Fellowes Powershred P-57Cs

To evaluate this machine, we turned to user reviews -- mainly on Amazon.com -- and found plenty of insight from more than 200 contributors. Although $60 shredders may not be the experts' choice, they are definitely popular with consumers.

The Fellowes Powershred P-57Cs confetti shredder is the leader among moderately priced machines. Like other shredders, it doesn't comfortably shred the advertised eight pages at once; users say two or three sheets is more realistic. Still, for the money, it's a good buy with a safety feature most models in its class don't offer: a sensor that shuts down the unit when a user's hands get too close to the blades. One reviewer notes it even detected her cat's paws; others, however, say the sensor is a little too sensitive, forcing them to turn off the function to keep the machine running smoothly. The Powershred P-57Cs also boasts a large five-gallon discard bin. The Powershred P-57Cs is a great choice for home use -- shredding junk mail and sensitive documents -- but isn't designed for heavy use. Those looking for more power should consider the Fellowes Powershred DS1 (*est. $110), said to be a good balance of price and performance.