Top 10 Cheap Paper Shredders: Budget-friendly Models With Great Shredding Performance

Are you looking for a budget-friendly device for your office or home office?

Then you should check these top-rated cheap paper shredders!

These models come in various sizes, with different sheet capacity, security levels and more. Read these reviews and learn how to pick the best model according to your requirements.

Our Top Picks

Are There Good Cheap Shredders?

Nowadays, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get an okay basic machine for your personal use, for destroying mail, or for home use. To cut paper, you will have to feed the paper into the opening slot (also known as throat) form where the paper will be sucked in and shredded. They use cutting blades to destroy paper into long strips or short strips and small particles. After shredding it, the paper falls into the bin under the blades where it is stored until you empty it.

What Can You Get For Under $20?

If you are not willing to spend more than $20 for a shredder, for this price you can expect to find small models. Usually, you will be able to purchase a manual shredder or a handheld model. They come in different styles. If you spend about $50, you can even get bigger electric ones for home use and with cross-cutting mechanisms.

How Much Do They Usually Cost?

The basic price of a good shredder is in the range of 100 to 500 dollars. However, this does not mean that you cannot find a good option for your needs under 100 dollars, or for less than 50 dollars.

Types You Can Buy For Cheap

We have put together a list types you can get for spending a little money with a limit of around $80. For models that are usually more expensive, such as micro-cut types, we have found the range of the lowest prices.

Manual models – either one that you operate with a turning knob or by hand-cranking, they are usually cheaper around $15 with a strip-cut mechanism
Handheld electric or battery-powered devices – for around $18 to $20, you can find ones powered by electricity or batteries and that need to be used above a bin or with a disposable catch bag for the paper, strip-cut mechanism
Basic cross-cut types – can be found for around $50, offer a higher level of security than strip-cut
Small ones for home use – can be found for the price of $30 to $50, usually strip-cut
Very basic micro-cut machines – can be found for as little as $45 on the market

Is A Cheap Option Secure Enough?

We do not recommend buying a very cheap device (of maybe up to 30 dollars), as it most probably won’t be a cross-cut or micro-cut model and it will only be useful for shredding a few sheets of paper at a time and mostly destroy paper into long strips which do not offer enough security. However, you can get a ones that are secure enough for your household by spending under a hundred dollars.

How Can You Benefit From It?

You don’t have to splash out when purchasing a shredder to benefit from it. There are many advantages to owning a budget-friendly option. Here are some of them:

• Affordable – of course, the most important thing is that you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars just to be able to shred some paper, sometimes even securely
• An abundance of offers – the market offers many different types, models, and brands for affordable prices so that there is something for everyone
• Save time and space – by shredding in a shredder, rather than by hand, you will save time, but also space that unnecessary papers are taking up in your home or office
• Safely dispose of documents – with a budget-friendly cross-cut or micro-cut mechanism, you can safely dispose of documents with sensitive and confidential information for peace of mind; prevents espionage and identity theft

When This Option Isn’t Good Enough?

There are some features you will not be able to get without spending a bit more money. Also, you cannot buy a high-capacity model, as most shredders with a sheet capacity of over 10 are more expensive. Thus, do not use your cheap device to cut more paper per pass than is recommended by the maximum sheet capacity. Likewise, they will not have a long run time which you should not exceed. They are usually not the best quality so they won’t have a very long lifespan.

Which Feature Sacrifices Will You Make To Spend Less Money?

Small In Size

Without spending a lot of money, you will usually only get a cutting machine in small dimensions and with a small bin capacity. Usually, it will be under 5 gallons, but there are also models that can hold 10+ gallons of shredded waste.

Low Sheet Capacity

The capacity depends on the amount of paper you want to cut. If you don’t have a lot of paper to shred, consider ones with a 3-8 sheet capacity. For daily shredding invest in a high capacity options able to destroy 15-20 sheets of paper per pass. Affordable models can usually cut up to 12 sheets of paper per pass.

Short Run Time

These models are light-duty items that aren’t designed for 60-minute shredding. They can run from 2 minutes to 10 minutes and after that, they require a cool-down period.

Cooldown Time

If you are not going to spend a lot of money on a shredding machine, chances are you won’t get one with a short cooldown time. For cheap prices, some models will have to be turned off for 20 minutes to cool down, and some even for 60 minutes. Look for a shorter cooldown period of 20 to 30 minutes if you want to cut more paper frequently.

Basic Safety Features

Shredders with affordable prices usually feature some safety specifications, too. Those electric models usually include safety locks and even auto-reverse functions to prevent paper jams.

Manual Feed Shredders

Without investing hundreds of dollars in a shredder, you won’t be able to get one that features an auto-feed tray. You can only get a device with a manual feed which means you will have to feed it paper into the opening every pass.

Can They Cut Materials Other Than Paper?

Yes, some models can cut materials other than paper. They can cut CDs, DVDs, credit cards, staples, and paper clips sometimes. Check if your model can, too, before putting other materials in it.

Noise Level

It is important to look for models that work at around 60 decibels so that they are safe for your ear health. Check the noise level of the device you are interested in before buying it.

Best 10 Cheap Paper Shredders

Bonsaii C220-A 12-sheet Paper Shredder

Removable Casters
Bonsaii C220-A is a user-friendly device, perfect for home office use. Its dimensions are 13.2 x 8.7 x 17.8 inches and weigh 13 pounds. Four universal casters making transport easier. Also, it is possible to lock and remove them. This cross-cut destroys 12 sheets per pass.

Automatic Shredding
It shreds paper with clips and staples and credit cards. Bonsaii is an affordable choice under $100, it provides a high-security level suitable for confidential documents. When it detects paper, it starts shredding automatically. The overload protection prolongs the shredder’s life.

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Fellowes P-30C Powershred Paper Shredder

Personal Use
Fellowes Powershred P-30C is backed by the 1-year warranty provided by the manufacturer. But the warranty for cutters lasts longer, 3 years. This cross-cut device is ideal for personal use at the home office. Insert confidential documents without worry, it provides a high-security level.

Patented Safety Lock
It shreds paper with clips and staples and credit cards. This machine under $50 is able to run 3 minutes and then it requires a cool-down period of 40 minutes. Fellowes is equipped with a patented lock, you can’t open it during the shredding process. It’s safe for use.

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Amazon Basic Paper Shredder

12 Sheets Per Pass
Amazon Basic is ideal for small and medium-size offices. This model can shred 12 sheets of paper per single pass. There are LED indicators on the control panel, they show wastebasket status, door status, overload, overheat and power status. Through a transparent window check if the bin is full.

For Credit Cards & Paper
This cross-cut machine ensures a medium-security level, allowing you to shred top-secret and sensitive documents. Feed it with credit cards, paper with staples and clips. The high-capacity option runs for 7 minutes and then it is 30 minutes off. It is backed by a 1-year warranty.

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Fellowes Powershred W11C Shredder

Cross-cut Shredder
Fellowes Powershred W11C is a practical device that fits under the office desk. It measures 16.88 x 20.88 x 15 inches. Designed for personal use, it shreds credit cards and papers with clips and staples. It provides a high-security level, suitable for sensitive and private documents.

Safety Feature
The continuous run time lasts 5 minutes while the cool-down period lasts 20 minutes. This home office shredder has a lift-off bin with a convenient handle. The bin capacity is 4.7 gallons. Insert 11 sheets of paper per single pass. Safety Lock will disable the shredder when detecting hands.

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Sentinel FM104B Micro-cut Shredder

Ul-approved Item
Sentinel FM104B is a big device that measures 13.2 x 17.3 x 7.9 inches in size. This item is tested, features a UL certificate and meets many quality and safety standards. Sentinel can shred 10 sheets of paper per single pass. Insert the paper with clips and staples and credit cards into the slot.

Auto-start/stop Feature
This micro-cut shredding macine shreds paper into tiny and unreadable particles. Sentinel can shred 72 sheets of paper per minute, so it is fast. It is equipped with auto-start and auto-stop features, you don’t have to turn it on/off manually.

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Amazon Basic 12-sheet Paper Shredder

Desktop-size Shredder
Amazon Basic is a compact desktop-size cutting device that fits on any office desk or table. It is 13 inches high, 11.7 inches wide and 9.9 inches deep. It shreds junk mail, paper with small clips and staples, credit cards, CDs and DVDs. The security level is P-4, which is pretty high.

Auto-reverse Function
Amazon Basic is a good option for ones who want to give around $100, it runs 8 minutes, then needs 45 minutes of the cool-down period. When the sensors detect the paper, Amazon Basic automatically starts shredding. Auto-reverse function will release the jammed paper and clean the blades.

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Bonsaii S120-C 8-sheet Paper Shredder

Strip Cut Shredder
Bonsaii is a compact and electric cutting machine, suitable for home office and personal use. Its dimensions are 14 x 13.4 x 6.9 inches. This is a strip-cut that provides a low-security level, so don’t feed it with sensitive and private documents.

Thermal Protection
It is equipped with solid and durable casters. It destroys credit cards, paper with staples and clips, CDs and DVDs. Insert 8 sheets of paper per single pass. It runs for 3 minutes and then needs 30 minutes to cool down. Integrated thermal protection prolongs motor lifespan.

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HSM ProfiPack C400 Cardboard Shredder

Meets High Standards
HSM ProfiPack C400 is produced in Germany from high-quality materials. This is a single-layer shredder for cardboard, it is compact and easy to use. It features strong cutting rollers able to cut cardboard and turn it into padding material. HSM meets all national and safety regulations.

Thermal Protection
This industrial cardboard shredder features a large and powerful motor. Its feed slot is 16.3 inches wide and the shredding speed is 26 feet per minute. The motor doesn’t require any cooling downtime, meaning it runs continuously. A thermal fuse is built inside the machine to protect it from overheating.

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Boxis AutoShred Paper Shredder

Large Machine
Boxis AutoShred is a large model suitable for large offices. This powerful machine can 90 sheets of paper per single pass. It will shred that stack at a speed of 19.7 feet per minute. Boxis is a micro-cut that turns paper into unreadable particles of 0.16 x 0.39 inches.

Security Lid
This cheap heavy-duty shredder provides the highest level of security. Place the stack of paper into the tray, lock the lid with security code and Boxis do the job. The reverse function will reverse the jammed paper and shred it again. There is a separate slot for CDs and DVDs.

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Swingline DM11-13 Paper Shredder

Micro-cut Shredder
Swingline DM11-13 is a large model with 30.4 x 19 x 24.3 inches in size. It weighs 71 pounds but there are four swivel casters that making the transport easier. This is a micro-cut that cuts paper into small and unreadable particle so you can use it for confidential documents.

Sel-cleaning Cutters
The maximum number of papers you can insert into this big shredding machine is 11 sheets. There are two LED indicators – green light means there is more room for paper and red light means, you should empty the bin. The wastebasket capacity is 13 gallons. Swingline features intelligent self-cleaning cutters.

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Don’t Forget To Oil It

A paper shredder needs to be frequently oiled to run properly. Do it with oil or a lubricant sheet. By oiling your shredder blades, they will run and cut smoothly without producing a lot of noise. Likewise, you will prevent paper jams. Another way to take care of your it is to empty the bin before it gets too full. Likewise, run it in reverse from time to time to free up any stuck paper particles. Also, turn it off and unplug it when not in use.

How Often Should You Oil It?

This depends on the type of machine you have. However, no matter which type it is, oil it each time you empty the bin or after an intense shredding session. Also, for cross-cut types, apply oil to the blades every 30 minutes of use and every 15 minutes of use for micro-cut ones.

Free Alternatives To Destroying Paper

While there are no aboslutely free alternatives, other than maybe shredding by hand, here are some potential free alternatives. If you already own a lighter or matches, you can put your paper on fire inside a sink or a fire pit. Another (almost) free alternative is to turn your paper into pulp by soaking it in water inside a bucket. If you have scissors, they can also help you destroy your paper free of any additional charges.