Best Low-cost Paper Shredders on the Market: Top Picks & Reviews

1. Sentinel FX62B - Best for Home Use

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Crosscut.

• Sheet Capacity: 6-sheet.

• Item Weight: ‎9.02 pounds.

• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 5.5 x 13.8 inches.

Product highlights

The Sentinel FX62B is a cross-section model with a security level of P-4 rating. This level is safe for you to shred more important data. With personal or other sensitive information. This best low-cost paper shredder is suitable for light shredding tasks.

You have to place them manually and chop them one by one. Debris accumulates in the 2.4-gallon trash can. It doesn't have an LED indicator to show you when to empty the trash. But, you can monitor the waste level through the transparent window.

Pros

• Cut credit cards and CDs.

• Compact design for the office.

• Low noise level.

• Lightweight.

• High-security P-4.

Cons

• Small bin and sheet capacity.

Bottom line

When the system is overheated, the LED indicator shows. This Sentinel FX62B is ideal for any office or home as it has a very low noise level. The blades will cut paper, paper clips, and CDs/DVDs. The shredding can start and stop automatically.

2. Aurora AS420C - Best for Compact Design

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Crosscut.

• Sheet Capacity: 4-sheet.

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 10 inches.

• Item Weight: 5.07 pounds.

Product highlights

This Aurora shredder is suitable for small offices with light loads. This small desktop shredder can shred up to four folded sheets or a credit card. It can shred for two minutes straight. The removable basket can hold up to 1.32 gallons of scrap paper, or about 40 pages.

The steel cross-cutting blades reduce paper and card volume to 0.2 x 1.85 inches. While the 1.32-gallon bin holds up to 40 sheets of scrap paper.

Pros

• Great warranty period.

• Good price.

• Compact design.

• Positive customer reviews.

• Easy to carry around.

Cons

• You have to fold the paper before shredding.

Bottom line

The blades have a thermal safety switch to turn off the unit when it overheats. Preventing damage or fire. The top has a convenient handle for quick retrieval from under a table or shelf. 

This best cheap paper shredder also comes with a mail opener for quick opening of important incoming mail.

3. RAGU Paper Shredder - Best for Light Tasks

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Crosscut.

• Sheet Capacity: 6-sheet.

• Product Dimensions: 11.73 x 5.98 x 13.07 inches.

• Item Weight: 6.89 pounds.

Product highlights

For home use, this affordable shredder is a very good choice. This is a cross-cutting machine that can shred 6 sheets of paper in one pass. You can put documents and credit cards in the feed opening. But be careful, you can't put two or more credit cards in it. Only one at a time.

Ragu has a small transparent window, but you can see if the bin is full. The tank capacity is 2.9 gallons. 

Pros

• Good value for the price.

• Compact for every home and small office.

• Durable and reliable.

• Anti-jam features.

• See-through window.

Cons

• Low noise (72dB).

Bottom line

This professional cutter is made of quality ABS plastic. So the structure will always be stable and sturdy for a long time of use. Also, the device is huge, it produces about 72 decibels.

The operation is smooth and easy thanks to this feature. If the motor starts to overheat, it will automatically shut down.

4. Fellowes Powershred P-30C - Best for Personal Use

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Crosscut.

• Sheet Capacity: 6-sheet.

• Item Weight: 9.68 pounds.

• Product Dimensions: 7.44 x 12.94 x 14.5 inches.

Product highlights

If you have an office environment that handles a lot of sensitive or extremely personal information, the Fellowes P-30C is definitely worth considering. It typically cuts six sheets at a time into cross-section beads. 

Plus, it provides up to three minutes of non-stop chopping. After that is a 40-minute cool-down. The Fellowes Powershred P-30C shreds credit cards, staplers, and plastic papers. While delivering powerful document cutting performance every time.

Pros

• Hassle-free waste disposal.

• Patented safety lock.

• Reliable and long-lasting.

• Easy to use.

• Compact design.

Cons

• It is fairly noisy when working.

Bottom line

The shredder comes with a four-gallon bin with an easy lift-out top. Bins with built-in handles allow for hassle-free waste disposal. In general, this best price paper shredder cuts about 400 seeds per sheet.

5. Aurora AU870MA - Best for Medium-sized Business

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Microcut.

• Sheet Capacity: 8-sheet.

• Product Dimensions: 7.13 x 11.81 x 16.1 inches.

• Item Weight: 11.68 pounds.

Product highlights

The Aurora AU870MA is the 5th product in the list of the best micro paper shredders. This shredder has a traditional design with black on it. It provides superior security and shreds paper into much smaller pieces. P-4 is the level of security presented by this product. The Aurora AU870MA can hold eight sheets simultaneously.

Not only papers, but you can also destroy items like credit cards with this machine. Furthermore, the basket included in this unit can hold up to 230 sheets.

Pros

• High quality and durable.

• Forward and reverse operation.

• Good security chopped.

• Easy to use.

• 1-year warranty.

Cons

• The top of the shredder is quite heavy to lift out of the bin.

Bottom line

The Aurora AU870MA shredder also has an LED to indicate the machine's overheating. Five minutes is the turnaround time of the AU870MA model. Which means it can work continuously for five minutes.

6. Bonsaii C170-C - Best for LED Indicator

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Crosscut.

• Sheet Capacity: 12-sheet.

• Product Dimensions: 13.11 x 6.89 x 14.84 inches.

• Item Weight: 12.52 pounds.

Product highlights

Bonsaii paper shredder offers you the best way to prevent personal information from falling into the wrong hands. It destroys papers, CDs, and DVDs into very small pieces. In addition, this machine runs continuously for 5 minutes. It will destroy all unwanted documents.

In addition, it has an overheat indicator LED that indicates whether it is overheating or not. In the event this happens, the machine will automatically shut down. Thus protecting the machine's motor. 

Pros

• Smart LED indicator.

• Thermal protection system.

• Safe to use.

• Anti-jam technology.

• Easy to use.

Cons

• Long turnaround time.

Bottom line

Moreover, it comes with a safety switch to turn it off when you raise your head. The machine ensures operator safety at all times. 

This best low-cost paper shredder meets all product safety and performance requirements. Finally, there's a manual reverse mode, which helps avoid serious paper jams.

7. Bonsaii C209-D - Best for Portable Use

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Crosscut.

• Sheet Capacity: 10-sheet.

• Product Dimensions: 12.64 x 7.91 x 18.5 inches.

• Item Weight: 11.86 pounds.

Product highlights

If you need to share a shredder with multiple groups, this shredder can be an ideal solution. It has a powerful steel blade and cutter. The machine can cut 10 sheets per run. The C209-D is also capable of shredding debit cards and metal wires.

Pros

• Robust and portable design.

• Capacity 10 sheets.

• Trash bin 21 liters.

• Thermal protection system.

• Auto-stop mode starts.

Cons

• There is a slight hissing sound during the operation.

Bottom line

In addition, this equipment also has automatic and manual reverse to avoid paper jams. The thermal protection system is also integrated to keep the temperature under control. The C209-D desk model also has a convenient top handle. So you can easily carry it around the place.

8. Amazon Basics AU860MA - Best for Pull-out Basket

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Microcut.

• Sheet Capacity: 8-sheet.

• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 12.95 x 19.49 inches.

• Item Weight: 17.24 pounds.

Product highlights

The Amazon Basics 8-Sheet is an elegantly designed shredder that can handle up to eight sheets with ease. Similar to other AmazonBasics shredders, this 8-sheet shredder also has a security level of P-4. Providing much better results than a cross-sectional shredder.

You can shred 20 pounds of bond paper with this shredder in no time. The Amazon Basics 8-sheet shredder also makes it easier to shred CDs and credit cards.

Pros

• Auto-off function.

• Heat protection.

• Easy-to-empty bins.

• Higher level security.

• Make less sound.

Cons

• Requires extra cooling time.

Bottom line

In terms of runtime, the Amazon Basics is comparable to other models. The total run time of this shredder is five minutes. Upon completion of the runtime, the best price paper shredder will automatically shut down. This will limit overheating issues.

Forward, reverse, auto, and off are the four main features you'll access through it. What's more, it has a 4-gallon tank, which is easy to empty.

9. Fellowes 62MC - Best for Safety Features

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Microcut.

• Sheet Capacity: 10-sheet.

• Item Dimensions: 18.75 x 13.75 x 10.44 inches.

• Item Weight: 20.50 lbs.

Product highlights

If you share your office space with kids, pets, or just people who don't usually pay attention, you know how quickly everyday objects can become dangerous hazards.

However, Fellowes 62MC has a special locking feature. The purpose is to avoid such potential dangers. Simply tap the lock switch once you've finished shredding and it won't turn on.

Pros

• Quiet operation.

• Very safe to use.

• Transparent window.

• Lock-out features.

• Easy to clean.

Cons

• It can handle only 10 sheets at a time.

Bottom line

Users say it can run continuously for up to an hour without overheating. Despite the specifications given by Fellowes' company. However, we recommend giving it a break more often than once an hour.

You should try to split it up so you don't overheat the engine. While modern electric motors are pretty awesome, they suffer from heat damage. The unit will fail sooner if you push it too hard.

10. TRU RED TR-NMC122A - Best for Large-sized Business

Today’s Best Deals: View on Amazon

Important specifications

• Cut Type: Microcut.

• Sheet Capacity: 12-sheet.

• Item Weight: ‎23.6 pounds.

• Package Dimensions: ‎23.35 x 16.14 x 12.24 inches.

Product highlights

Another option that you can't afford to miss is the Tru Red TR-NMC122A shredder. It's a huge audience favorite with its consistent 5-star rating. Because of its affordable yet high-performance 12-sheet capacity. 

The Tru Red shredders deliver the unreadable output of your personal information. You can use this wonderful shredder with a guarantee of long-term use.

Pros

• Guaranteed no paper dust.

• No need to clean up.

• Amazing quality,

• Effective tear file,

• Comes with built-in handles and wheels.

Cons

• It is relatively loud.

Bottom line

It safely lowers the volume with 10 minutes of continuous run time between cooldowns. You can also expect all the necessary protection features when buying the best shredder. From anti-traffic or auto-reverse, you get what you pay for and more.

---

1. What is micro shredding on a shredder?

Micro shredders are similar to cross-cut shredders. It cuts paper in 2 directions to form a fine confetti-type mulch. But a micro shredder can produce between 900-1500 pieces from the same A4 sheet.

2. What is a good substitute for shredder oil?

If you are using an old and/or out-of-warranty paper shredder, you can use canola oil instead of buying oil. Some brands just produce and repackage from canola oil. So you can save some money by using canola oil.

3. What should I do if my best low-cost paper shredder is too hot?

If you continuously shred for a long time, the device may have overheated. The thermal protection feature has been activated to shut down the machine. If this happens, you should let the machine rest for around 30-60 minutes. You will allow it to reboot before continuing.

 

4. How do you fix a shredder that works in reverse?

After unplugging the shredder, you can use needle-nose pliers or tweezers to remove the blockage. Use "Reverse" mode to back up and remove jammed paper.

The shredder backs up and loosens jammed paper. If required, you may need to pull and remove some sheets of paper to effectively clear the machine.

5. Can mineral oil be used to lubricate the best price paper shredder?

Mineral oil is one of the recommended oils for lubrication. It costs a lot less than oils marketed specifically for paper shredders. 

Allow your shredder to cool slightly before lubricating if it is still warm from heavy use. Pour some mineral oil into the squeeze bottle if it is not already packed in a bottle.

---

For an affordable price, you can still buy an extremely quality paper shredder. The top 10 best low-cost paper shredders above are the best examples. Which of the products on this list are you satisfied with? Please share with us!

---