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 Paper Shredder is a solid choice if you need a reliable shredder for home or small office use. It uses cross-cut shredding, cutting paper into small pieces that meet a decent security level (P-4), which is good for protecting sensitive documents. You can shred up to 15 sheets at once, including stapled paper and small clips, which is a good capacity for occasional or moderate shredding tasks. The 6-gallon bin is fairly large, so you won’t have to empty it too often.

It also handles one CD, DVD, or credit card at a time, which is a nice extra for disposing of old discs or cards securely. The shredder runs for 20 minutes before needing a 20-minute cool down, which is enough for most home or light office shredding but might feel limiting if you have a lot to shred regularly. It has helpful features like an auto-reverse to clear jams and LEDs that alert you to issues like overload or a full bin.

The unit includes casters, making it easy to move around, and it automatically goes to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity to save power. The shredder can be a bit noisy, typical for shredders at this price and power range, so keep that in mind if you need something very quiet. Also, because it only accepts one CD or card at a time, shredding multiple discs could be slow. For those seeking a dependable shredder that covers the essentials without extra bells and whistles, this model delivers good performance and security for everyday use, especially for occasional shredding of documents, cards, or discs.

The Amazon Basics 18 Sheet Cross Cut Shredder is a solid choice for both home and small office use, particularly for those seeking a reliable way to dispose of sensitive documents and other materials securely. Its cross-cut shredding capability ensures that paper is turned into small, confetti-like pieces, meeting a security level P-3 standard, which is suitable for basic personal data protection. The ability to shred up to 18 sheets at once, along with dedicated slots for CDs, DVDs, and credit cards, adds versatility to its functionality, making it more than just a paper shredder.

One of the key strengths of this shredder is its relatively high sheet capacity, allowing for efficient shredding without needing to frequently reload. Additionally, the 6-gallon bin is large enough to hold a good amount of shredded material, reducing the need for constant emptying. The inclusion of casters makes it easy to move around, and the LED status indicators provide clear information about the shredder’s operation.

There are a few drawbacks to consider. The 30 minutes of continuous run time followed by a 10-minute cool-down period can be limiting if you have a large volume of shredding to complete in one go. While the noise level is generally manageable, it may still be noticeable in a quiet setting, which could be a factor for some users. Additionally, while the shredder is efficient, users should be aware that it may not handle thicker staples or multiple layers of paper as smoothly as some higher-end models.