Safe, Secure, and Shredded
For every tax document you need to file or save, you'll probably be left with a half-dozen or so that should be junked, some of them containing sensitive financial information. Fortunately, shredders have come a long way since the days depicted in the movie Argo, in which the failure of government shredders to destroy sensitive photos played an important role. With most of today's shredders you can be reasonably sure that your documents will be chopped up finely enough to be in no danger of being pieced together.
Shredding Basics
One way of classifying shredders is by the way they cut paper. Strip-cut shredders cut sheets of paper into long strips. They are fast, but don't provide much security, as the strips are usually large enough that they could be reassembled. Cross-cut shredders chop the paper into short, thin strips. Micro-cut shredders dice paper into tiny diamonds or bits of confetti, and are suitable for shredding confidential—and in some cases secret—documents. Shredder security, measured by the smallness of the paper shreds, is determined by the internationally accepted DIN 66399 standard, ranging from P-1 (insecure) to P-7 (suitable for shredding top-secret documents). A P-4 security level is fine for most offices, while ones needing to dispose of particularly sensitive documents may want to up it to P5.
Modern shredders can handle more than sheets of paper. Many of today's models can chop through CDs, credit and ID cards, paper clips, and/or staples. Some can make quick work even of thick envelopes full of junk mail.
Speed, based on the number of sheets you can feed through the shredder, one after another, is important. So is the feeder capacity (how many sheets you can shred at once) and the size of the basket where the shredded paper ends up. Run time—the length of time you can continuously feed paper through the shredder before it needs to cool down—and the length of the cooling-down period are other factors.
What to Look For
The best shredder for you depends on your particular needs: Consider its speed, capacity, run time, and security (or the size of its shred). For example, a smaller office may want a fast shredder to run through a modest amount of paper quickly, while a larger office with more paper to dispose of may want a higher capacity or longer run time. Offices that handle very sensitive documents will want a micro-cut shredder to dice the paper into fine confetti. Note also that the smaller the shred size, the more paper can fit in the waste bin before you need to empty it.
Compact shredders can fit in small spaces, and may be best for home office use, or as personal shredders in either a home or an office. Some offer safety features such as automatic shutoff if one's hand touches the feeder slot. Others offer jam protection. Shredders as a group are not known for their elegance, but some compact shredders are stylish enough to be an integral part of an office's décor.
The Kindest Cut
Don't put a price on security—a shredder can be a terrific investment. And though you may find it most useful in the spring, after you've prepared and submitted your taxes, it can help you protect your finances and your identity throughout the whole year, all with just a few minutes of work. The shredders featured here run the gamut from personal and home-office models to ones suitable for heavy-duty shredding in a large office.
Featured in This Roundup
Fellowes Powershred 99Ci 100% Jam Proof Cross-Cut Shredder
$299.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Fellowes Powershred 99Ci 100% Jam Proof Cross-Cut Shredder is an excellent heavy-duty shredder. It's speedy, has high paper capacity, can shred a variety of materials, and can operate for a long time before needing a break. Read the full review-
AmazonBasics 12-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Paper, CD, and Credit Card Shredder With Pullout Basket
$99.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The AmazonBasics 12-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Paper, CD, and Credit Card Shredder With Pullout Basket shreds securely, has a high basket capacity, and comes at a bargain price. Read the full review -
Ativa Professional Plus HDPro 2000
$279.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Ativa Professional Plus HDPro 2000 can shred for two hours without needing to cool down. Read the full review -
Fellowes AutoMax 130C Auto Feed Shredder
$329.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Fellowes AutoMax 130C Auto Feed Shredder can automatically shred a stack of up to 130 sheets, and you can manually feed twice as many sheets as it is rated for. Read the full review -
Swingline Style+ Super Cross-Cut Shredder
$159.00 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Swingline Style+ Super Cross-Cut Shredder is small, stylish, and lightning fast, and it holds more shredded paper than you might expect in its tiny basket. Read the full review -
Fellowes AutoMax 200C Auto Feed Shredder
$549.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Fellowes AutoMax 200C can automatically shred a stack of up to 200 documents in short order. Read the full review -
Fellowes Powershred 99Ms Micro-Cut Shredder
$499.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Fellowes Powershred 99Ms Micro-Cut shreds paper into small enough pieces to provide secure disposal, even for very sensitive documents. Read the full review -
Swingline SM12-08 Micro Cut Jam Free Shredder
$399.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% Swingline's SM12-08 Micro-Cut Jam Free Shredder can shred for a long time without needing a break, and with its small shred size, you're effectively destroying sensitive documents. Read the full review -
AmazonBasics 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper, CD, and Credit Card Shredder
$44.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The AmazonBasics 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper, CD, and Credit Card Shredder is fast and inexpensive. It's a fine choice for light-duty shredding at home or in a home office. Read the full review -
Fellowes Powershred 79Ci
$239.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% Simple to operate and able to shred all sorts of office material, the well-rounded Fellowes Powershred 79Ci can work well as a home or home-office shredder, or as a personal shredder in a small office. Read the full review -
Staples 16-Sheet High-Speed Cross-Cut Shredder
$199.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Staples 16-Sheet High-Speed Cross-Cut Shredder makes quick work of documents you need to dispose of, but can only shred for a relatively short period of time before it needs a long break. Read the full review -
Swingline Stack-and-Shred 100X Auto Feed Shredder
$299.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Swingline Stack-and-Shred 100X Auto Feed Shredder is a compact model that can shred a stack of up to 100 sheets unattended. Read the full review -
Swingline Stack-and-Shred 300X Hands Free Shredder
$1249.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Swingline Stack-and-Shred 300X Hands Free Shredder is the height of convenience—if you can afford its hefty price tag. Read the full review -
Swingline SX19-09 Super Cross-Cut Jam Free Shredder
$559.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Swingline SX19-09 Super Cross-Cut Jam Free Shredder offers solid speed, the ability to shred a variety of material, and a large basket. Read the full review -
Ativa 10M Shredder
$179.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Ativa 10M Shredder is a lighter-duty, high-security shredder with a touch of style. Read the full review -
Fellowes Powershred 73Ci
$199.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Fellowes Powershred 73Ci is a good fit as a personal shredder, or for business use in a home office, a sole proprietorship, or an office with several employees. Read the full review -
Swingline EX10-05 Super Cross-Cut Shredder
$192.00 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Swingline EX10-05 Super Cross-Cut Shredder is a compact and lightweight document shredder for personal use. Read the full review -
Swingline EX14-06 Super Cross-Cut Jam Free Shredder
$409.99 MSRP
%displayPrice% at %seller% The Swingline EX14-06 Super Cross-Cut Jam Free Shredder is a compact document shredder for light-duty use that can shred optical discs, plastic cards, and paper clips, as well as paper documents. Read the full review