Paper Shredders Reviews

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Paper Shredders Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Paper Shredders. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Paper Shredders, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Paper Shredders. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Paper Shredders prices.

Paper Shredders Reviews Reviewed

Review Ratings

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CS Credibility Rating

Paper Shredders Ratings
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1.  The Wall Street Journal Cutting-Edge Shredders

Charles Passy


Apr. 2006
reviews rating Reviewer Charles Passy tests five cross-cut paper shredders, looking for a model that could handle "some fairly rigorous home shredding." Details on how each model performs are given along with recommendations. Both the Best Overall and Best Value awards go to the Executive Cross-Cut EPS-1501x from Staples (which has since been replaced by the SPL-1506X) for its power, low noise and easy cleanup with a pullout wastebasket. Passy does not like the Michael Graves Cross-Cut Paper Shredder from Target. Although it is stylish and inexpensive, he says it would be quicker to rip up papers by hand than to use this shredder. The GBC Shredmaster 960X does not fare well in the Wall Street Journal review either; Passy notes that it is both the most expensive and one of the most problematic tested. He also does not like the fact that the 960X requires expensive replacement bags for the waste bin.
2.  Which? Online Shredders

Editors of Which? Online


Nov. 2006
reviews rating Which? Online is the British equivalent of Consumer Reports. Editors test 18 paper shredders -- more than any other publication we found. Unfortunately, few of these paper shredders are available in the U.S. Paper shredders are tested on their ability to slice through a wide variety of media – including cardboard, photos, envelopes, laminated sheets, credit cards, paper clips and staples. Testers deliberately try to jam the machines and then see how easy it is to clear the jam. Which? editors also make an attempt to reconstruct the shredded documents. The resulting Best Buys include the Ryman MS-1001, the HSM X5, Fellowes DS1, Fellowes Shredmate High Security, Fellowes Shredmate P50CM and Rexel V125.
3.  Choice.com.au Test: Paper shredders

Editors of Choice.com.au


Dec. 2006
reviews rating Choice is an Australian consumer review publication similar to Consumer Reports. In this article, editors test nine cross-cut and seven strip-cut paper shredders for ease of use and performance. Brands tested include Fellowes, HSM, Office One, Rexel, Ledah and TDE Systems. Unfortunately, many of the models referenced are not available in the U.S. Recommended paper shredders include the Fellowes P50CM, the HSM S10 and the Rexel V50, with top ratings going to the Office One V2502C.
Paper Shredders Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Paper Shredders Ratings
Comments on Reviews
4.  Money.com Let It Rip

Kate Swan


Nov. 2005
reviews rating This is one of the most thorough reviews we found for paper shredders -- and only the second source that actually tries to put the shredded documents back together. Kate Swan recommends a cross-cut paper shredder versus a strip-cut model, since strip-cut paper is easily reassembled. Five cross-cut paper shredders are tested; then the shredded paper is sent to a firm that reassembles shredded documents for legal agencies. The discontinued Fellowes 8-sheet Cross-Cut PS-60C receives the highest rating. The cheaper Identity Guard 10-sheet Cross Cut is a good budget machine, but it's loud and doesn't shred CDs or credit cards. The Executive 6-sheet Cross-Cut is an inexpensive paper shredder for light duties.
5.  The Seattle Times Which paper shredder is a cut above the rest?

Editors of The Seattle Times


Aug. 7, 2005
reviews rating Unlike Money magazine, staffers at the Seattle Times don't try to reassemble shredded documents, but they do test six shredders head-to-head, offering security tips. All six tested shredders are cross-cut paper shredders, which are safer than strip-cut models. Testers found light-duty $40 to $60 shredders to be weak and generally "wimpy;" the Aurora 8-Sheet Crosscut Shredder AS870CR is the best budget shredder, though it did jam. The discontinued Office Max Tech Solutions TS-8000 (now the Tech Solutions TS-8200) costs twice as much, but it is top-rated overall. Editors say it feels sturdy and never jammed in testing, even when shredding CDs.
Paper Shredders Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Paper Shredders Ratings
Comments on Reviews
6.  Consumer Reports Shredders Can Foil ID Thieves

Editors of Consumer Reports


Oct. 2003
reviews rating Since this report hasn't been updated since 2003, it ranks lower in our reviews chart. Along with ratings, editors include tips on safeguarding your personal information and identity. Only six paper shredders are tested, and though some are recommended, they are not ranked. Most models are now discontinued.
7.  Good Housekeeping.com All-Star Shredders

Editors of Good Housekeeping


Feb. 2006
reviews rating Good Housekeeping puts four paper shredders to the test, slicing hard-to-handle materials such as stuffed envelopes, credit cards, paper clips and staples. Two of the four receive best-buy ratings. The Fellowes Powershred DS-1 is said to be quick and stylish, with an easy-to-empty bin. No details are revealed on how its shredding ability compares to the others. The compact HSM MultiShred one-4-all is a cross-cut shredder which can handle CDs. While this is a respectable review, we'd like to see more models tested and more than one sentence about Good Housekeeping's testing methodology.
8.  The Boston Globe There's a shredder for every security need

Jenn Abelson


Nov. 6, 2005
reviews rating Tips and a buyer's guide for paper shredders are included, along with some casual suggestions. People quickly become frustrated with light-duty shredders, since they can only handle a couple of pages at a time. Eric Clayton, the paper shredder buyer for Staples, Inc., says most people will ultimately be happier with a medium-duty cross-cut paper shredder.
9.  Amazon.com Shredders

Contributors to Amazon.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating Of the paper shredders that receive owner-written ratings, most get low scores and reports of jamming, stalling and inadequate shredding. Lightweight models tend to do more poorly than heavier-duty, more expensive shredders. Unfortunately, many reviews posted at Amazon.com are for models which have been discontinued. Paper shredders receiving a good number of positive ratings from owners include the models in the Fellowes DS1 Powershred line, the Royal 16-Sheet Cross Cut Shredder and the Royal 15-Sheet Heavy Duty Cross Cut Shredder.
10.  CircuitCity.com Paper Shredders

Contributors to CircuitCity.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating Circuit City sells about a dozen paper shredders online, and owners are invited to rate shredders they buy. While many shredders receive only one or two comments, some have 30 reviews or more. Most shredders get similar average ratings, however.
11.  Target.com Shredders

Contributors to Target.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating Like Amazon.com, Target allows site visitors to rate paper shredders. There aren't as many ratings here as at Amazon.com, but in general, inexpensive paper shredders get low scores from owners. Most shredders aren't rated at all, however.
Paper Shredders Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Paper Shredders Ratings
Comments on Reviews
12.  Epinions Shredders

Contributors to Epinions


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating At Epinions, products are rated by consumer voting. More than 1,000 shredders are listed at Epinions, but because many have few reviews or have been discontinued, Epinions isn't as useful as Amazon.com. High-scoring paper shredders include a wide variety of Fellowes Powershred models.
13.  GardenWeb.com Paper Shredders

Contributors to GardenWeb.com


As of Dec. 2007
reviews rating If you love home improvement, this is a worthy place to spend some time. Forums are full of discussions on everything from kitchen appliances to gardening, and the relevance to this report comes from the fact that many contributors here use paper shredders to create compost for gardening. Some contributors say $100 models from office supply stores usually work fine. Several recommend the Tech Solutions TS-4500 or Tech Solutions TS-6000 Cross Cut for shredding paper and cardboard. One user says the Fellowes Powershred 310 tabletop Strip Cut Shredder – while ancient and weighing more than 25 pounds – can slice through most things, including credit cards and cardboard.
Paper Shredders Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
 
Review Ratings Citation CS Credibility Rating Paper Shredders Ratings
Comments on Reviews
14.  Consumer Guide.com Paper Shredders

Editors of ConsumerGuide.com


Not Dated
reviews rating Consumer Guide gives some paper shredders a rating for "performance," but no testing details are mentioned at all, so we can't tell if these paper shredders were actually evaluated. Three Fellowes paper shredders are given Best Buy ratings, including the Fellowes SB-85C, the Fellowes PS70-2CD and Fellowes W11C.

Paper Shredders Reviews