10 Best Cross Cut Shredder 2025 in the United States

The Amazon Basics 18 Sheet Cross Cut Shredder is a versatile and strong performer in its category. It can handle up to 18 sheets of paper at once, which is quite efficient for home or small office use. You don’t need to worry about removing staples or small paper clips, as it can shred those too, along with CDs, DVDs, and credit cards through a dedicated slot.

The shredder has a decent run time of 30 minutes before needing a 10-minute cool down, which is adequate for periodic shredding tasks but could be limiting for extensive use. It meets the P-3 security level, turning paper into small confetti-like pieces, providing a good standard of security for most sensitive documents. The 6-gallon bin capacity is ample, reducing the frequency of emptying, and the window allows you to see when it’s full.

This shredder also features useful controls and status indicators for ease of use. However, at 24.4 pounds, it’s relatively heavy, though the included casters help with mobility. Quality testing ensures reliability, but you might find some paper shreds from pre-shipping tests. This shredder is a solid choice for those needing robust shredding capabilities.

The Bonsaii Paper Shredder is designed for home use and small office settings, with a compact size and portable handle, making it easy to fit in tight spaces. It can shred up to 6 sheets of paper at once, as well as staples, credit cards, and junk mail, into tiny pieces, enhancing security for your sensitive documents. The shredder’s security level, measured by the size of the shredded pieces (13/64 x 45/64 inches), ensures that your information is effectively destroyed.

Its continuous operation time is limited to 3 minutes, after which it requires a substantial 40-minute cool down period to prevent overheating. This could be inconvenient for larger shredding tasks. The 3.4-gallon wastebasket, with a transparent window, offers decent capacity, holding up to 180 sheets of shredded paper, but may still require frequent emptying for heavy use. The shredder is equipped with auto start/stop and manual reverse functions to handle paper jams effectively.

Additionally, the shredder’s professional service and 1-year protection could be reassuring for users, although the mention of pre-shipping tests resulting in visible paper shreds may require extra cleaning upon receipt. This shredder is well-suited for light to moderate shredding tasks in a domestic environment, but might not be ideal for high-volume use due to its short run time and lengthy cool down requirement.

The Fellowes Powershred 12 Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder is a solid choice for home and small office use, especially if you need to securely destroy sensitive documents. It can handle up to 12 sheets at once, which helps save time on bigger shredding tasks. The cross-cut style cuts paper into small pieces (about 5/32 x 1-9/16 inches), meeting a P-4 security level that’s good for protecting confidential information. One nice feature is its ability to run continuously for 20 minutes before needing a cool down, so you can finish small jobs without interruption.

The shredder also accepts staples, paper clips, credit cards, and unopened junk mail, adding to its versatility. The 5-gallon pull-out bin is convenient and keeps your workspace tidy, but if you have very heavy shredding needs, you might find yourself emptying it often. Safety is well thought out with a patented lock that disables the shredder, helping prevent accidents.

Fellowes shredders generally operate quietly enough for shared spaces. The size of the shredder is compact enough for deskside use without taking up too much room. This model weighs about 17 pounds, making it fairly portable if needed. This shredder is ideal for everyday personal or small office use where security and ease of use matter. If you regularly shred large volumes or need very long continuous run times, you might want to consider a higher-capacity model. For typical home or office document disposal, it balances speed, security, and safety well.