Paper Shredders Buying Guide

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Paper shredders  are becoming a must-have for all home offices and have always been a business need.  Paper shredders can help safeguard you from identity theft.  No one wants to have someone else discover their personal information in the garbage, such as bank, credit, and social security card numbers.  A shredder is just the safer way to go. 

Things to Keep In Mind

Prices vary widely, but there are some other things to consider.  To find the best, well-constructed machine, usually an included warranty is a good sign; if it features a long warranty on the cutter, it will probably last a while.  To help you find the right shredder for your needs, we have some ideas for you to ponder

  • How many people will be using the shredder? If it is simply meant for home or personal office use then a personal shredder ; up to 100 uses per day will do just fine, however for small offices (up to 10 people) a general office machine  is suitable for handling up to 36,000 uses per day.
  • How thoroughly destroyed should your documents be? Do you need it "diced" into confetti  or will straight  cuts do? Or do you need the maximum  level of security that adheres to even the NSA's stringent requirements?
  • What is the volume of paper that you shred? How many sheets must it do at once?
  • Should the shredder be capable of shredding plastic as well, such as CDs, DVDs and credit cards?
  • How fast must it work?
  • What safety features do you need, so that your child can't hurt himself or shred your paycheck?  Look for locking features.

Acclaimed Paper Shredders

These shredders have received serious attention in many office publications and are considered top-rated.

Powershred Heavy-Duty C-480 

  • This heavy-duty paper shredder helps ensure your peace of mind with its fast actions and cross-cut shredding style.  Papers are disposed of properly and efficiently into its internal wastebasket.  Its extra-wide feeder shreds not only papers, but credit cards, CDs, and DVDs as well.  

Alera Technologies 240130 

  • This shredder is made with carbon steel blades that can shred the hard stuff in no time.  It is capable of shredding up to 50 CDs in two minutes flat.  It does shred paper, but only through a small slot, forcing owners to fold their documents before shredding them.  

Powershred P-57Cs 

  • This small inexpensive shredder really delivers in quality.  It shreds approximately 8 pages per pass, as well as credit cards and staples, though it does not shred CDs or DVDs.  It does, however, come with a safety sensor, giving owners an even greater sense of security.

Paper Shredder Alternative

If you need to dispose of your documents, but would prefer to avoid the messy scraps of a shredder or destroy the document beyond any possible reconstruction, then dissolvable paper,  also referred to as Spy Paper,  may be your best option. Dissolvable paper will become completely illegible and turn into mush just seconds after contact with any liquid.

Related Guides

Office Supplies

Paper

Home Office

External Links

  • CBSNews.com:  CBS News presents a story on what to seek in a paper shredder. 
  • TheOfficeGuide.com:  Read more about different types of paper shredders.