Best Cross Cut Shredder Review
A cross-cut shredder is what you should be looking for if you desire a secure and affordable paper shredding.
A cross-cut shredder shreds out confidential documents and paper, such as your identity proof, into minute-sized particles, so they become unreadable.
This is because of it cutting documents in both directions diagonally so you get fine and excellent confetti sized particles of paper.
The security level of P-3 or P-4 in cross-cut shredder gives it the ideal security level.
If you are thinking of buying a cross, cut shredder model, and are pondering over models advertised and available online, you might find all the options very overwhelming and tough to decide which one will work the best for you.
So in this article, we will be listing the top best cross-cut shredders with their pros and cons to make it simple for you.
Keep reading till the end to get a bonus buying guide, which will help you choose the best shredder for your needs.
So let’s get started.
Table Of Content
Top 10 Best Cross Cut Shredder
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1. AmazonBasics Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder
[amazon link=”B00YFTHJ9C” title=”AmazonBasics Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder”/] is a very capable paper shredder and is one of the best in its price range.
This shredder churns out the paper in a cross-cut shred size.
This makes paper shred in small pieces replicating confetti.
The size of the shredded paper measures 3/16 by 1-27/32 inches or five by 47 mm.
The shredder takes care of the P-3 standards for security and safety.
The shredder is capable of shredding up to 8 sheets of paper each of 20-pound bond at a single time.
You do not need to remove any staples or clips from the sheets.
Moreover, you can also use it to destroy credit cards.
However, only one credit card can be destroyed in a go.
The instructed timing for the shredder to run is 3 minutes, after which it needs to be cooled down for a period of half-hour.
Running beyond the permissible time limit will make the shredder turn off on its own to prevent thermal damage and protect the motor.
As for the shredder, it comes with a very user-friendly and easy to operate design.
The shredder runs on three different modes.
An overheat LED indicator is also included on the top of the shredder.
The waste-paper bay on this shredder is 4.1 gallons and is very easy to empty.
Since this is an AmazonBasics product, all the quality checks and tests are done as per the AmazonBasics program standards.
The product comes with a limited warranty of 1 year.
For any doubt or issue, just ring up the customer care phone, and they will be happy to help you out.
[amazon fields=”B00YFTHJ9C” value=”button”]
Pros
– Easy to start and use.
– Thermal protection is included by default.
– Reverse mode to save the shredder from jamming.
Cons
– Cool downtime is a bit too much when compared to the use time.
– Gets jammed at times.
AmazonBasics Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder Features
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2. Aurora AS420C Desktop-Style Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
The next on the list is [amazon link=”B000QTAU7I” title=”Aurora AS420C Desktop-Style Cross-Cut Paper Shredder”/].
This machine is designed in such a way that it offers document security without burning a hole in your pocket.
The steel cutters are pretty durable, and you will find it destroying security-related papers within minutes into confetti-like particles.
In each pass, it can shred a 20 lb sheet, which is four folded or one credit card.
This model has features like handle design to lift it easily, a power cord that can be detached, and a letter opener.
The shredder is ideal for all the homes and offices because of its compact design.
The shred size is 1/5 inch x 1 17/20 inch confetti style pieces.
Its wastebasket volume is a see-through basket of 1.32 gallons, which is approximately a capacity of holding 40 sheets.
The paper feed entry is 4.5 inches wide.
It is pretty easy and safe to use.
The model comes with a three-mode power switch, including Auto/On, Off, and Reverse.
It also has a bright power status indicator light, which indicates standby.
What is cooler is the auto start and manual reverse feature and the thermal protection feature, which can stop the shredder from overheating.
[amazon fields=”B000QTAU7I” value=”button”]
Pros
– Three power modes available.
– Auto start available.
– Thermal protection is included out of the box.
Cons
– Struggles to keep in the advertised four sheets of paper.
Aurora AS420C Desktop-Style Cross-Cut Paper Shredder Features
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3. Fellowes Powershred 99Ci Jam Proof Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
Another cool cross-cut shredder in our list is the [amazon link=”B000YGO7HW” title=”Fellowes Powershred 99Ci”/].
This powerful shredder can securely grate sensitive documents, CDs, DVDs, staples, junk mail, paper clips, credit cards, and many other confidential documents.
This shredder is perfect for households as it is safe for children and pets because of features like SafeSense Technology.
This feature makes sure that the shredder stops as soon as the hand touches the paper opening, thus ensuring safety.
It can shred 18 sheets in each pass in 5/32-inch x 1-1/2-inch cross-cut particles.
It works on the P-4 security level.
It shreds for 30 minutes straight, after which it requires a period of 40 minutes to cool down.
The model is said to be 100% Jam Proof, which eliminates the chances of paper jams.
The pull-out bin is 9 gallons, and the paper entry size is 9 inches.
The throat width is 230 and works on five amps.
[amazon fields=”B000YGO7HW” value=”button”]
Pros
– Shreds for as long as 30 minutes in a go.
– Shorter 40 mins cooldown.
– Safety feature to stop your hand from getting hurt from the shredder.
Cons
– The wheels provided with the shredder do not lock in a place.
– The bin may feel flimsy and cheap.
Fellowes Powershred 99Ci Jam Proof Cross-Cut Paper Shredder Features
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4. Royal 1840MX Cross Cut Paper Shredder
When it comes to the office supplies industry, [amazon link=”B0073MP6GQ” title=”Royal 1840MX”/] is an expert and comes with ages of experience.
Their excellence and reputed image can be seen in this shredder.
It runs for 40 minutes without any need to cool down.
This cross-cut shred can shred credit cards, paper, CDs, and DVDs.
What sets this shredder apart from other shredders is it can shred in just 5 seconds.
It comes with a pullout wastebasket of 8 and a half gallons of capacity.
This shredder has anti-jam technology and can automatically reverse, start, and stop.
In each pass, you can shred a maximum of 18 sheets with 5/32 x 1 1/8 Inches shreds.
[amazon fields=”B0073MP6GQ” value=”button”]
Pros
– Long run-time of 60 mins in a go.
– Commercial quality shredder.
Cons
– Claiming the warranty is a bit of a hassle.
– May jam easily for some users.
Royal 1840MX Cross Cut Paper Shredder Features
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5. Bonsaii C169-B Cross Cut Paper Shredder
The next in our list of shredders is the [amazon link=”B00WQRPG7C” title=”Bonsaii C169-B”/], which can work straight for 30 minutes without the need to cool down.
In one pass, it can crosscut a maximum of 14 sheets in size of 13/64 x 1-37/64 inches.
It grates 3500 sheets of paper, making it ideal for both home and office use.
It is jam-proof and comes with auto start/stop.
You will also come across manual reverse functions, which will be helpful to clear up paper jams with ease.
It comes with a pull-out wastebasket of a transparent window and a capacity of 4.8 gallons.
Additionally, you get overloading and overheating thermal protection with LED indicators.
[amazon fields=”B00WQRPG7C” value=”button”]
Pros
– Non-stop 30 mins run time in a go.
– Patented cooling system.
– Jam proof system providing automatic auto-jam.
Cons
– The shredder is not suitable for shredding other materials.
Bonsaii C169-B Cross Cut Paper Shredder Features
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6. Dodocool Paper Shredder
The [amazon link=”B089CXGW4X” title=”Dodocool Paper Shredder”/] is yet another shredding machine on our list.
With the P-4 security level, this paper shredder can turn 12 sheets in each pass into minute pieces of 5/32 x 15/32 inches (4x12mm).
It comes with sharp and durable nitrided steel blades effectively grating paper in no time, thus protecting your important information from any sort of theft.
You can use it for shredding paper, credit care (one in each pass), clips, staples, bills, pay stubs, junk mail, ATM receipts, and other documents into tiny strips.
This model is one of its types as its main body is covered with a multi-dimensional sensor which comes with intelligent thermal protection.
So the shredding will automatically stop if the motor runs begin to heat up and continuously work beyond its maximum runtime.
It also features the reverse function making it possible to retrieve partially or un-shredded papers and thus avoids paper jams.
With one switch control, you can shred full load continuously for 20 minutes and high-speed shredding at 3m per minute.
The control panel is user friendly with two card slots and ON/OFF/REV buttons.
The body is made of high-quality ABS plastic, which provides an ultra-long service life.
The shredded paper gets disposed of in a wastebasket with a transparent window that can hold up to 5.8 gallons of waste.
[amazon fields=”B089CXGW4X” value=”button”]
Pros
– Capable of micro-shredding.
– Powerful shredder and can shred CDs, DVDs too.
– Large-capacity shredding 12 sheets at once.
Cons
– Feeding the paper will feel a little difficult.
Dodocool Paper Shredder Features
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7. HSM Shredstar X17 Cross Cutter
Next in our list of shredders is the [amazon link=”B072BFP29B” title=”HSM Shredstar X17 Cross Cutter”/], which can shred paper clips, staples, credit and store cards, CDs, and DVDs.
Unlike many other machines, this shredder operated at 57 dB, thus minimizing noise development and makes it great for paper cutting jobs at places like a bank.
The LED indicator on the shredder shows the operating status like overheat, overload, power, open door, or pagesbin full.
The extra benefit of opting for HSM is that it donates $2 to the Kids Kicking Cancer for the shredders that are sold.
Overall it is easy to use with P-4 level security and with 17 sheets being shredded in one pass.
You can use this shredder for 15 minutes straight, and then it requires a 30 minute cool down period.
It comes with a separate CD cutting unit, and you can check the filling level of the container through the inspection window slot.
The anti-jam technology reduces the paper jam issues during the operation.
[amazon fields=”B072BFP29B” value=”button”]
Pros
– Has a separate bay for CD/DVD shredding.
– Easy to operate.
– Removable waste bay for easy waste disposal.
Cons
– Very noisy.
– Once the shredder jams, it’s difficult to solve.
HSM Shredstar X17 Cross Cutter Features
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8. Sentinel Shredders Cross Cut Shredder
The next in our list of shredders is the [amazon link=”B07PM2Q33G” title=”Sentinel Shredders”/], which can shred up to 12 sheets and one credit card at a time.
This personal shredder comes with a P-3 security level and shreds 4.6 feet per minute.
If the run time exceeds 2 minutes, it may lead the shredder to overheat and not power on unless it is cooled down for 60 minutes.
The shredders undergo thorough testing during factory production, thus giving quality assurance.
It includes 1 sample sheet of ShredCare lubricant and waste liner for the ease of disposing of.
This shredder cuts paper into small unreadable bits of 0. 20″ x 1. 69″ (5 x 43mm).
[amazon fields=”B07PM2Q33G” value=”button”]
Pros
– Pre-tested shredders giving quality assurances.
Cons
– Overheats very fast.
– Cooldown time is very large compared to the run time.
Sentinel Shredders Cross Cut Shredder Features
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9. 1216X Cross Cut Paper Shredder
The [amazon link=”B073RRCM5W” title=”1216X Cross Cut Paper Shredder”/] has the capacity of shredding 12 sheets in one go.
It can also shred staples and credit cards into microparticles.
The shred size it has to offer is 5/32 in. X 1-1/4 in with automatic start/stop and reverse options.
It also comes with a pull-out waste bin of 5.25 gallons, which is larger than many other options.
[amazon fields=”B073RRCM5W” value=”button”]
Pros
– Can shred paper bound with staples and clips.
– Comes with a reliable 1-year warranty.
Cons
– Jams easily.
1216X Cross Cut Paper Shredder Features
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10. Kensington Shredder Office Assist A3000
The [amazon link=”B07RPQTBG8″ title=”Kensington Shredder Office Assist A3000″/] comes with a pin-lock of 4 digits, and you can load up to 300 paper sheets.
You can simply lock it until the shredding is completed.
From paper clips and staples to CDs and credit cards, with its P-4 security level, it can shred anything.
It turns paper into micro pieces of the size 5/32″ X 1 37/64,” which makes it ideal for business and other confidential documents.
The motor is pretty quiet and has an intelligent self-cleaning jam clearance that reverses the blades to clean the paper cutter.
It can be used for 16-minutes straight without overheating.
What is unique is that it can switch automatically to intelligent power, saving more when it is not in use but still on in order to save energy.
You get an indication every time the large 11-gallon (approx 450 sheets) gets full.
[amazon fields=”B07RPQTBG8″ value=”button”]
Pros
– Complies with P-4 security standards.
– Automatic modes to switch to power-saving modes.
Cons
– The drawer gets stuck sometimes.
Kensington Shredder Office Assist A3000 Features
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Best Handheld Steam Cleaner Buying Guide
In this section, we will be talking about all that you should look for and the factors you need to take into consideration to pick an ideal cross-cutting shredder.
Budget – To begin with, depending upon the budget, the use, whether personal or for business, and the extent to which you need the shredding to be done, you need to make a choice whether you need an electric or a manual cross-cut shredder.
A manual cross-cut shredder is budget-friendly and small and needs to be operated by you.
This is perfect if your requirements for the shredding of documents is minimal because it is pretty slow.
On the other hand, if you are into business with extensive shredding needs, you should opt for an electric cross-cut shredder, which can shred tons of documents in no time and without too much effort.
You will find most of the models coming with an integrated bin, which keeps the area you shred in clean.
Safety – User safety is of the utmost importance in any product.
You should opt for a shredder that is equipped with safety sensors, especially if it is to be used at home with children and pets.
The proximity sensors shut the shredder down immediately when it detects a hand coming close to it.
You can also buy the shredder, which comes with slim slots.
Power of the Shredder – The third most important thing to look for is the power of the shredder.
The power depends upon the speed of the shredder.
If your needs are extensive and require shredding in big companies, then you should opt for a model that can quickly shred.
The speed of a shredder is measured in feet per minute.
Duty Cycle – Next, you should look for the sheet per pass, which means the number of sheets that can be shredded in one go.
A light cross cut shredder can shred approximately seven to eight pages, but a heavy-duty option can shred around 20 pages in one go.
It is important to consider the cross cut shredder’s duty cycle.
This basically means the number of pages that can be handled by machines in one day.
Continuous Run Time – Lastly, it would be best if you also focused on the continuous run time, which is offered by the shredder, which simply means the duration at which you can run it continuously.
There is a risk of overheating if you use it beyond the specified run time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are shredders worth it?
A. Shredders are definitely worth it.
Imagine you need to destroy some confidential documents, shredders will be the option for you.
They can even destroy credit cards and CDs/DVDs.
Q2. What size shredder should I choose?
A. This totally depends upon the approximate size you think you will generate waste papers.
However, choosing an 8 sheet shredder is preferable for an average user.
Q3. What will happen if I run my shredder over extended periods of time?
A. Running your shredder beyond the instructed time limit may cause the motor to overheat and will cause permanent damage to the shredder.
It may leave the shredder useless.
Conclusion
With so many benefits to offer, a cross-cut shredder is a must-have.
Of Course, it is a must-have office supply, and hopefully, this article helps you answer the question of which one you should be choosing.
Along with that, keep in mind the important factors you should consider to buy the one which is best for you.
