Best 5 Desktop Paper Shredders: Place Them On Your Table & Shred Unnecessary Documents

Do you need a shredding machine for your home or office table?

First, you should know some desktop paper shredder characteristics, like sheet or bin capacity, shredding speed and others so check out the buying guide. Once you know what you need, it is easy to pick the best model.

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When Should You Put This Device On Your Desk?

It is suitable for your desk when it is fairly small in size. It has to feature a shredding head with a cutting mechanism inside and a small-capacity bin under it to catch the shredded paper so you can keep your desk organized and clean.

An Electric Option

One of the types that can fit on top of the desk in your home or office is powered by electricity. Those machines come with shredding heads which have a slot for paper. In that slot are blades for cutting you control with buttons for easy operation, start, and stop.

A Manual Option

Along with electric models, there are also models that are operated manually, by hand-cranking. They usually feature a plastic head with a turning knob for manual operation and a transparent plastic bin. Compared to electric versions, these can handle fewer sheets of paper at once, 1 or eventually 2 sheets.

Where Else Can You Use It?

Such a small device will also fit on any table in your home office, including kitchen counters. Likewise, when not in use, their size guarantees that you can put them under the desk or inside a storage cabinet until you have to use them again.

What Is A Desktop Paper Cutter Good For?

A model fits on your desktop is suitable for light-duty and occasional shredding in your home or in your office. You can shred your personal documents – mail, bank statements, and othes that contain personal data. Their advantages are that they are small in size, less expensive than large models and they can be stored out of sight. This also makes them easily portable for shredding while traveling. You can use them in your small apartment or RVs.

When They Aren’t Recommended?

Do not use such models to shred high volumes frequently. These models have a short run time and a low sheet and bin capacity. You could potentially break your shredding machine if you use it for a large shredding project. If you need to cut a lot of paper frequently, go for a larger model with a higher sheet and bin capacity.

What To Look For When Buying One For Your Desktop?

To use this machine on your desk safely, there are some features you need to consider. Some of the are sheet and bin capacity, dimensions, safety features, and types of cut.

Sheet Capacity

The market offers models that can cut through between one to five sheets of paper per pass, or even six to 12 sheets of paper per pass. This will also depend on whether you go for a manual model (lower sheet capacity) or an electric model (higher sheet capacity). If you need it for the very occasional cutting of a few papers, a model with a 5-sheet capacity will suffice. Otherwise, go for a bigger model.

Bin Capacity

To fit on your desk without looking bulky, a compact cutting machine has a capacity of between one and three gallons. Some can come with LED indicators, so they will show you if the bin is full. If there is no LED indicator, consider a shredder with a transparent bin or a window.

Handle For Portability & Ease Of Lifting

They can feature a handle at the top of the device. This handle allows you to easily lift it when needed. For instance, when you want to lift the head for easy bin emptying located underneath it. With the handle, you can easily transport the shredding machine from one place to another.

Size

To make sure the device fits your desktop, check its measurements. Each manufacturer usually lists the length, width, and height in inches in product’s information.

Is Micro-Cut Or Cross-Cut Better?

Micro-cut and cross-cut are two types along with strip-cut, the third type of cutting mechanism. Micro-cut offers more security than a cross-cut. The biggest difference is that micro-cut shreds paper into tinier pieces than a cross-cut model. On the other hand, a strip-cut cuts sheets of paper into long strips, offering the lowest level of security. Choose at least a cross-cut or a micro-cut shredder to destroy confidential documents, and for documents that do not contain sensitive information, a strip-cut model will be enough.

Cooldown Time

Since these models are compact in size, they will need a long cooldown time after a short run time. For example, the one that can run for 4 minutes will sometimes need 45 minutes to cool down. This is not recommended if you want to shred for longer and more frequently.

Safety Features

For a shredder that fits on a table or a countertop, make sure it has rubber feet so that it can’t slip from the desk and fall, damage, and break. From other safety features, look for models with anti-jam mechanisms, safety shut-off, power-on indicators, and more.

Best 5 Desktop Paper Shredders

AmazonBasics 12-sheet Paper Shredder

Cross-cut Shredder
AmazonBasics is a very quality device with great features. It measures 13 inches of height, 11.77 inches of width and 9.9 inches of depth which makes it a good fit on any desk. AmazonBasics weighs 17 pounds. It is a cross-cut office shredding machine with medium security level, P-4.

12-sheet Per Pass
This small, but powerful machine is able to shred paper, CDs/DVDs and credit cards. You don’t have to remove paper clips or staples from documents, which means you can easily shred your junk mail. AmazonBasics shredder can shred 12 sheets of paper per single pass. The shredded particles have 5/32 x 1-7/32 inches.

See-through Bin
The paper feed is 8.7 inches wide and the pull-out bin has a capacity of 1.8 gallons. You can easily remove the bin and throw the shredded paper. The wastebasket is see-through, so you can see the filling level. Also, the LED indicator will turn on when it’s time to empty the bin.

4-mode Switch
The LED lights indicate the standby, overload, overheat and door open status. On the control panel, you can find 4 buttons for auto, forward, reverse and off. The anti-jam auto-reverse function minimalizes paper jams. The continuous run period lasts 8 minutes. The cool-down time lasts 45 minutes.

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Aurora AS420C Desktop Shredder

Affordable Price
Aurora AS420C is a desktop-style device available in bright grey color. Its dimensions are 9 x 7 x 10 inches. This machine is lightweight, there is only 1 pound of weight. You can place it wherever you want, it will fit on the desk or shelf. Aurora comes with a cord, just plug it in where you can.

Confidential Documents
Its throat is 4.5 inches wide, so before you put the paper into the slot, you should fold it into 4 pieces. At the time, you can put 4 sheets of paper. It is able to shred credit cards, paper clips and staples. The cutters are made of steel, so they are durable. The convenient handle improves transport.

Manual Reverse Feature
This cross-cut portable machine provides a medium security level, so you can shred your confidential documents. The shredded paper size has 1/5 x 1 17/20 inches. The wastebasket volume is 1.32 gallons which is approximately 40 sheets of paper. Aurora features auto-start and manual reverse for paper jams.

Operating Status Indicator
The three modes are auto/on, reverse and off. The indicator light shows operating status. It has thermal protection, if the motor starts to overheat, it will automatically shut off. The maximal run time lasts 2 minutes, after that, leave the machine to cool down.

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Ativa OMM83H Paper Shredder

High-Security Level
Ativa OMM83H has 10 inches of height, 8 inches of depth and 13 inches of width. It weighs 9 pounds. This device sits on any desk, it doesn’t take too much space. This micro-cut device is ideal for people who require the highest level of security.

Safety Features
Ativa comes with some safety features. The blades are covered, so your hands and fingers are safe. Moreover, there are sensors and safety lock which prevent the risk of injuries. Ativa runs continuously up to 2 minutes so make sure you don’t let it run longer than that.

Not For CDs
The Ativa is able to shred paper, small paper clips, staples and even credit cards. Put one credit card at the time. Don’t put the CDs into the slot. The wastebasket can hold up to 1.32 gallons of shredded paper. It is easy to empty it, just pull it out. The bin is transparent so you can see if it’s time to throw the trash.

Fast Operating
Shredder particles are 1/4 x 3/8” a piece. It is impossible to reassemble them and read sensitive information. Ativa provides fast operation with shredding speed 6.23 feet per minute. The throat width is 8.5 inches. The overheat protection shuts off the device if the motor is too warm.

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Royal DT4 Desktop Shredder

Light And Cheap
Royal DT4 is a really small device, which won’t take too much space on your desk. There are its dimensions: 10.90 x 9.70 x 7.20 inches. It weighs 6.6 pounds. It is lightweight, you can easily move it from one desk to another. The price of this shredder is affordable.

4-sheet Of Paper
It is a cross-cut electric option, so use it in your home or small office. It will shred all your confidential documents. The max sheet per time is 4 sheets of paper. Except for paper, it shreds credit cards and staples. Put only one credit card per single pass.

Translucent Waste Bin
You need to fold the paper in half before you put it into the feed slot. It is 4.5 inches wide. Royal will cut the paper into 5/32 x 1/8 inches. The shredded paper drops into a translucent wastebasket with capacity is 1.9-gallon capacity. You won’t overload it, because you can see when it is full.

Charge Your Devices
When you put the paper near the feed slot, the Royal will start shredding. Also, when the shredding is finished, it will stop by itself. That is because of auto feed feature. Royal runs for up to 2 minutes before the required cool-down time of 25 minutes. It features a USB port, so you can charge other electronic devices.

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Bonsaii C237-B Paper Shredder

Lightweight Item
The Bonsaii C237-B has larger dimensions than previous models on this list, but it is still an OK option if you have a large table. It measures 14 inches of height, 7 inches of depth and 11.8 inches of width. It weighs 6 pounds, so it is easy to carry it. You can place it on the desk or under it.

Smaller Particles
This cross-cut cuts the paper into particles of 13/64 x 1-37/64 inches. The particles are smaller than a standard cross-cut shredder does. The max sheet capacity is 6 sheets of paper. Also, you don’t have to remove clips and staples. Bonsaii can destroy credit cards, too.

Portable Handle
Bonsaii features a portable handle on the top of the machine. You need to lift up the head of the device and then you can empty the bin. The bin has a large transparent window and a capacity of 3.4 gallons or 13 liters. Bonsaii runs 4 minutes before 40 minutes off.

Automatic Shredding
If you leave the unit to run over its max time and the motor starts to overheat, the device will shut off immediately. Also, there is overload protection which prevents paper jams. Turn on the auto-mode, then the Bonsaii will start shredding when sensors detect paper. The motor produces 70 decibels, it is an optimal sound level.

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How Do You Lubricate A Paper Shredder?

They need to be frequently lubricated to prolong their life and to keep blades clean for smooth shredding. You can do it with the help of a lubricant sheet or oil. To do that, put oil directly onto the blades, oil a paper with it, then shred it inside the paper shredder. Or shred a prepared lubricant sheet.

How Often Should You Maintain It?

Model that fits on your desktop needs to be oiled after every 15 minutes of use if it is a micro-cut or every 30 minutes for cross-cut. Also, oil it every time you empty the bin and after each shredding session.

How Do You Destroy Paper Without A Shredder?

If you do not have this machine but want to destroy some documents, there are a few alternatives you can try for it. Below you can find a short overview of the most popular ways to shred paper without a shredder.

Shred by hand – shredding by hand is a great alternative if you have only a few pages to destroy so that your hand does not get tired
Use shredding scissors – shredding scissors for paper have multiple blades to shred paper easily, protecting your identity or confidential information along the way
Burning papers – light paper on fire to get rid of it completely but make sure that you do not set any furniture or other things on fire
Dissolve in water – put your paper documents in a bucket of water and leave it overnight for them to dissolve properly