The Best Paper Shredders of 2022

Who it’s for: People with higher security needs and some disposable income

Page limit: 12 sheets

Continuous run time/cool down period: 10 minutes/40 minutes

What it can shred: paper, staples, paper clips

This shredder was able to shred single sheets of paper continuously, without stopping or sending an error message, for five minutes. It was also able to shred stacks of paper with thicknesses of 1 to 12 sheets without failing. It was also able to shred a credit card, four staples, and a paper clip. The TRU RED 12 Sheet Micro-Cut shredder lives in the sweet spot in the Venn diagram of “makes tiny shreds,” “large capacity,” and “doesn’t make a mess.” The bin has a capacity of 5.8 gallons and it can hold micro-cut shreds from more than 150 sheets of paper.

Everything about this shredder is easy to use. While it’s one of the heavier shredders we tested (coming in at about 21 pounds), it doesn’t feel top heavy, and it rolls easily on four wheels, two of which have brakes. The shredder’s controls are very basic, and we like it that way. It has a power button, a “forward” button, and a “reverse” button, both of which will help to get rid of a jam. Fortunately, we never experienced a paper jam during testing; in fact, we were pleasantly surprised by the way the shredding teeth remained clog-free, even after shredding about 50 sheets of paper in five minutes. On the other hand, while the shredding noise isn’t a high-pitched shriek, it’s a bit on the loud side. As for safety features, the TRU RED shredder has a vertical, narrow slit that is easy to access for shredding purposes, but looks to be too narrow to endanger the fingers of small children. Additionally, this shredder comes with a lock that, when activated, prevents the shredder from turning on at all. We also liked the cord management system, which allows you to wrap the cable up tight to minimize tripping hazards.

The micro-cut shreds from this shredder are about 10 mm long, and 4 mm wide. While they’re not the tiniest shreds we saw during our tests, that’s still small enough for you to feel confident that anyone would have a lot of trouble reconstructing any sensitive documents you shred.

What users think: People who purchased this shredder were pleased with its performance. A couple people found that the shredders didn’t work right out of the box, but because it’s a Staples product, they were able to return or replace it with minimal fuss.

The bottom line: While it’s a bit pricey, we think this shredder will make a lot of people happy with its shredding capacity, simple interface, lack of jamming, and safety features.

Page limit: 10 sheets at a time

Continuous run time/cool down period: 7 minutes/60 minutes

What it's rated to shred: Paper, credit cards, and staples

The Fellowes 62MC Micro-Cut shredder is an awesome pick for a wide variety of shredding needs, offering reliable performance and outstanding features. In testing, it was able to shred continuously for five minutes at a time, tearing through stacks of 1 to 10 sheets without jamming. It didn't flinch at staples or a pile of junk mail including regular paper, stiff paper, and a mock credit card.

There are other pluses: The 62MC's pull-out basket has an extra-large capacity of 5 gallons that takes more than 100 sheets to completely fill up. The shreds it produced were the finest among shredders I tested, at just 9mm by 3mm, which makes it nearly impossible to reconstruct shredded documents. The bin is easy to remove, and emptying it into the trash doesn't generate huge plumes of paper dust. I also appreciated the fact that the 62MC isn't especially shrill or rumbly in operation.

The shredder sits on casters with brakes, so it's more portable than its 21-pound weight would suggest, and its sturdiness means you needn't worry about it tipping over on your toddler. The user interface is a model of simplicity, and a safety switch makes operation even more worry-free. The shredding slot is narrow and vertical, which is also great for users with kids, but does require slightly more advanced technique—you can't just toss your pages in.

What other reviewers thought: While there have been some reports that the Fellowes shredder has a short life span, there are many reviews that praise its quiet shredding and "confetti"-sized shreds.

The bottom line: The Fellowes 62MC Micro-Cut Shredder will quickly shred documents into teeny-tiny pieces and has a lot of features that make it appealing to everyone, even those with little kids.

Page limit: 12 sheets at a time

Continuous run time/cool down period: 2 minutes/25 minutes

What it's rated to shred: Paper, credit cards, and CD/DVDs

The Royal 112MX Cross-Cut shredder is a great product for those with less pressing security needs. Its small 3.25-gallon bucket can hold shreds from 50-60 pieces of paper, and the shreds produced by the 112MX were the smallest I got from any cross-cut shredder—just 32mm long and 4 mm wide.

In my testing, it devoured single sheets for five minutes without returning an error or pausing. It was able to shred stacks of paper with thicknesses of 1 to 12 sheets without jamming, and powered through credit cards. DVDs were no problem, either, thanks to a separate disc slot.

Between its brake-equipped wheels and 15-pound weight, it's easy to move and hard to dislodge. A pull-out bucket (something of a rarity at this size) makes cleanup a breeze. Users with kids will appreciate the narrow disc and credit card slots, along with blades positioned at a 90° angle from the main paper slot. Together, they make it difficult for tiny fingers to get in trouble.

On the downside, emptying the bin can be a bit dusty, and the shredding noise is slightly louder than what you'd expect from a smaller shredder.

What other reviewers thought: Reviews for the Royal 112MX are mixed. Some users were annoyed with its short run time and "light use" rating, but others praised its ability to power through thick stacks of paper. Several owners complained about the one-year warranty, especially in light of some early failures.

The bottom line: The Royal 112MX Cross-Cut shredder is a great light use shredder that has a front-load paper slot and generates the smallest cross-cut shreds out of all of the cross-cut shredders I tested.