Best shredders

When disposing of sensitive documents, a quality shredder is vital. Plus, as well as this, a shredder proves invaluable when it comes to decluttering. Simply take your scrap paper, shred and then recycle. Whether you're clearing out old bills, credit cards, or taxes, a brand-new shredder can restore order and peace in your office or home space. In brief, any out-of-date paperwork that discloses a pin or password needs to go. The solution? Shred it!

As you'll likely know, privacy and information protection are a high priority these days – as is helping the environment. With a shredder, you kill two birds with one stone, keeping your paper waste low and data well protected. Oh, and did you know that some shredders can demolish a whole host of other items, from CDs to DVDs? Plus, this goes without saying: there's nothing quite as satisfying as watching a shredder devour a stack of old papers.

Of course, finding the right shredder for your needs can seem a little daunting, particularly with so much out there to choose from. But don't sweat it. That's where we come in to help. We've picked out the best shredders money can buy, saving you time and energy. Some offer smart features to clear paper jams and can shred thicker items, while some provide their very own wastebaskets and produce little to no sound. Some can even hold up to 320 sheets' worth of paper in their wastebin, like the Bonsaii 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder, which is our top pick. Want to learn more about this and some other brilliant options? Read on...

Shredders can be expensive, but the Bonsaii 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder is both reasonably priced and high-performing. It has a ten-sheet capacity and a five and a half-gallon wastebasket which can hold up to 320 sheets of paper, with a transparent window. It's covered by a one-year warranty and has a four-minute continuous run-time. After this it needs 40 minutes to cool down, making this better suited for small office and home use.

Yep, we love this one. For those of you who just want something simple, the Ajdoll Portable A4 Paper Shredder has you covered. Suitable for A4 paper, this shredder can handle bills, receipts, and PP plastic. Whilst it can't handle more than two sheets at once or credit cards, it is an undeniably cute choice that serves its basic purpose. Oh, and it certainly won't burn a hole in your pocket.

When it comes to shredding on a large scale, this is a winner. Complete with a six-gallon capacity, the Boxis AutoShred 120-Sheet Auto Feed Microcut Paper Shredder can handle up to 120 sheets at once. As soon as you place them into the automatic feed tray, the shredder gets to work, running at a speed of 11 feet per minute. Alternatively, you can use the manual feed. Plus, this model operates very quietly, so it won't distract your coworkers at their desks. The manual feed's continuous run time is 20 minutes, so you can shred a large number of documents before it needs to cool down. 

Quiet and designed for safety, the Fellowes Powershred 79Ci is designed for office use. It has SafeSense technology which stops the shredder when hands touch the paper opening, and its jam-proof system is suitable for heavy use. There's a generous six-gallon bin and the shredder works for up to 20 minutes before a 30-minute cool-down period is needed.

The Aurora AU800SD Professional Strip Cut Paper Shredder doesn't have an attached wastebasket. It shreds up to eight sheets at a time, and its extendable arm secures it to the top of any surface. It shreds credit cards and CDs, and you can clear jams with the jam-remover and manual reverse settings. 

The super-powerful Bonsaii 18-Sheet Heavy Duty EverShred is ideal for busy offices and large loads of paper. It runs for up to an hour and has a cross-cut function to keep files extra secure. Even credit cards and CDs can run through this shredder, and it has a six-gallon pull-out wastebasket for easy emptying. It can also handle up to 18 sheets at a time. 

It's not appropriate for sensitive tasks, but the SENREAL Portable Paper Shredder is a fun desktop shredder with a manual lever for students and home spaces. It can handle letter-size paper sheets and shred them into 3mm pieces. Because it doesn't need to be plugged in, this shredder is an energy-saving tool and suitable for use anywhere. 

With this little beauty, shredding couldn't be any easier. Providing you with ultimate peace of mind and security, the Amazon Basics 8-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Shredder turns paper into small particles, plus it destroys credit cards. When it is on (in auto mode), it can detect an item that needs to be shredded and will do so accordingly. When finished, it stops automatically. Oh, and thanks to the reverse function, it's possible to retrieve unshredded or partially shredded documents and ward off irritating paper jams. 

Get shredding

So, have you found your dream shredder yet? If not, don't sweat it. We've neatly summarised our top picks below. Take a read and refresh your memory. 

Our all-time favorite, the Bonsaii 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder, can hold a whopping 320 sheets in its wastebasket. Little wonder it's our fave. If you're looking for a simple, manual-only option, it has to be the Ajdoll Portable A4 Paper Shredder. Shredding on a large scale? Go big with the Boxis AutoShred 120-Sheet Auto Feed Microcut Paper Shredder. As for something quiet that won't disturb workers, the Fellowes Powershred 79Ci is ideal.

What about something compact? We'd suggest the Aurora AU800SD Professional Strip Cut Paper Shredder; although, keep in mind that you'll need to provide your own wastebasket. Need something that can manage a large load? The Bonsaii 18-Sheet Heavy-Duty EverShred is perfect for offices. For something small and cute, the SENREAL Portable Paper Shredder is a neat choice. And finally, for the best in user-friendly shredding, buy the Amazon Basics 8-Sheet High-Security Micro-Cut Shredder.