Best 6 High-Security Paper Shredders: Choose The Safest Shredding Option

Are you looking for the best high-security paper shredder for your sensitive documents?

If you do, this article contains useful information for you. You’ll learn something about security levels and which features good paper shredder should have. Then compare those models and choose the best shredder for your home/office documents.

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What Makes A Paper Shredder A High-Security One?

To offer high security of confidential documents and sensitive information, a shredder needs to fulfill some safety requirements. It needs to have a cross-cut, micro-cut, or nano-cut mechanism to destroy paper into tiny indecipherable particles.

What Is A Secure Shredder?

They are the machines designed for peace of mind when shredding confidential documents. To shred sensitive information, you will need to invest in a machine with level P-4 or higher. There are seven levels of security, and P-4, P-5, P-6, and P-7 are considered “high-security”. That means that the paper is cut into such small particles, it would be hard to put the document back together.

What Is The Highest Security Level?

The highest level is P-7, according to DIN 66399. That is the only level approved by NSA, ideal for classified and confidential information. However, those models are the slowest and can only handle around 10 sheets per pass as it shreds them into very tiny particles. For instance, P-7 devices make particles with an area of 5 millimeters squared and are under 1 millimeter wide, showing up to 4 characters on it.

Which Levels Are Recommended For Confidential Documents?

When destroying confidential documents, you will need a P-4 shredder or higher (P-5, P-6, and P-7). Here is what you will get with each one of them:

• P-4 level – cross-cut mechanism – under 6 millimeters wide particles with an area under 160 millimeters squared
• P-5 level – micro-cut mechanism – under 2 millimeters wide particles with an area under 30 millimeters squared
• P-6 level – super micro-cut mechanism – under 1 millimeter wide particles with an area under 10 millimeters squared
• P-7 level – nano-cut mechanism – under 1 millimeter wide particles with an area under 5 millimeters squared

Where Are They Usually Used?

For starters, the P-5 level is used personally at home, at government offices, law firms, or financial firms. Secondly, the P-6 level is used in government offices and security firms. Finally, the P-7 level is used in top-secret government offices (for classified and top secret information).

What Is Their The Biggest Advantage?

The biggest advantage to owning these models is that it is recommended for confidential documents and maximum security. In comparison, shredders with a strip-cut mechanism do not offer high level of security.

How To Pick The Best Model For Safe Shredding?

Sheet Capacity

Depending on the manufacturer, paper shredders have a different sheet capacity per pass. Usually, you can find 6-sheet, 8-sheet, and 12-sheet models. However, the market offers those of a much higher volume, such as 15-sheets and more. The models that cut paper into tiny particles can usually shred fewer sheets per pass.

Shredding Speed

The P-7 shreds paper into the smallest particles. However, this also means that it is slower as it takes time to make such small particles. If you prefer a model that cuts faster, you should go for a shredder with a lower security level.

Run Time

Shredders can have run times of only a few minutes to even 30 minutes or one hour. Combined with how fast the model is, this means that it can either cut a lot of paper before it needs to cool down or not. If you are dealing with a large number of documents, you should look for a model that is not only fast but also has a longer run time.

Which Materials Can They Shred?

This also mostly depends on the model and the manufacturer. However, usually, they can destroy paper, bank cards, CDs, DVDs, paper clips, staples, and more.

Best 6 High-security Paper Shredders

Ideal 2445 Paper Shredder

Convenient & Powerful
Ideal 2445 is a powerful device. The white device comes with are 25 inches in height, 11.7 inches in depth, and 15.5 inches in width dimensions. The feed opening is 9.5 inches. The Ideal has 0.5 horsepower, so it is a really powerful.

Super Micro-cut
The Ideal 2445 is a super micro-cut machine. You can’t feed it with paper clips, staples, credit cards or CDs, it is intended for paper only. When it shreds the paper the particle size is 1/32 x 3/16 inches, so you can be sure that nobody could read that.

Eco-friendly Bin
This device uses eco-friendly wastebasket. The bin is durable and lightweight, so it is easy to empty it. Also, you don’t have to use paper shredder bags for garbage. That means you don’t have to buy and throw the plastic bags and produce more plastics.

Rapid Shredding
This P7 security level is the highest level. The sheet capacity is from 5 to 7 sheets per single pass. It isn’t so slow, the Ideal is able to shred 107 sheets per minute. Also, there are manual reverse, automatic reverse, and stop if you overload the device.

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Aurora Au1210MA Paper Shredder

Unreadable Particles
The Aurora AU1210 is a professional-grade machine. It can destory paper, but also small paper clips, credit cards, CDs, and DVDs. It is a micro-cut that shreds papers into 5/32 x 15/32 inches particles. That is unreadable, thanks to P-4 security level.

Pull-out Wastebin
The sheet capacity is 12 papers, so you can use it in he small to medium office. The 5-gallon wastebasket is a pull-out type, which is easy to empty. Also, there is a transparent window, so you can see if the bin is full. .

Anti-jam Feature
If you put too much paper into the paper opening, the paper will be stuck into the shredder. But Aurora uses an anti-jam feature which automatically reverses the blades and releases the paper. Also, there is overload protection which prevents paper jams.

Long Run Time
The Aurora AU1210 has a long continuous run time, it is able to work 60 minutes without stopping. Then, it requires a short cooling down period. On top of the device are LED lights which indicate the bin full, door open, overload, overheat and power status.

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Dahle Paper 41434 Shredder

Heavy, But Mobile
The Dahle CleanTEC 41434 is one of the best on the market. Its dimensions are 18.25 x 21.5 x 36.75 inches. Dahle weighs 102 pounds, but you can easily move it where you need, it features four lockable casters. The security level is P-7, which is the highest one.

2-in-1 Device
This impressive machine has one interesting feature. It features a CleanTEC air filter which is able to trap approximately 98% of fine dust in the air. So, it isn’t good just for shredding, but for air in the room.

EvenFlow Lubricator
It is simple to maintain this large paper shredder, just don’t put too much paper into the slot and it will work for a long time. Also, you don’t have to buy oil/lubricant for blades. There is an automatic EvenFlow lubricator that ensures continuous oiling for optimal performances.

Convenience Features
Smart Power energy management automatically reduces power consumption. The sheet capacity is from 8 to 10 sheets and the bin capacity is 30 gallons. When it comes to speed, you should know that it shreds 22 feet per minute and the motor works quietly. Dahle will automatically shut off/on and saves the energy.

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Destroyit 2600 Paper Shredder

Pricey Item
The Destroyit 2600/2 SCM has a really high price. It is NSA evaluated and meet NSA specification for P-6 security level. Unlike the previous models, it uses a cross-cut method. The shred size is 0.8mm x 5.0 mm or 1/32 x 7/32 inches.

Continuous-duty Motor
The Destroyit is a big device, it has 25 x 28 x 13 inches and it weighs 126 pounds. It is really heavy, but there are wheels, so it is easy to move it around. You can put 6 sheets of paper at the time. The powerful motor is able to run continuously with short pauses.

Safety Features
The throat width is 10.25 inches, so the A4 paper fits perfectly. The wastebasket has a large capacity of 28 gallons. The motor is powerful because it delivers 1 horsepower. The safety protection system provides a transparent safety shield in slot opening.

Energy Efficient Item
After 1 hour of continuous work, the energy-saving feature puts the NSA-approved shredder into sleep mode. The indicator of capacity control prevents paper jams. Also, the Destroyit features an automatic start and stop.

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Ativa C187-H Paper Shredder

Mobile Paper Shredder
The Ativa C187-H is an affordable machine. It is available in black color, in the front is a transparent window, so you can see if the wastebasket is full. That window is useful to prevent paper jams. Also, it comes with four casters for total mobility.

High Sheet Capacity
This model shreds paper, credit cards, staples, and paper clips. At the time, you can put 10 sheets of paper. That is an ok capacity and you can quickly destroy a large number of papers. it is one of the most useful models on the market, but it doesn’t provide the highest security.

3.4 Bin Capacity
Ativa features a pull-out bin that has an easy-open lid, so it’s easy to empty the wastebasket. The bin capacity is 3.4 gallons or 12.9 liters. That is enough for home use or small office use. It is able to run continuously for 5 minutes, then it requires cooling down period.

Protective Features
Ativa C187-H has covered blades, sensors and safety locks that prevent injuries. Also, there is overheat protection if you leave the device to run above its limit. Overload protection prevents paper jams. Auto start and auto stop saves energy and prolongs motor life.

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Sentinel FM60P Shredder

Budget-friendly Item
The Sentinel FM60P is a light device, designed for personal use. Its dimensions are 13.58 x 14.57 x 6.50 inches and it weighs 9.6 pounds. The Sentinel requires 110 volts. It’s UL tested for safety and the warranty last 1 year. All that comes with an affordable price.

Micro-cut Shredder
Sentinel compact shredder is able to shred six or ten sheets per single pass. Also, you can feed it with credit cards, but the limit is one credit card at the time. It has a higher level of security, so you can use it for sensitive documents.

Long Cooling Down Period
The pull-out wastebasket has a small capacity of 1.9 gallons. But if you don’t have to destroy a big amount of paper, that is enough. Its continuous run time is 2 minutes, then the cooling period lasts 45 minutes. After these 2 minutes, you can’t turn on the device due to overheat protection.

Safety Device
Each Sentinel is tested, so if you find any paper particles into the device, that is completely normal. The package includes a sample of ShredCare lubricant sheets and Shredcare brand waste liners for easier disposal.

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Take Care Of Your Machine

Paper shredders with cross-cut and micro-cut mechanisms require more maintenance than strip-cut models. This is due to the more complicated mechanisms with more moving parts and blades.

How To Keep The Maintenance?

This device will require cleaning and oiling to keep it running smoothly. To oil it, you can use lubricant sheets and shredder oil. Oil it after each intense shredding session or every time you empty the bin. Usually, this will mean oiling it after every 15 to 30 minutes of use.

What Else Can You Do To Keep It Running Smoothly?

Do not exceed the maximum recommended number of sheets per pass. If you do it, you risk creating a jam. Also, do not use it to shred materials that are not compatible with the model.

What Else Can You Use To Shred Confidential Paper?

If you do not have a lot of documents to shred, you migh not need a shredding machine. Instead, you can shred confidential documents by hand, turn them into a pulp with the help of bleach, light them on fire, and more.