Top 8 Best Paper Shredders For Small Business (Reviews)

In a small business, you’re going to have to shred documents from time to time.

A quality paper shredder can help to ensure that sensitive information remains secure and uncompromised.

That being said, not all paper shredders are going to work for your small business.

Some shredders are better than others, and before you invest in any paper shredder, it’s important to know what you will ultimately need.

Top 8 Paper Shredders

PRODUCT	TITLE	DETAILS
Quietest Shredder	Fellowes Powershred 79Ci	SafeSense technology stops shredder when hands touch the paper opening. Ultra-quiet shredder performance for shared workspaces. Jam proof system eliminates paper jams	View on Amazon
	AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder	Easy to use and take care of One of the least expensive small business paper shredders out there	View on Amazon
	AmazonBasics 12-Sheet Shredder	Cross-cutting paper shredders are less likely to jam up This shredder can shred credit cards or CDs, albeit one at a time.	View on Amazon
	Aurora AU1210MA - Professional Grade	Can be used for many different materials, including staples and CDs Works faster than many other paper shredders in its price range	View on Amazon
	Bonsaii 12-Sheet Paper Shredder	Paper jam protection Good value	View on Amazon
Editor's choice	Royal 1840MX 18-Sheet	Cross-Cut and commercial grade 8 1/2 gallon pull out wastebaske Sturdy build quality	View on Amazon
	Bonsaii DocShred C156-D	Shreds paper clips Secure, tiny pieces shredding	View on Amazon
	Bonsaii EverShred C149	Cross-cut security The 62 dB low noise level will give you a quiet and smooth shredding experience. It has continuous running times of up to 60 minutes.	View on Amazon

That’s why we have created this in-depth buying guide with some of the best paper shredder options out there and a few of the most frequently asked questions about these devices.

We have chosen these particular shredders based on factors like their ability to complete a job efficiently, material construction, value for the money, overall user satisfaction ratings, ease-of-use, and design features.

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci – 100% Jam Proof Medium, Duty Cross, Cut Shredder

The Fellowes Powershred 79Ci works faster than most other shredders in its price range.

This means you’ll spend less time waiting for it to cool down and be able to complete jobs more quickly.

It also features some handy anti-jam auto-reverse settings that are designed to clear paper jams and prevent this shredder from overheating.

The ultra-quiet operation is another great bonus.

Still, with its overall durability in question, we can’t speak to the long-term value of this paper shredder.

It would be good for a medium-sized small business and could potentially be used daily, maybe even heavily.

One or two employees could definitely use this shredder regularly without problems. We wouldn’t recommend this shredder for any heavier loads than that.

If you have a larger business that has heavy-duty needs, this shredder may not be up to the task.

However, if your small business is centralized with a single office, has a home office, or has light to medium-duty shredding needs, it would probably be a viable option.

All in all a very nice shredder at a fair price that turns sensitive documents into confetti.

AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder – Most Inexpensive Paper Shredder For Light-Duty Jobs

The AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder is a great option for anyone looking to save some money in the short-term.

It’s the most inexpensive paper shredder that still has what it takes to make it on our top products list. Mostly, this is because of its simple design and low price.

This paper shredder is easy to use and can get most light-duty jobs done effectively. It has high-tech sensors that allow it to recognize and shred up to 8-pages of standard paper at a time.

Surprisingly, it can also be used for credit cards, though only one at a time.

It’s pretty straight forward as far as paper shredders go. It takes about 3-minutes to run through a cycle, not including its 30 minutes cool down cycle.

While this paper shredder cross-cuts (it cuts paper into tiny squares) it can’t be used if you have staples in your documents.

This is a pretty decent option for the price. It’s in no way a high-end or premium paper shredder, but if you are looking to save money, it’s a great choice.

It’s by far the least expensive paper shredder on our list.

AmazonBasics 12-Sheet Shredder – High-Security Micro-Cut Paper, CD, and Credit Card Shredder – For Small Business with Medium-Duty Shredding Needs

Here’s a high-security paper shredder that reduces pages to micro-cut sized pieces.

This is a design that helps to ensure your security when processing sensitive documents. It shreds papers into pieces that are 5/32 by 15/32 inches.

It is also fairly versatile. It can not only shred documents, but can also be used for things like CDs, DVDs, and thicker printed materials.

Keep in mind that they must be shredder one at a time. It has a cycle that runs continuously for 8 minutes with a 45-minute cooldown time.

It also is pretty easy to operate, with an automatic start feature and manual reverse that clears out potential paper jams. It has a large 6.7-gallon pull out bin for maximum holding capacity.

It also features thermal protection and automatically shuts off when it senses components becoming too hot. Many people have been praising Amazon basics products as a great value for the price.

This Amazon brand strives to create important everyday products that can be purchased and minimal cost. As far as downsides go, this shredder is a bit slow.

You’ll probably find that after putting in around 6 pieces of paper, it tends to take its time cutting them up. For what it costs, it’s definitely more powerful than most name brand products.

What we mean by this is that it gives you the power and capabilities of a paper shredder that would probably cost around 20% more.

Aurora AU1210MA – Professional Grade – An Effective Option for Small Businesses Who Need a Quality Shredder for Larger Documents

This is a high-security micro-cut paper shredder with a 12 sheet capacity.

If you believe that you will be handling large documents with sensitive information, it might be a good option to consider.

It is also fairly versatile and is easier to use than some similar shredders.

This shredder easily destroys CDs, DVDs, credit cards and can even stand up to staples and small paper clips.

This means that you won’t have to spend time removing staples from larger documents which can save you time and help to prevent hassle.

It also does a great job of destroying documents and keeping information secure. As a security level P-4 device, it quickly shreds paper, CDs, DVDs, and credit cards into small pieces that measure 5/32 by 15/32 inches.

The nonstop 60-minute continuous run time makes it well-suited for larger jobs. It won’t bother anyone when its in use. It has a 5.0-Gallon pullout bin and features LED indicator lights.

These useful lights display if this device is on standby, overheating, has a full bin, is about to overload or has open door status. It isn’t the nicest paper shredder out there but it does get the job done well for a pretty decent price.

All in all, this is an easy to use and effective paper shredder that would be good for most small businesses with regular paper shredding needs.

Bonsaii 12-Sheet Paper Shredder – Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder for Small or Home Businesses

If you have been looking for a paper shredder that would be perfect for your home office or for use by one or two people, this is a good option to take a look at.

While it isn’t ideal for small businesses with multiple employees who need to shred lots of things, it can be used effectively by most people with light-duty paper shredding needs.

It has been designed to be simple and efficient and has many helpful little features that make it easy to use.

It is capable of shredding up to 10 sheets of paper at a time and can also be used for one CD, DVD, or credit card at a time.

This shredder runs for around 5 minutes before it will need a break so that it can cool down.

This is a good option for most home offices or small businesses with minimal paper shredding needs.

It isn’t great for heavy-duty jobs and it definitely isn’t suitable for constant use by an entire office or by multiple people.

However, for small jobs or light-duty use, it’s a fantastic option that comes at a fairly decent price.

Royal 1840MX 18-Sheet – Premium Commercial Grade Cross-Cut Paper Shredder

This shredder comes as part of the Royal Platinum Series and has been designed to handle tough jobs or constant use by many employees.

It can be relied on to run for around 40 minutes at a time without needing a break to cool down.

It also has a huge wastebasket that can hold almost 9 -gallons of shredded materials at a time.

This one cross-cuts paper and shreds documents into tiny pieces for maximum security.

It also has wheels and can be rolled from room to room.

This shredder can be used for CDs, DVDs, credit cards, and can also hold up to staples and small paper clips.

The powerful operation helps to reduce paper jams and make your shredding jobs go faster and more efficiently. This shredder also is easy to use and has been designed to be simple to understand and efficient.

It has also been tested at the factory so you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that its quality has been tested before you even open the box.

Both form and function have been considered in the construction of this shredder.

It’s sleek, powerful, and effective. All in all, this would be a great choice for small businesses who need a reliable paper shredder that they can use daily for years to come.

Bonsaii DocShred C156-D – Best for Small Businesses Looking to Save Money

The Bonsaii DocShred C156-D 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper/CD/Credit Card Shredder has a 5.5-gallon wastebasket and WindowIt technology.

The auto start and manual reverse features help to clear paper jams.

A thermal protection system is in place to protect the motor from overheating as well.

While it can shred documents and credit cards, it’s not very powerful and you probably shouldn’t expect it to last more than a couple of years, even if it has only ever been subjected to light-duty use.

For a small business, this is the type of paper shredder you want to buy while you’re waiting to be able to get a better one. Otherwise, it only really works for a long time if you use it sparingly.

It just doesn’t have the kind of powerful motor designed to stand up to years and years of wear and tear.

However, if you simply need a paper shredder in the short-term or if you need one for home use every now and again, this is a fantastic option that comes at a very low price.

We could easily imagine it sitting under the desk of someone with a home office for years.

It’s also very easy to use and take care of.

Bonsaii EverShred C149 – Heavy Duty Cross-Cut Paper Shredder with Pullout Basket

The Bonsaii EverShred C149 features continuous running time and has the capability of running up to 60 minutes at a time without stopping.

It also comes equipped with an advanced cooling System and has patented cutting technology. this cross-cut shredder can take up to 18 sheets at a time.

This model shreds paper into tiny particles measuring about 1/5 x 1-50/87 inches. It also shreds credit cards, CDs, DVDs, and Staples.

It also has 4 casters for convenience, you’ll have no issue moving anywhere you want in your office.

The 6-gallon pull-out wastebasket is also nice.

You won’t have to empty it quite as frequently as with some other shredders.

Also, the transparent window makes it easy to see when the basket is full.

Auto start and auto reverse functions have been added to protect you from the frustrations of paper jams.

Additionally, overheating and overloading protection technology keeps this machine running for longer.

However, it’s also hard to say how long this machine will hold up. It seems fairly durable but isn’t very high-end. It’s a bit of a minimalist as far as higher-end paper shredders go.

Buyer’s Guide: Frequently Asked Questions About Paper Shredders

Knowing how to maintain and care for your paper shredder is important. Now that you’ve seen some of the absolute best paper shredder options, let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about these devices.

Can shredders handle staples?

Knowing if your paper shredder can handle staples or other metal objects is pretty important.

After all, you don’t want to break it right off the rip by sending a stapled or paper clipped bundle through and killing its motor. If you’re wondering whether or not your shredder can handle staples, the answer will depend on a few factors.

Namely, the type of paper shredder you have, what material ratings it specifies, and whether or not it’s a heavy-duty or light-duty paper shredder.

It’s kind of difficult to define what heavy-duty means in a paper shredder.

Some shredders will claim to be heavy-duty, but they’re only referring to the number of pages in a document that they can shred at once.

Whether or not the document has staples is generally not mentioned in the shredding page count. For the sake of the safety of your shredder, we are going to answer this question with a no.

Paper shredders can not generally handle staplers. That being said, there are a few heavy-duty industrial-grade paper shredders that have no issues shredding paper clips, staples, and more.

Also, many “cross-cut” paper shredders can usually eat staples with no problems at all, as long as you’re not shredding more than 5 pages at a time.

These shredders will almost always clearly label that they can do this on their product packaging.

They will usually say something like “can shred non-paper materials” right on the box.

You can always check the owner’s manual of your paper shredder, but most of them will say to remove all non-paper or plastic objects from whatever you are shredding.

With all of that being said, here are a few paper shredders that can handle staples easily.

Cross Cut Paper Shredders and some Heavy Duty Paper Shredders can handle staples and other more durable materials like CDs, DVDs and more.

How can I recycle my shreddings?

If you want to recycle your paper shreddings but are concerned about identity theft, that’s totally understandable. We understand why you would be concerned about recycling shredded paper.

However, just tossing your recycled paper into a trash can cause all sorts of problems for trash collectors and recycling companies.

Shredder paper strips tend to fly all over the place as trash is sorted. If you want to have your paper shreddings recycled, you will simply need to put them in a bag so that they can be safely recycled in a secure way.

Scoop them into a plastic bag, tie it shut, and place it into the appropriate bin.

If this makes you uncomfortable and you still have information compromise concerns, you can also choose to mix your shredded documents together so that there is no way anyone can decipher sensitive information from them.

Some people save paper shreddings and use them to make paper bricks for fireplaces, which can be very efficient and a great way to repurpose shredded paper. You can even use paper shreddings to heat your home if you do it properly! Here is a website that details the best ways to recycle your paper shreddings commercially.

What type of lubricant to use, when to oil it?

Knowing how to care for and maintain your paper shredder is very important. Lubricating any machine where metal blades are in operation will help to ensure that everything works properly for a longer time.

Since with a paper shredder, rotating blades allow shreddable materials to be cut into fine strips, properly lubricating your paper shredder is an essential step to take toward its longevity and overall operation.

As soon as you notice that your paper shredder isn’t operating like normal, sounds weird, or is taking longer than usual to get a job done, it may be time to clean and oil it.

Lubricating a paper shredder isn’t difficult.

All you have to do to oil a paper shredder is pour oil on a piece of paper and then run the paper through the machine. You should pour oil in a vertical and horizontal pattern so that all of the blades are reached.

Oil will help your blades stay sharp by reducing friction as they operate.

You can oil your paper shredder every week or every two to three weeks, depending on how much you use it.

The amount of oil and type of oil that you should use will be specified in your owner’s manual. Since all shredders are designed a little bit differently, it’s important to always read your owner’s guide as soon as you start using any paper shredding device.

Some small business paper shredders will require more lubrication than others. Alternatively, the type of oil that you use may vary based on the type of device or model that you own.

In general, however, most paper shredders are oiled through the use of a performance oil designed specifically for the job that is then applied directly to the blades in some way.

Here are is a Video That Can Show You How to Oil Your Paper Shredder: