Security
Shredder security levels are determined by the sizes of shredded bits. The range of security levels starts from P-1 (weak) to P-7 (classified top-secret documents). For corporate settings and personal documents, a P4 level of security is optimal.
A credit card shredder is equipped with micro-cut blades that help you dispose of your old credit card or tax document without having to worry about your confidential information being stolen.
Feeder Capacity
The feeder sheet capacity is another important factor one should look for while buying a shredder. Some feeders have a paper capacity of up to 150 sheets. It all depends on your use. If constant shredding is required, a shredder with more paper capacity will be a better choice.
Basket Capacity
Again, the capacity of the basket also depends on how frequently you use the shredder. If it is used more often, bins with more waste capacity can be preferred. Also, pull-out bins offer more convenience.
Run-time & Cool-down Period
Some heavy-duty shredders can run up to 60 minutes without a cooling break. Even when they overheat, the cool-down period of the heavy-duty shredders is relatively low. On the other hand, home-friendly shredders have a comparatively shorter run-time. Our paper shredders reviews include the run-time of each type of paper shredders.
Size
The size of the shredder also plays an important role. If you are using it for an office setting, the bin has to be of a greater capacity which ultimately increases the dimensions of the shredders. For homes, shredders are optimal if they are compact and can fit anywhere, especially on your desk.
Safety Features
Anything that contains micro-cut blades is dangerous. Many shredders overheat and overloading protection. Some even shut off automatically. Other safety features include sensor technology that stops the blades as soon as your hand touches the entrance.
Jam Protection
Paper jams are one of the most common issues with these shredders. Many high-end shredders are equipped with jam-proof systems. Some of them are also enabled with auto-reverse or manual reverse features and can even cut through CDs and DVDs without any jams.
Now that we have gone through all the qualities the best shredder should have. Let’s move forward and look at the 10 best shredders that we think are well worth the investment and provide optimal functionalities.