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When it comes to home office essentials, everyone needs a reliable shredder that can get the job done and keep your information secure. The best shredders for your home office should check a few basic boxes: They need to be big enough to handle any project and have enough power to cut through multiple pieces of paper, credit cards and more. Whether you need a larger machine that’s capable of handling several sheets at once, or you’re just looking for an efficient way to get rid of household documents, here are some things to consider when you’re shopping for one, along with our picks for the top paper shredders you can buy right now.
What to Consider When Buying the Best Shredder
Power: A good baseline capacity for a home office paper shredder is the ability to shred around six thick sheets at once, though if you will need to shred often, you may look for a model with eight or 12-sheet capacity. Check if the machine is also capable of shredding credit cards, and if it can shred through staples and paper clips, which is a major time saver. We also look at how long a shredder can run continuously without burning out. Some need some time to rest after running for a few minutes, while others come with an auto-shutoff function.
Security Level: You’ll probably notice “security level” in shredder product descriptions. What does that mean? A shredder’s security level refers to the size of the cuttings after you shred something, and it’s measured by a classification system of P2 through P7. The smaller the size, the higher the security level. The largest cut size, P2, is the least secure, and P3 or P4 are probably most common for using in your home office or business.
Anti-Jam Features: Paper jams happen — the important thing is for the machine to have some kind of function for dealing with them. We especially like shredders with a motorized reverse function and auto-shutoff, while others can be manually reversed.
Size: For frequent shedding, consider a larger basin that will help cut down on how often you have to empty the bucket. For smaller home offices or if you’ll only occasionally use the machine, a smaller model should do the trick.
1. Amazon Basics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Home Office Shredder
The Amazon Basics shredder is a true workhorse. It can shred about six pages at once, as well as staples, paperclips, credit cards, cardboard and more. It’ll automatically power down after two minutes of shredding. Reviewers note the shredder’s capacity and motor power, though you should expect a bit of noise.
Amazon
2. Aurora AU1230XA Anti-Jam 12-Sheet Crosscut Paper and Credit Card Shredder
There are a couple of features we really like about this high-powered 12-sheet Aurora shredder, including the automatic jam reverse feature, and how you can use it for five minutes at a time. It shreds paper, paperclips and credit cards alike into tiny pieces, or a P3 security size. It includes an LED light for overheating, and it’s also designed with a safe and functional angled entry feed to help prevent accidents.
Amazon
3. Bonsaii 6 Sheet Cross Cut Paper Shredder for Small Home Office Use
This six-sheet shredder is convenient for small home office spaces and you can easily store it under a desk or in a corner. It also comes with a powerful motor, which can handle four minutes of shredding (and takes a 40-minute break between shredding), and a manual reverse function for taking care of jams. We like that you can see how full it’s getting as you shred.
Amazon
4. Aurora Desktop-Style Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
If you’re not shredding all the time, you won’t need a large-capacity or heavy-duty shredder. Instead, we recommend this Aurora desktop shredder for smaller shredding projects, which can process four sheets at once as well as thicker items like old credit cards and even staples. It also has on, off, and reverse functions, with a two-minute run time and overheat protection.
Amazon
