10 Best Inexpensive Paper Shredders 2025 in the United States

The Amazon Basics 24 Sheet Cross Cut Shredder is a solid choice for home or small office use, especially if you want good security since it meets P-4 standards by cutting paper into small confetti-like pieces. It can handle up to 24 sheets at once, which is quite generous for this price range, and also shreds CDs, DVDs, credit cards (one at a time), staples, and paper clips. The shredder runs for 40 minutes before needing a 50-minute cool-down to protect the motor, making it suitable for moderate shredding tasks but potentially slower during heavy jobs.

Its 7-gallon bin is reasonably sized, meaning you don’t have to empty it too often, and the pull-out basket design makes cleanup easy. For safety, it has auto-reverse to help clear jams and LED indicators to alert you about issues like a full bin or overheating. It offers a quiet enough operation for home or office environments. The main downside is that it can't shred metallic credit cards, and you need to avoid aerosol sprays near it.

Weighing about 32 pounds with casters, it's somewhat bulky but still moveable. This shredder balances capacity, security, and safety features well within an affordable price, making it a practical pick if you need reliable performance without a high cost.

The Amazon Basics Cross Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder offers reliable performance for those looking for an affordable and straightforward paper shredder. It uses cross-cut shredding, which provides a good level of security by cutting paper and credit cards into small pieces (about 0.2 x 0.7 inches), meeting P-4 security standards that are suitable for home or small office use. The shredder can handle up to 8 sheets of standard paper at once, which is decent for light to moderate shredding tasks but might feel slow if you have large volumes regularly.

With a run time of 3 minutes followed by a 30-minute cool down period, this shredder is best suited for occasional use rather than nonstop heavy shredding. The 3.7-gallon bin is a practical size for managing shredded material without frequent emptying. It also offers useful safety features like an automatic shutoff to prevent overheating and an easy-to-use 4-mode control switch with LED indicators that help you know when the machine is on, overloaded, or too hot.

It can shred credit cards, limited to non-metallic types, and cannot handle metal cards. It can also shred staples and small paper clips, adding to convenience. Noise level specifics aren’t detailed, but Amazon Basics products generally run quietly enough for home or office use without being disruptive. A minor drawback is the relatively short continuous run time and long cool down, meaning if you plan to shred large batches often, you might need to wait between sessions. It’s important to avoid shredding metallic cards or aerosol products near the machine, as these can cause damage. This shredder presents a solid choice for anyone needing a budget-friendly, easy-to-use device for light to moderate shredding tasks with decent security and safety features.

The Amazon Basics 8-Sheet Cross Cut Paper Shredder is a budget-friendly option that meets the key needs for an inexpensive paper shredder. It uses a cross-cut method to shred paper and credit cards into small pieces (0.2 x 0.7 inches), achieving a security level of P-4, which is suitable for most personal or small office needs. With a sheet capacity of up to 8 sheets of 20-pound bond paper at a time, it also handles credit cards (one at a time), staples, and small paper clips, offering versatility.

Its 3-minute runtime is adequate for small shredding jobs, although the 30-minute cool down period might be a drawback for heavy use, as it requires frequent breaks to avoid overheating. The shredder features a 3.7-gallon bin, which is relatively easy to empty but might require frequent disposal if used regularly. Safety features include overheating protection and an automatic shutoff when the maximum runtime is exceeded, reducing the risk of damage. The shredder operates with a 4-mode control switch and LED status indicators, which provide clear information on power, overheat, and overload status.

It's important to note that metal credit cards should not be shredded, and aerosol products should be kept away from the unit. The shredder has a compact design (12.8 x 7.32 x 14.9 inches) and weighs 8.7 pounds, making it suitable for small spaces.