10 Best Paper Shredders Heavy Duty Consumer Reports 2020 [Reviews & Buying Guide]
There are many reasons why you should own a paper shredder, and one of them concerns data protection, whether it’s for your business or personal documents. To ensure that sensitive documents stay confidential, a paper shredder is a perfect solution. As it’s one of the most important office equipment, it’s essential to understand its features, performance, and specification details before making a purchase to avoid later disappointment and wasting money. There are many different types of the paper shredder out there with different functions, so it can be quite confusing to find the best one for your needs.
In this consumer guide, we’re going to introduce you to some of the best models of a paper shredder with their key features listed out so that you can find the one that’s most suitable for your home or office needs.
Best Paper Shredders Heavy Duty – [Reviews & Buying Guide]
1. AmazonBasics 15-Sheet Office Shredder
Safer than a strip-cut paper shredder, this AmazonBasics cross-cut shredder cuts through papers in both directions, destroying sheets of papers into small particles. It can shred a batch of multi-page documents, up to 15 sheets at a time without having to remove the staples or paper clips beforehand. Ideal for office or home use, the cross-cut shredder is perfect for getting rid of bills, bank statements, receipts, medical records, or other confidential documents. This shredder also features a dedicated slot for destroying credit cards, CDs, and DVDs as well.
The AmazonBasics paper shredder features a user-friendly function of 4-mode control switches which are the Auto, Off, Reverse, Forward mode; Anti-jam Auto-Reverse mode; and LED status indicators. It also has a thermal protection system with 20/45 minutes off mode that automatically shuts the machine off when it runs beyond the maximum time to prevent overheating.
- Features an 8.7” paper entry with 6-gallon easy-to-empty pull-out bin and casters
- Shred papers to confetti-size pieces measuring 3/16” x 1-7/32”
- Features the reverse function to clear and prevent the paper from getting stuck
- High safety level with P-4 standards
2. Aurora AU1230XA Anti-Jam Shredder
Ideal for small home and office, Aurora paper shredder features a 4-mode control with overheat/power LED indicator, credit card slot, non-stop 5 minutes run time, a built-in one-handed lifting handle for an easy-to-empty 5.2-Gallon wastebasket.
It can crosscut up to 12 sheets of paper, slices credit cards, and paper clips into tiny pieces 3/16” x 1-9/16” with a P-3 security level. Featuring the anti-jam and auto-reverse function, the shredder automatically prevents paper from stuck and allows for smooth operation at all times.
- 12-sheet cross-cut shredding; works with paper, credit cards, and small size paper clips
- P-3 security level for your peace of mind
- Quiet operation, so it will not disturb you and your co-workers
- 5.2-Gallon wastebasket which is quite alot
3. Fellowes Powershred 79Ci Cut Shredder
Featuring a 100% jam-proof system, the shredder ensures a smooth and powerful operation at every use. It also offers quiet operation suitable for a shared working environment. Equipped with the SafeSense technology for extra safety during operation, the shredder automatically stops its operation if hands are detected to be touching the paper opening, making it child and pet safe.
Moreover, the energy-saving system provides superior energy-efficiency at every time-in use and not in use. Fellowes Powershred is more than just a paper shredding machine, it also can be used to destroy tougher materials such as credit cards, staples, and paper-clipped papers, junk mail, and CDs/DVDs as well.
- Shredding size: 5/32″ x 1-1/2″ with cross-cut particles
- 16-sheet paper shredding capacity
- Also suitable for shredding credit cards, CDs/DVDs, staples, and paper-clipped documents
- Average shredding speed: 4.3mpm
4. Bonsaii 18-Sheet Heavy-Duty Shredder
High-quality and library-quiet, this Bonsaii C149-C Paper Shredder provides multi-purpose function including the 18-sheet paper cross-cut, as well as destroying credit cards, CD/DVDs, and staples. Its medium-duty motor can shred up to 5.3 feet within a minute.
The shredder features an 8.7” entry slot that accepts letters and legal-size documents and lets the low-noise motor dampen shredding noise. Additionally, this shredder is designed with 4 casters with integrated brakes for convenient mobility. For added safety protection, this shredder is equipped with a cooling system that prevents overheating and monitors continuous shredding.
- 60 minutes of non-stop operation
- 18-sheet paper shredding, credit cards, and staples shredding
- 6-gallon pull-out wastebasket
- Quiet operation with 62dB low-noise level
5. Boxis 70-Sheet Autofeed Microcut Paper Shredder
Ideal for a small office or home use, Boxis paper shredder offers powerful performance to micro-cut up to 70 sheets of paper at a time with the shredding speed of 11.2mpm. It features the 10-Minute auto-functioning mode that allows the machine to continue working even when you’re away from the shredder.
Moreover, the auto-forward and manual-reverse functions help to prevent the risk of paper jams. The shredder comes with a 3.6-gallon waste bin for shredded paper disposal. It also has built-in casters that allow for effortless mobility.
- Comes with a 12 pack of lubricant sheets and a sample of the waste liner from ShredCare for convenient disposal
- Can shred up to 70 sheets of letter-size paper
- Lightweight and compact design with 4 casters for mobility
- Features a 3.6-gallon wastebasket
6. Royal Sovereign 120-Sheet Auto-Feed, Cross-Cut Shredder
For those who are looking for a paper shredder with a larger shredding capacity, this Royal Sovereign shredder can accommodate up to 120 sheets of paper per time. It can shred documents into 4mm x 28mm particles with 13.12 feet per minute shredding speed. It can also slice through staples, paper clips, and credit cards as well. You can rest assured when throwing out your trash as this P-4 level cross-cut shredder offers excellent protection for private documents.
This shredder is equipped with an integrated overheat protection system that shuts down the machine if it exceeds the max temperature. It also features the auto-reverse mode to prevent paper jams and the auto-start/stop function that automatically operates the shredding when the paper is detected and stops once done.
- Compact and portable size with caster wheels
- Hands-free design for easy operation
- Paper entry slot: 8.66” with 4 gallons wastebasket
- Auto operating run time: 2 minutes on; 40 minutes off
7. WOLVERINE Heavy-Duty Paper
Constructed with durable alloy steel cutters with extraordinary wear-resistant and outstanding hardness levels, this shredder is powerful enough to cut not only papers but also credit cards, staples, and CDs/DVDs. It can cross-cut papers up to 18 sheets per time, shredding papers into smaller particles measuring 5/32″ x 1-3/8″ at a high-speed performance of 6.6 ft. per minute. The shredder features the
Reverse System that automatically detects if the inserted amount of paper is overloaded, while the manual reverse function works to clear paper jams. It operates steady performance with 58dB low noise, giving you a quiet and peaceful shredding experience.
- 18-sheet paper shredding capacity; also works with staples and clips, CDs/DVDs, and credit cards
- Shredding particles measuring 5/32″ x 1-3/8″
- 6-gallon pull-out wastebasket
- The shredder has a shredding speed of 6.6ft/min
8. ideal. 2445 Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
The 2445 cross-cut shredder by the ideal. is designed for multiple users. It supports continuous operation with high-quality, durable steel cutting heads to minimize in-between pauses while shredding documents.
The 2445 shredder features high-quality, mounted-on casters for convenient mobility. It has a 9 1/2″ feed entry with a lightweight, impact-resistant, and easy-to-remove 9-gallon basket for easy disposal. Additionally, the 2445 also comes with a lifetime warranty on wheels and cutting shafts, a 3-year warranty on other parts except for the wearables, and a 90-day warranty on exchange.
- Shredding capacity: up to 11-13 sheets of document paper at a time
- Shredding speed: up to 199 sheets per minute
- Operation noise: 55dB (the equivalent volume of normal conversation)
- Suitable for multiple users, up to 3 or 4 users
9. Sentinel Pro 30-Sheet Paper Shredder
This Sentinel Pro shredder can accommodate up to 30 sheets of paper in a single operation. It can also cut through credit cards, paper clips, and staples with a security level of P-2. The heavy-duty shredder has a 10 minutes operation time with a 60-minute cooldown.
The manual reverse mode prevents paper jams by reversing the cutting blades. The Sentinel Pro is reliable and easy to operate, making it must-have equipment for office or home use.
- Heavy-duty built with steel cutting blades
- Comes with a sample of ShredCare lubricant sheet
- Accommodates up to 30 sheets in a single operation with level 2 security level
- Features a large 8.14-gallon wastebasket capacity
10. Flexispot 12-Sheet Paper Shredder
Suitable for both office and home use, this Flexispot heavy-duty paper shredder supports up to 12-sheet paper shredding at a time to save time. With its P-3 security level rating, it shreds documents into smaller pieces measuring 0.2″ x 1.78″ ensuring that your confidential documents are shredded properly to prevent identity theft or personal data leaking.
Flexispot shredder is also powerful enough to destroy credit cards and CDs/DVDs. The reverse function ensures that no debris is stuck in between the blades and prevents jams to always provide smooth operation with every use.
- Reverse function to prevent paper jams
- Features a 6.6-gallon wastebasket which is quite alot
- Shreds up to 12 sheets of paper per operation; one CD or credit cards at once
- Has a 5 minutes operation with 40 minutes cooldown
Paper Shredders Heavy Duty Buying Guide
The following are some important things you need to consider while choosing a paper shredder for your business or home office.
Security Level
Each paper shredder has its own security rated level to suit the different types of document confidentiality. The security levels range from level 1, for general documents, to level 7 for top-secret documents. For personal and small businesses use, a paper shredder with level 2 to level 4 is suitable.
Sheet Capacity
This refers to the number of sheets of documents you can insert to shred at one time. Most shredders will have a different maximum sheet capacity, so it’s important to check the detail clearly before purchasing to ensure it meets your needs.
Types of Shredder
There are different types of shredding styles including strip-cut shredders, cross-cut shredders, and micro-cut shredders. Each type of cutting style serves a different purpose for different levels of security. Strip-cut shredders cut the papers into long vertical strips, and are most suitable for non-sensitive documents. A cross-cut shredder cuts papers into tiny, harder-to-reassemble pieces, and are best for destroying sensitive personal documents. Meanwhile, Micro-cut shredders provide the highest level of secure shredding style by shredding papers into very tiny pieces. For that reason, micro-cut shredders are most ideal for shredding sensitive and confidential documents.
Additional Features
Other features that you should look for in a paper shredder to ensure it meets your needs are bin capacity, reverse function, auto-feed, run time, and whether it can shred other types of material other than just papers such as CDs/DVDs, paper clips, and credit cards.
Conclusion
For either business or personal uses, a paper shredder is really important for data protection and identity theft prevention. Shredding confidential documents is one of the best methods to ensure your information cannot be stolen to use against your advantages. It is recommended that you destroy any document containing personal data such as bank statements, utility bills, insurance documents, or personal letters, those that you no longer need. For businesses, shredding sensitive and confidential documents is an essential part of data management. For that reason, it’s important that you find a paper shredder that accommodates your needs.
