is left to be extracted.
Once you turn it to auto mode and it detects something to be shredded, it begins shredding immediately, then it stops automatically when it's done. It also has a reverse function that helps to retrieve partially shredded or unshredded documents. Thus, Amazon Basics paper shredder takes care of itself. How? You ask. It automatically shuts off when it begins to overheat or runs beyond the maximum run time.
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2. Aurora AU870MA Micro-Cut Paper Credit Card Shredder
- High-security micro-cut with 8 sheet capacity; destroys credit cards
- Shreds paper and credit cards into tiny pieces (5/32 by 15/32 inches),...
- 5 minute continuous run time; auto start and manual Reverse to clear...
- 3.9 gallon wastebasket; thermal protection with auto shut-off and...
- Backed by an Aurora 1-year limited warranty
Aurora has the solution for you if you want the best paper shredder that you can also use to shred credit cards. It shreds up to eight sheets of paper at once and destroys credit cards as well.
It is a high-security micro-cut shredder that shreds paper documents into tiny pieces that cannot be rearranged to recover the data. It has a large basket with a 230 sheet capacity, so you don't have to empty it regularly. The basket has a single handle that you hold when emptying. First, however, you have to remove the top, to empty the basket.
Aurora micro-cut paper shredder operates automatically, and it runs for five minutes continuously; this means that you can shred many papers before it stops. In addition, the auto-start feature makes it easy to use, while the manual reverse helps to clear paper jams, making it more efficient.
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3. Bonsaii 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder
- 【Crosscut Paper & Credit Card Shredder】Bonsaii home paper...
- 【Compact Sizes】The home shredder comes with portable handle design...
- 【Easy Operation & Safe Protection】Auto start/stop and...
- 【3.4 Gal Transparent Wastebasket】The crosscut shredder with 3.4...
- 【1 Year Warranty & Professional Service】Bonsaii provides 1-Year...
This Bonsaii is a cross-cut shredder that you can use in your home office to shred paper documents that you no longer need and don't want to expose. It is suitable for shredding up to six sheets of paper, including stapled ones. It shreds papers into small pieces measuring 5 by 40mm within a short time.
Its high-security P-3 level makes it suitable for destroying even credit cards, paper clips, bills, and other important personal documents. This cross-cut paper shredder will require a 40-minute cool down after use. However, it can run continuously for up to four minutes.
Bonsaii 6-sheet cross-cut paper shredder is the best when it comes to portability. You won't have to worry about manoeuvering ways to move it; this is because it has a handle to help with that. A transparent window also helps you see when the wastebasket is full. Paper jams are easily cleared by the auto start and manual reverse function.
Bonsaii is equipped with an overheating protection system that ensures the unit shuts off automatically if it runs past the maximum run time and starts to overheat.
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4. Fellowes Powershred 79Ci 16-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
- 100% Jam Proof System: Unlike other paper shredders, the 79Ci...
- Powers Through Tough Jobs: The 79Ci can shred 16 sheets at a time and...
- SafeSense Protection: Our proprietary technology automatically...
- Continuous 20 Minute Shredding: Runs for up to 20 minutes before a...
- Cross-Cut P-4 Security: Shreds paper into 397 (5/32 x 1-½ ”...
Fellowes Powershred 79Ci is a 16-sheet cross-cut that measures 21 by 15 by 10 inches. It shreds paper into cross-sections to keep your private information private. It is also energy efficient. It consumes less energy, making it among the best paper shredders as its functionality is also top-notch.
This 16-sheet shredder protects more than your personal information. It also protects your fingers during shredding. It does this with the help of SafeSense Technology, which automatically disables the shredder when your hands touch the paper opening.
With Fellowes powershred 16-sheet cross-cut shredder, you can shred continuously for up to 20 minutes before it needs to cool. So, you can shred quite many sheets of paper within that time. After that, it needs 30 minutes to cool down completely before you can continue with shredding.
Fellowes powershred also has a 6-gallon bin and can shred different items, including up to 16 sheets at a time, CDs/DVDs, staples, paper clips, and credit cards; this makes it very versatile and more functional.
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5. Bonsaii 14-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
- 【Paper Shredder for Office】Based on the patented cooling system,...
- 【Shredder for Office Heavy Duty】Max 14 sheets of paper shredding...
- 【Large Capacity & Transparent Window】Comes with 4.8 gallons...
- 【Easy Operation & Jam Proof】With auto start/stop and manual...
- 【Safe Protection & Warranty】Overheating and overloading thermal...
Bonsaii offers the best paper shredder for your home office with the ability to run for up to 30 minutes without stopping to cool. It can shred up to 14 sheets of paper at a time and destroys up to 3500 sheets, therefore, ideal for large and small home offices.
This heavy-duty shredder shreds paper into smaller particles that measure 13/64 by 1-37/64 inches. It also reaches P-3 high-security level and shreds staples and credit cards, making it more useful and not for paper alone. And you will like this paper shredder as it has a large capacity wastebasket of 4.8 gallons and a transparent window to help you see when it's full and needs emptying.
Bonsaii 14-sheet cross-cut paper shredder for a home office is easy to operate. The auto-start and stop and manual reverse functions are great features that will help you clear paper jams. In addition, the shredder protects itself against overheating and overloading.
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Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Paper Shredder
The best shredders have some of the best features that you can utilize to make your work more efficient. We shall discuss some of those features and other factors you will need to consider while shopping for a good shredder.
a). Use
First of all, you need to know what you will be using your shredder for. Is it for bank statements and other documents with personal information or credit cards and CDs? This will play an important role when you are looking for the best shredders. Is it for your home office or a larger setting?
Check how you intend to use the shredder, then make the best decision regarding its use. For example, a larger set will need a heavy-duty shredder, while a light-duty shredder is sufficient for a small office.
b). Cutting Type
We already discussed the available types of paper shredders, which we should consider when looking for the best paper shredder. Each one offers different levels of security. Strip-cut shredders are no longer popular as they do not offer much security.
Cross-cut shredders are more popular among users as they offer more security than strip shredders. However, maximum security is provided by micro-cut shredders. A micro-cut shredder will cut papers and other documents into tiny pieces that cannot be rearranged to recover the data.
Therefore, depending on the kind of information you intend to trash, choose wisely.
c). Power
Different paper shredders can shred a different amount of papers at a time and on a single day. For example, some shredders are designed for light use and may only be able to shred 4-12 sheets of paper at a time, while others are heavy-duty and can shred more sheets of paper at once and on a particular day.
If your paper shredder is designed for light use and you overload it, it can damage the motor, leading to a shorter lifespan of your machine.
d). Storage
With the many models of paper shredders on the market, there are different sizes as well. Storage is an important factor when choosing a shredder because if you shred many documents daily, you will definitely need a larger shredder.
However, if you don't intend to shred many documents, buying a smaller paper shredder will not harm you. A smaller wastebasket will get filled faster, and that will need more frequent emptying. On the other hand, if your shredder's wastebasket has a large capacity, you will shred more and not have to empty it during shredding.
e). Jam Proof
If you shred sheets of paper daily or weekly, your paper shredder will likely experience paper jams, which will slow down your operation and make it more time-consuming. The best shredder will have a feature to help eliminate this problem. Once jamming is no longer an issue, you can continue shredding smoothly without any problems.
f). Cost
Identity theft is a problem non of us want to face. Therefore, you will need need a good shredder. However, getting a good one will depend on your budget. A cheaper shredder will save you some money, but a high-quality one will give you longer service and more versatile functionality. So, before you buy the machine, ensure that you go for what you can afford. However, you need to be careful not to go for low quality just because it's the cheapest.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Paper Shredders
1. How long does a shredding session last?
Every machine has a duty cycle, which is the longest it can run continuously before switching off to cool down. The duty cycle of a shredder depends on its size; smaller models may have shorter duty cycles, whereas bigger ones designed for heavy-duty use may have longer duty cycles.
2. What kind of shredder do I need for home use?
A cross-cut or micro-cut shredder is preferable for home use as they offer a more secure shredding of documents that you do not wish to expose. So, with suck kind of shredders, you can be sure that none of your information will be accessible to intruders.
