It doesn’t take a genius to see that we’re living in a digital world. Over 10 percent of Americans have a smartphone, and every year, this number increases.
Despite the move towards a paperless society, paper shredders are still relevant, and some people would argue that they’re more important than ever before.
With crimes involving identity theft on the rise, paper shredders are useful for getting rid of important documents, and they can even be used to shred credit cards. If you’d like a safe, reliable way to eliminate paper documents, consider purchasing a quiet paper shredder.
You might be surprised to learn that thieves don’t need much to steal your identity. A single document can contain enough of your personal information to get the ball rolling for thieves.
Even if you only shred documents once per month, a quiet shredder is a worthwhile investment. However, before you make a purchase, you need to know what to look for.
Top Rated Quiet Paper Shredders – Comparison Table
Product Image | Product name | Features | Star Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Aurora Professional Grade 22-Sheet Shredder | 22 sheet capacities Nonstop 30-minute continuous run time Energy saving system auto power off | 4.2 out of 5 | |
Bonsaii EverShred C149-C 18-Sheet Cross-cut Shredder | 60 minutes without stopping Advanced cooling system and patented cutting technology 62 dB low noise level | 4.6 out of 5 | |
Fellowes Powershred 76Ct 16-Sheet Cross-Cut Heavy Duty Paper Shredder | Shredder also destroys staples, credit cards Jam Buster powers through tough paper jams SilentShred offers ultra-quiet performance | 4.5 out of 5 | |
SimplyShred PSC418D 18 Sheet Cross Cut Heavy Duty Paper Shredder | Shreds papers, CDs, credit card, staples Bin Capacity: 7.4 Gallon, Quiet motor 58dB Durable steel cross cut blades, Ready, Off and Reverse switch | 3.7 out of 5 | |
Fellowes 62MC 10-Sheet Office Paper Shredder | Shreds 10 sheets of paper per pass Powerful confetti shredder Safety Lock feature | 4.7 out of 5 | |
Sentinel FM101P Paper/Credit Card Shredder | Shreds up to 10 (ten) sheets at a single pass or one credit card at a single pass 5mm x 10mm Micro-Cut shred is security level 4 rated Auto start/stop with a manual reverse function | 4.3 out of 5 | |
Amazon Basics 15-Sheet Cross-Cut Office Shredder | Cross-cut shred size Run time and thermal protection User-friendly design | 4.6 out of 5 | |
Boxis AutoShred 90-Sheet Paper Shredder | Auto-feeding tray 20 minute continuous run time Automatic forward and reverse modes | 4.5 out of 5 | |
WOLVERINE 10-Sheet Heavy Duty Paper Shredder | Super Micro Cut Continuous Running Low Noise Level 54db | 4.6 out of 5 | |
Fellowes LX22M Powershred 20-Cut Paper Shredder | Patent pending IntelliBar Effortlessly power Integrated SafeSense technology | 4.8 out of 5 |
What to Look For In A Quiet Paper Shredder
Aside from the noise rating, most of the features are the same. When looking for a shredder, you’ll want to consider the size of the machine. For the best results, consider getting a product with a height between 20 to 25 inches.
The benefit of choosing a tall machine is that you’ll have more storage space for paper waste, and you won’t have to empty the shredder nearly as often.
Before deciding on a particular model, you need to consider the features. If you plan on shredding more than paper, then you need a machine that can accommodate your needs.
For example, many shredders will slice through data discs, CDs and credit cards. A great feature to check for is the auto button, and it will keep your shredder ready and doesn’t keep the noisy motor running.
Safety Features
When shopping for a quiet paper shredder, a lot of people don’t think about safety. Although most shredders are automatically designed for optimal safety, some machines are quite dangerous.
Products that are designed for safety should have a small insertion slat, which shouldn’t be large enough for a finger to get through.
You wouldn’t want to step into your office to shred some papers and walk out with half of a finger missing. Paper shredders that have drawers make emptying waste much easier, and they also tend to be safer.
Additional Tips
By following these simple tips, you can almost guarantee that you’ll end up with a high-quality paper shredder. Some of the best products are cross-cut shredders, which use level three security. These machines will cut your documents into tiny pieces, and you’ll end up with shredded pieces that are between 3.9 and 5.8 millimeters.
It’s widely accepted that level three shredding is enough to eliminate sensitive information. The size of the storage drum is also important because you don’t want to spend too much time emptying it. In most cases, the optimal size for the storage drum is between four to eight gallons.
The best paper shredders have no trouble handling stacks of papers and can even slice through paperclips, DVDs and staples. When shopping for a quiet paper shredder, find out if it requires a lot of maintenance. The best shredders are able to avoid jams and have a reverse feature.
A quiet shredder is great for office environments because it won’t disturb other employees. It’s even a great choice for a home office because it’s much less likely to disturb the kids.
Once you know what to look for, you’re still faced with hundreds of different products to choose from, so the thought of finding the best paper shredder for your needs might seem impossible.
Below, you’ll find reviews for some of the quietest paper shredders available. Instead of sifting through an endless selection of products and wasting your precious time, you can choose from our hand-picked list of products.
Aurora Professional Grade 22-Sheet Shredder
No matter what you need to deal with it, you can cut it and protect yourself with this professional shredder from Aurora. It crosscuts each sheet to make sure that no one can find any important information. While the shredder cuts up to 22 sheets of paper per swipe, it also runs for a full 30 minutes before it needs a break. You can cut more than just paper, too. This shredder accommodates most types of plastic such as credit cards and discs but also cuts through the metal clips found in your junk mail. With a bin that holds more than eight gallons and built-in indicator lights, this shredder is suitable for home and office use.
Key Features:
- 22 sheet capacities
- Nonstop 30-minute continuous run time
- Energy saving system auto power off
Bonsaii EverShred C149-C 18-Sheet Cross-cut Shredder
The Bonsaii EverShred C149-C is a top product and can run continuously for up to 60 minutes. With a single pass, it can shred as many as 18 sheets, and it even has automatic start and stop functions.
To prevent annoying jams, it has a convenient reverse feature, and it can shred staples, DVDs, CDs, credit cards and paper. The Bonsaii EverShred C149-C is quiet enough to be used inside of a library, and since it can shred several different items, it’s a powerful weapon against identity theft.
For maximum protection, it features a cross-cut design. If you need to shred data discs, paper or credit cards, this machine is worth considering. It’s built with a medium-duty motor and can 5.3 feet of paper per minute. The innovative motor is specifically designed to dampen the sound of shredding and grinding.
Key Features:
- 60 minutes without stopping
- Advanced cooling system and patented cutting technology
- 62 dB low noise level
Fellowes Powershred 76Ct 16-Sheet Cross-Cut Heavy Duty Paper Shredder
The Fellowes Powershred 76Ct is a heavy-duty shredder, and it can slice through the toughest documents. It can eliminate up to 16 documents in a single pass, and with an ultra-fast motor, it has no trouble grinding through 200 documents per minute.
It features one of the highest levels of security available, so you’ll never have to worry about thieves getting their hands on your sensitive documents.
Although this heavy-duty machine works great for paper documents, it can also be used to shred DVDs, CDs, paper clips, staples and credit cards. The Fellowes Powershred 76Ct also has an appetite for unopened junk mail.
If you use the Fellowes 76Ct for 20 minutes, you’ll need to let it cool down for a minute. A 6.5-gallon waste bin holds all of your shredded documents and requires minimal effort to empty.
Key Features:
- Shredder also destroys staples, credit cards
- Jam Buster powers through tough paper jams
- SilentShred offers ultra-quiet performance
SimplyShred PSC418D 18 Sheet Cross Cut Heavy Duty Paper Shredder
Another quiet paper shredder is the SimplyShred PSC418D, and it can be used to slice through staples, credit cards, CDs and paper. With a 7.4-gallon waste bin, it doesn’t need to be emptied very often.
Since it’s designed with a quiet motor, it has a noise rating of only 58 dB. The motor uses cross-cut steel blades to grind through sensitive documents, and there is a convenient switch for reverse operation, which prevents annoying paper jams.
If you’re looking for a quiet, heavy-duty paper shredder, the SimplyShred PSC418D is worth considering, and it can shred up to 8.5 feet of paper per minute. You can even feed it legal-size and letter documents.
Key Features:
- Shreds papers, CDs, credit card, staples
- Bin Capacity: 7.4 Gallon, Quiet motor 58dB
- Durable steel cross cut blades, Ready, Off and Reverse switch
Fellowes 62MC 10-Sheet Office Paper Shredder
Get all of the security that you need with this paper shredder that has a built-in optional lock. That lock ensures that no one can access the paper that you shred. It cuts up to 10 sheets of paper in a single pass and breaks that paper into more than 2,000 pieces to make confetti. You get paper shredded up to six times finer than other machines. Pulling out the waste bin makes it easy to get rid of the trash. This bin holds five gallons of paper debris. Thanks to its quiet design, the paper shredder works quickly without disrupting others in your office.
Key Features:
- Shreds 10 sheets of paper per pass
- Powerful confetti shredder
- Safety Lock feature
Sentinel FM101P Paper/Credit Card Shredder
Sentinel makes several different paper shredders, and the FM101P is one of their best-selling products. With a single pass, it can shred 10 sheets of paper. It can also shred credit cards and thick documents.
The Sentinel FM101P offers shredding that meets level four security standards. A higher security level means the machine is able to shred your documents into smaller pieces.
When used continuously, this product can slice through six feet of paper per minute, which is about 60 pieces of paper. The reverse motor function eliminates paper jams and keeps your shredding operation running smoothly.
The Sentinel FM101P has been designed with a quiet motor and doesn’t produce a lot of noise. It has a four-gallon wastebasket, which slides out for easy emptying.
Key Features:
- Shreds up to 10 (ten) sheets at a single pass or one credit card at a single pass
- 5mm x 10mm Micro-Cut shred is security level 4 rated
- Auto start/stop with a manual reverse function
Amazon Basics 15-Sheet Cross-Cut Office Shredder
Available from Amazon Basics, this paper shredder can handle prepaid offers and any other mail that you get. It works just as well in a professional office as it does a home office because the shredder produces less noise than you might expect. The confetti shreds that it creates meets the P-4 standards for privacy and security. You can choose any of the four modes via the buttons on the top of the shredder to destroy credit cards and discs. When paper jams occur, it will automatically reverse the paper to stop the jam. You’ll see lights that warn you when the bin is full and other problems happen.
Key Features:
- Cross-cut shred size
- Run time and thermal protection
- User-friendly design
Boxis AutoShred 90-Sheet Paper Shredder
With a high-speed capacity, this paper shredder cuts through 11 feet of paper per minute. Thanks to the tray, you can add up to 90 sheets of paper and watch as the shredder automatically pushes it through. It also has a manual mode that lets you shred a full eight sheets of paper. The automatic option runs the shredder for 10 minutes, but the manual mode runs for up to three minutes. It then needs a 60 minute cooldown period before you can use it again. The addition of durable wheels on the base lets you move the shredder anywhere you want.
Key Features:
- Auto-feeding tray
- 20 minute continuous run time
- Automatic forward and reverse modes
WOLVERINE 10-Sheet Heavy Duty Paper Shredder
Protect yourself from identity theft and other issues with this durable paper shredder. Suitable for any home office, it has a waste bin that holds up to six gallons. The bin slides out smoothly to let you empty it as needed. The built-in paper slot can accommodate up to 10 sheets at a time and breaks the sheets into smaller pieces. It also features a CD slot that shreds credit cards and discs. You can run the shredder for up to 40 minutes without worrying about the motor overheating. It features a patented cooling system that reduces the amount of noise that it makes when running, too.
Key Features:
- Super Micro Cut
- Continuous Running
- Low Noise Level 54db
Fellowes LX22M Powershred 20-Cut Paper Shredder
Get rid of junk mail and anything else that you need with this paper shredder from Fellowes. The Intellibar designed by the manufacturer responds quickly to cut the paper into thin sheets to protect your home office. This bar also prevents paper jams as it ensures that paper moves smoothly through the center. You can shred up to 20 sheets at the same time to get through a stack of paper faster. This paper shredder also slices through metal such as the clips in your junk mail and can shred credit cards and other types of plastic. This shredder runs quietly for up to 30 minutes at a time before it needs a break.
Key Features:
- Patent pending IntelliBar
- Effortlessly power
- Integrated SafeSense technology
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