Top 9 Best Paper Shredders Under $100 in 2021 Reviews

Last updated on March 24th, 2021

Shredding important files, confidential documents or any of the private and professional papers is often a tedious task. But paper shredder makes it easier.
Paper Shredders are available in different types, depending on their usage. The differences are in size and features. Small units of paper shredder can be employed for limited or personal use that is available at low rates. There are big and expensive paper shredders also available that can shred thousands of bulk documents in no time.

We have listed below the best Paper Shredders Under $100.

Best Paper Shredder Under  $100

Last update on 2021-10-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

1. AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder

The AmazonBasics 8-sheet cross-cut shredder can serve as one of the best choices for if you occasionally wish to shred some documents whether in home offices or anywhere else.

It can even cut staples and paper clips easily to keep your back even when you completely forget to remove the same.

Even though it’s not a micro cut shredder it still provides high security use as well. You can insert credit cards in its exclusive card slot for being shredded to protect your sensitive information.

Being a cross-cut shredder, the AmazonBasics model can easily shred multiple documents simultaneously into small and diagonal pieces.

However, for best results, it is advisable to feed in 4 to 5 pages at a time in this shredder.

The high security guaranteed by this shredder makes it ideal for dealing with financial bills, ATM receipts and similar personal documents carrying sensitive information.

The paper strips are thereafter stored in the 4.1-gallon bin for keeping the surroundings neat and tidy.

While not entirely jam-proof, any paper jams can be easily cleared through manual reverse.

This cross-cut shredder can operate over a stretch of 3 minutes of run time before requiring a cooling down period of 30 minutes.

The unit automatically shuts off for buffering the motor if it shreds beyond the max running time and gets excessively heated.

 

2. Fellowes Powershred W11C, 11 Sheet Cross Cut Paper And Credit Card Shredder

This is a highly secure and reliable 11 sheet cross cut power shredder. It can run safely for a time span of 5 minutes of continuous run time and then cooling is required for minimum half an hour.

It is one of the best for deskside use in home offices. This model is able to shred staples, credit cards and cds, and removes staples too. 11 sheets can be shredded in a single cross. Additional safety is assured due to the presence of a safety lock. The lock can be patented as per your choice.

 

3. AmazonBasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder

This dependable little performer from the house of AmazonBasics can shred up to six sheets at a time which has helped it in becoming one of the top scorers in the department of speed testing.

Although its blades lack the power of its bigger peers, the AmazonBasics shredder can cater to all your requirements concerning credit cards, cds and small stacks of paper without crossing over the affordability threshold.

It can easily handle the maximum capacity of six sheets of paper at once although it might have to struggle while dealing with thicker fare of junk mail envelopes.

The AmazonBasics shredder is tiny enough for being tucked away anywhere without actually occupying much space. It’s simple interface comprising of a solitary switch makes it easy to turn on the shredder as well as place it on auto mode for clearing the occasional paper jams.

Feeding paper into the shredder also becomes a hassle-free affair coupled with the small opening above the shredding slot which helps in inserting papers from an angle rather than directly from above.

The AmazonBasics shredder sits on top of a dustbin and has to be lifted for emptying the paper shreds. Although it cannot actually be branded as a bulky model, the lack of grabbing handles might make it difficult to move around.

Although the AmazonBasics model lacks a bin full indicator, you can gauge the same by taking a look at the small gap in between the bin’s edge and shredding unit provided you have placed the same in a well-lit area.

 

4. Fellowes Powershred 60 Cs 10 Sheet Cross – Cut Paper And Credit Card Shredder

The shredder is designed with Safe sense technology. As soon as the human touch is sensed on the paper it stops automatically. It shreds paper clips and staples easily.

It can be used continuously for 6 minutes with a span of 20 minutes recommended for a cool down. This is one of the best options for home office use, especially for shredding sensitive documents to prevent identity theft.

 

5. Royal 112MX, 12 Sheet Cross Cut Shredder

The entry slot is designed for 9 inch paper. Supports cross shedding with 12 sheets in a single go. It is a multipurpose shredder good for personal, home office and professional office use. Shreds credit cards, junk mail, as well as CDs and DVDs too.

The powerful motor of about half HP makes it good and fast to use. It is user friendly and highly convenient. The attached bin can carry about shredded 220 sheets garbage.

 

6. Aurora AS1018CD 10 Sheet Crosscut Paper , Credit Card/ CD Shredder

The shredder is designed to function in three modes that is safety mode, switch mode and convenient. Designed with safety interlock, if the head unit is removed off the basket it automatically shuts down.

Available with spacious bin and crosscuts paper precisely to keep your data safe and out of reach of criminals.

 

7. Aurora AU1230XA Anti-Jam 12-Sheet Crosscut Paper and Credit Card Shredder

The Aurora AU1230XA Anti-jam shredder can serve as the best shredder for people who wish to bring home the best option they can find without burning a deep hole in their wallet.

What makes it the best? This beast can tackle 12 paper sheets at once while destroying small clips and staples along the way. That’s pretty impressive by any paper shredder standards!

In this way, you won’t have to manually remove those staples before feeding the sensitive documents into the machine.

Credit cards and paper is shred into small 3/16 by 1-9/16 inches by the Aurora shredder which operates with P-3 level of security.

You can thus carry on nonstop shredding over a span of 5 minutes with this tough guy which is ideal for being placed at your small office workstation or in any home offices.

Users are buffered from all chances of accidents by its safety angled feed entry while paper jams are prevented by its Overload Auto reverse functionality.

The 5.2-gallon wastebasket having LED indicator lights can store all the shredded paper in one place and features an integrated lifting handle which helps out with the emptying function.

Although it cannot be branded as a heavy-duty product, the Aurora AU1230XA Anti-jam sheet shredder can easily take on the requirements of a small office.

Given its compact build, you can even tuck it away when not in use.

 

8. Bonsaii 14-Sheet Cross C169-B

The second last product that we are reviewing for you belongs to Bonsaii. This heavy-duty paper shredder has the ability to work for 30 minutes straight.

Without any break, you can get 3500 sheets destroyed within no time. You can easily use them at work and in your home office.

With the letter size 20lbs, it has the ability of 14 sheets of paper shredding capacity. This product is jam-proof along with the auto start and stops button which is easily cleaned.

The 45-gallons of the pull out allow the user to easily empty as the transparent window indicates you when the bin gets full. The good part about this model is that it has the thermal protection that prevents overheating.

 

9. Dahle ShredMatic 35120

Last but not hot least, we have the Dahle ShredMatic 35120 120-sheet shredder. As the name suggests, it allows the user to auto-shred 120 sheets at the same time. Whether your sheets are single or they are stapled, it can shred them all (15 per minute).

This shredding machine can work for a long time without any maintenance. The compact design makes it easy to put it anywhere and the best part about this machine is that it is user-friendly.

Sound of shredding could be deafening but with Dahle ShredMatic 35120 it produces less noise.

 

Paper Shredders 101

A long time ago, you would only find this kind of equipment in offices. That is because companies dealt with lots of confidential information that they needed to destroy so that it wouldn’t end up in the wrong hands. That information included trade secrets, customer information and so much more.

These days, anyone can own a shredder! Manufacturers now make shredders in all shapes and sizes to fit the needs of everyday consumers like you. Now, anyone can buy an affordable shredder to keep under their desk at home and shred sensitive documents.

Why would a regular person need a shredder at home? Well, even if you are not running a company from the comfort of your home, you still have plenty of confidential information that you should destroy through shredding.

Your name, address, receipts all have information that a scammer or identity thief could use against you. That is why it is important to purchase an affordable and reliable shredder to keep at home so you can shred them immediately.

You can use shredders to shred letters, bills, receipts and anything else that has your personal information printed on it.

What Is The Best Paper Shredder For Home Use?

When choosing a paper shredder for your home, it is important to remember that you don’t need the most expensive, heavy-duty shredders out there. For home use, you would be best served with a shredder like the Amazonbasics 12 sheet high-security paper, CD and Credit Card shredder.

That is the best shredder for a home user because it is an excellent balance of security features with affordability. You can trust a brand name like Amazonbasics to provide good quality for a fair price.

On top of that, it can shred 12 sheets at a time which is a comfortable pace for most home users. At the same time, it also provides high security by shredding your paper into micro-cut paper which are completely useless even in the wrong hands.

The added ability to shred CDs and credit cards also helps when decluttering around the house.

What Is The Best Paper Shredder On The Market?

If you’re looking for the best of the best option on the market, then you’ll want the Dahle ShredMatic 35120.

Of all the shredders on this list, that is by far the one that outperforms the rest. One thing we like the most about it is the 120-sheet auto-feed function which takes away the need for you to stand there the entire time.

All you will have to do is load up the 120 sheets and let the shredder take care of them automatically.

On top of that, this shredder is also maintenance-free. That is something that very few models on the market can confidently claim to be. Typically, other shredders require a bit of maintenance from time to time. That includes cleaning as well as oiling of the cutters inside the machine.

Of course, a shredder is only as good as the security it provides. The Dahle ShredMatic 35120 adheres to P-4 Security Level standards, which ensures that your documents will be destroyed beyond any usefulness to criminals and identity thieves.

Whether you’re shredding a high volume of top secret materials or last month’s credit card receipts and bank statements, this shredder will take care of it all!

Where Is The Best Place To Buy Paper Shredders?

There are plenty of places you can go to buy a good paper shredder. Typically, your nearby home office supply store, computer store and sometimes even your hardware store might have a few units in stock.

Still, nothing beats the convenience, speed and choices that come with online shopping. When you choose to buy your paper shredder online, you will be able to compare several different makes and models with just a few clicks of your mouse.

Once you have found the model that suits your needs perfectly, you can then compare different sellers to find the ones offering the best prices.

Don’t just compare online sellers based on price, though. When buying your paper shredder, you will want to make sure that you can get good after-sales service as well as good warranty coverage.

That way, you will save money while also enjoying the peace of mind that comes with your brand new paper shredder.

Which Is Better Cross Cut Shredders Or Micro-Cut Shredder?

Some people think that there’s no difference in how a shredder does its job. That couldn’t be further from the truth! If you are shopping for a shredder the odds are that you’re doing it for security and privacy reasons. You want your documents completely destroyed so nobody can ever see what was printed on them.

With that in mind, one of the most important things to consider when choosing a shredder is the type of cuts that it produces (e.g. strip cut or cross cut paper shredder among others). Many shredders will either produce cross-cuts or micro-cut paper, so be sure to check their descriptions carefully.

When it comes to information security, these types are much more superior to those that only do cross-cut. If you truly want something secure, a micro-cut paper shredder is the way to go!

You see, a dedicated criminal could still piece together the shreddings that come from a strip-cut or cross-cut paper shredder. Sure, it’ll take a long time, but if the information on that paper is worth it, a hardworking criminal will put in the time to put those shred pieces of paper back together again.

However, doing that with micro-cut shredders is far too difficult. As the name suggests, micro-cut shredders produce very tiny pieces of confetti-like paper out of the sheets that you feed it.

Those pieces are far too small and too high volume to rearrange and stick together again, even for the most hardworking of criminals. As a result, you have much higher security and more peace of mind regarding the documents that you shred. That peace of mind only comes with good shredders.