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Ordinary paper shredders don’t always get the job done when it comes to shredding larger amounts of paper. If you’re using a standard shredder for bigger stacks of paper, you’ll waste a lot of time and have to empty it more often.

A commercial paper shredder, on the other hand, can handle stacks of paper in addition to other materials, such as CDs and even credit cards. The right machine will be quiet and safely dispose of your documents so you don’t have to worry about identity theft. It can also help you keep your office freer from clutter and mess.

Benefits of a Commercial Paper Shredder

Paper shredders are undeniably useful for business purposes and peace of mind when it comes to protecting your data. But how can you know that a heavy-duty model is better than a standard paper shredder? Let’s look at some benefits of choosing a commercial paper shredder:

  • Preventing identity theft: Identity theft is, unfortunately, quite common in the United States. Personal document theft is often to blame for this, so protecting your information is essential. By taking steps to destroy your personal information, such as shredding documents regularly, you can prevent your sensitive data from getting into the wrong hands.
  • Time-efficiency: With an ordinary paper shredder, you’ll have a smaller capacity, meaning you can only shred a few pages at a time. Larger businesses will do better with a shredder that can handle higher volumes of pages. This will save you lots of time to dedicate to other, more important business tasks.
  • Reduced clutter: It’s hard to work in a disorganized office full of piles of paper. While moving towards a paperless office can help reduce the clutter, if your business still requires the regular use of physical documents, you’ll still inevitably find stacks of paper multiplying. A shredder is a quick, easy way to get rid of the stacks once they’re no longer needed.

Heavy Duty Paper Shredder Comparison

Type
Cross Cut
Cross Cut
Cross Cut
Cross Cut
Micro Cut
Capacity
20 Sheet
24 sheet
14 sheet
18 Sheet
12 sheet
Bin Capacity
14 gal
3.8 gal
4.5 gal
9 gal
7 gal
Continuous Run Time
Continuous
25 min
30 min
30 min
20 min
Cool Down Time
N/A
60 min
10 min
40 min
40 min
CD Shredding
Credit Card Shredding
Noise Level
63 db
63 dB
58 db
Not Specified (SilentShred)
60 db
Dimensions
22.9 x 11.4 x 28.8 in
16.3 x 11.9 x 26.2 in
12.9 x 9.5 x 19.9 in
17.3 x 11.4 x 25.2 in
15.4 x 11 x 24.4 in
Large Capacity
Type
Cross Cut
Capacity
20 Sheet
Bin Capacity
14 gal
Continuous Run Time
Continuous
Cool Down Time
N/A
CD Shredding
Credit Card Shredding
Noise Level
63 db
Dimensions
22.9 x 11.4 x 28.8 in
Overall Value
Type
Cross Cut
Capacity
24 sheet
Bin Capacity
3.8 gal
Continuous Run Time
25 min
Cool Down Time
60 min
CD Shredding
Credit Card Shredding
Noise Level
63 dB
Dimensions
16.3 x 11.9 x 26.2 in
Budge Pick
Type
Cross Cut
Capacity
14 sheet
Bin Capacity
4.5 gal
Continuous Run Time
30 min
Cool Down Time
10 min
CD Shredding
Credit Card Shredding
Noise Level
58 db
Dimensions
12.9 x 9.5 x 19.9 in
Type
Cross Cut
Capacity
18 Sheet
Bin Capacity
9 gal
Continuous Run Time
30 min
Cool Down Time
40 min
CD Shredding
Credit Card Shredding
Noise Level
Not Specified (SilentShred)
Dimensions
17.3 x 11.4 x 25.2 in
Type
Micro Cut
Capacity
12 sheet
Bin Capacity
7 gal
Continuous Run Time
20 min
Cool Down Time
40 min
CD Shredding
Credit Card Shredding
Noise Level
60 db
Dimensions
15.4 x 11 x 24.4 in

Best for Large Capacity Needs

Fellowes Powershred 125Ci

Fellowes Powershred 125Ci 100% Jam Proof 20 -Sheet Cross-Cut Commercial Grade Paper Shredder

The Fellowes Powershred 125Ci will help you protect sensitive business data and works well for larger offices. It doesn’t require recovery time between uses like other machines. Instead, you can use it for up to 45 minutes before it requires a cool-down period. The Fellowes 125Ci can handle up to 20 pages at a time and the machine can also take junk mail, CDs, and more.

Like the previous model, the Powershred 125Ci has SafeSense technology to protect your hands from injury. The removable bin has a 14-gallon carrying capacity, which is why we chose it as the best for large capacity needs. The bin is made out of sturdy plastic.

This shredder comes with jam-proof technology to prevent frustrating hassles. The Fellowes 125Ci Powershred 125Ci has a slim design which can fit easily into most spots in your office.

Pros

  • Shreds staples
  • Jam-proof design
  • Energy saving features
  • SafeSense technology protects your hands

Cons

  • Not the quietest option
  • Expensive

Best Overall Value

AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder

Amazon Basics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper, CD and Credit Card Home Office Shredder with Pullout Basket

The AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder can handle up to 24 pages at a time. It’s our top pick because of its affordable price, large shredding capacity, and plentiful great user reviews. This shredder can destroy CDs, credit cards, and old junk mail. The pull-out paper pin can hold up to 7 gallons of paper.

The shredder has an LED indicator to show Standby, Overheat, Door Open, and Overload modes. It has smooth-rolling wheels that enable you to move it from room to room with ease.

Pros

  • Trusted brand
  • Strong motor
  • Works for a long time
  • Easy to move

Cons

  • Smaller input slot than others
  • Accessing blades is difficult

Budget Pick

Bonsaii EverShred 14-Sheet Heavy Duty Shredder

Bonsaii 14-Sheet Office Paper Shredder, 30-Minute Crosscut Home Office Heavy Duty Shredder for Credit Card, Mails, Staples (C169-B)

The Bonsaii EverShred Paper Shredder is a cross-cut shredder that can handle up to 14 pages at a time. Since it doesn’t have as high of a capacity as other heavy-duty shredders, it’s a good potential pick for your home office or a smaller office setting. This machine can run for up to 30 minutes before requiring a cool-down period.

It includes jam-protection technology with auto-reverse and auto-start functions. The pull-out paper bin has a 4.5-gallon capacity with a window that allows you to easily see when it needs emptying. Note that you should empty it before it gets completely full to prevent paper shreds from getting on the floor.

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Runs quietly
  • Works fast
  • Jam-free use

Cons

  • Small paper bin
  • Emptying the bin can be messy

Best Wheeled Option

Fellowes Powershred 99Ci

Fellowes ‎Powershred 99Ci 18-Sheet 100% Jam-Proof Crosscut Paper Shredder for Office and Home, Black/Gray 3229901

The Fellowes Powershred 99Ci shreds up to 18 sheets of paper into cross-cut particles. Use it for ordinary documents in addition to CDs, paper clips, credit cards, and pages with staples in them. You can run the machine for up to 30 minutes at a time before it needs to cool down. The jam-proof system powers through tough jobs without getting stuck. The shredder comes with wheels so you can easily move it from room to room.

For your safety, the Fellowes Powershred 99Ci commercial shredder uses SafeSense Technology. This will turn the machine off when your hands get close to the paper opening and protect you from injury. The paper bin has a 9-gallon holding capacity, so you don’t have to empty it too often. Make sure you use it with a bag inside to prevent the paper shreds from making a mess.

Pros

  • Shreds quietly
  • Sturdy design
  • Attractive machine

Cons

  • Wheels don’t lock

Best Quiet Pick

GoECOlife GMC121Ti 12 Sheet Shredder

GoECOlife GMC121Ti 12 Sheet Micro-Cut Paper Shredder, Platinum Series Shredder

The GoECOlife GMC121Ti Paper Shredder is a micro-cut shredder, which makes extra tiny particles while shredding. This makes it suitable for highly sensitive information. This shredder is another good option for the home office or a smaller office as it can only shred up to 12 sheets at a time.

The GoECOlife GMC121Ti 12 Sheet Shredder can run for up to 20 minutes before requiring a cool-down period. It has a bin capacity of 7 gallons, so you won’t have to empty it too often. Just keep in mind that this product doesn’t have as many user reviews as other shredders on the market.

Pros

  • Automatic shut-off feature
  • Creates micro-shreds for high security
  • Shreds quietly

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Doesn’t have many reviews

 

As you can see, a commercial paper shredder can make your life a lot easier. You can use one to get rid of sensitive, personal data, old junk mail, and even DVDs or CDs. Hopefully, this article helped you find the perfect product to add to your office.