Paper Shredders: Reviews

According to experts and owners, the Powershred DS-1 offers the best balance of capacity, security and durability. Paper shredders in general get terrible ratings for paper jams and motor failures, but the Powershred DS-1… fares better than most home shredders. One complaint, however, it that it's loud. This is a cross-cut paper shredder, which experts say is much more secure than a paper shredder that only cuts documents into strips. Reviews say it shreds quickly (one page in less than three seconds), and the 4.75 gallon bin uses a step-can lever that makes emptying easier. The DS-1 shredder is rated for 11 sheets at a time (although four or five sheets is more realistic), and it can handle up to 220 sheets per day. An added safety feature protects children.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Inexpensive paper shredders are not generally recommended by experts, and they have a reputation for jamming and breaking easily. Owners, however, say the Powershred P-57Cs is a great value. It handily scored highest in… reviews of comparably priced machines in owner reviews posted to Amazon.com. Steel cutters can handle eight sheets per pass (four is more realistic), as well as credit cards and staples -- but not CDs or DVDs. A feature praised by owners is its safety sensor, which turns the machine off when the paper feed-slot is touched.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

If you have a small office, you might need a heavy-duty paper shredder. The Fellowes Powershred SB-97Cs can handle up to 1,700 pages a day. It is rated to handle 17 pages per pass, but reviews say half that is more… realistic. The SB-97Cs has a 10-gallon bin and chews through paper, credit cards and paper clips. It also has a designated slot for CDs and DVDs. Owners like the narrow design that fits into tight spaces, and it is quieter than many shredders. The cabinet has casters for mobility. Like several other Fellowes shredders, the Powershred SB-97Cs also includes a safety shut-off to prevent injuries.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Although some paper shredders can also shred other materials, shredders made specifically for DVDs and CDs offer more power. The Alera Technologies 240130 has carbon steel blades that shred DVDs, CDs and credit cards into… small pieces. It can shred about 50 discs in two minutes. This unit also shreds paper, but because of the small slot, paper must be folded, which some owners find tedious. Some reviewers complain that the wastebasket, which has a capacity of just under a gallon, is too small.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse