Top 12 Heavy-Duty Paper Shredders: Robust Office & Industrial Models For High Performance

Are you interested in a heavy-duty paper shredder that offers great performances?

Then keep reading this article! Here you can find the best-rated 12 models currently available in the market. It is essential to understand a their performance and features before buying it. Therefore our guide will help you through the buying process.

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What Defines A Heavy-Duty Shredding Machine?

It is a device designed to endure higher volumes of paper. It is built with durable cutters to be able to cut through more papers at once. Moreover, they are also big in size to keep a lot of shredded paper in the waste bin before you have to empty it. To work with such a machine, you can insert the paper into the shredding throat to turn it into strips or small particles before it goes down into a basket located under the shredder head.

Are There Differences Between Models?

Shredders come in different designs, sizes, and have different uses and purposes. You can either get a heavy-duty unit for office use or an industrial-grade one.

• Industrial machines – they are made to run continuously without any downtime for shredding bulks of paper at once, featuring powerful motors that cannot overheat, great for in-house shredding; these usually cost thousands of dollars
• Office machines – unlike industrial ones, they usually cannot run continuously but can accept a high sheet capacity at once, usually running for up to a few hours before you need to turn them off to cool down; cheaper than industrial ones
• Cutters for home – they come with a higher sheet capacity and can run for some time to destroy all personal documents, unopened and junk mail, bills, bank statements, etc; the cheapest of the three types

Shred Types To Choose From

They can come in strip-cut, cross-cut, and micro-cut types. The first, strip-cut, destroys paper into long strips and are usually used for shredding non-confidential documents that don’t contain any sensitive information. Secondly, a shredder with a cross-cut mechanism cuts paper into long strips and then into shorter strips. It is a good choice for shredding confidential and personal documents. Finally, a micro-cut shredding machine is great for highly confidential information destruction, as it destroys paper into tiny particles that would be very hard or even impossible to reassemble.

Are There Any Benefits To This Machine?

Wondering why a standard model might be as good of a choice as a heavy-duty one? Well, here is why the latter might be a better pick for you:

• Shred more at once – with a higher sheet capacity than basic devices, you can destroy more sheets of paper per pass
• Shred for longer – with a run time of a couple of hours or a continuous run time, you will be able to destroy more paper per duty cycle
• Protect your business – when shredding in your office, your business documents and sensitive information will be destroyed before you dispose of it, protecting you from competitor’s espionage
• Prevent identity theft – when shredding documents at home, you will destroy papers containing your personal information, credit card numbers, and more, thus preventing thieves from stealing this information from waste bins
• Save time – by shredding with a machine that is faster than a standard choice, you will save time so that you can spend it on other tasks
• Save space – shredding all unnecessary paperwork and documents will free up space in your household or office

Specs To Focus On When Picking A Device

Many specifications will help you define which model of a is the right choice for you.

High-Quality Blades

To be able to shred more paper at once, cutting blades and knives will have to be made from durable metal materials, such as steel. Sometimes, you will even get a warranty for them in case anything happens.

Sheet Capacity

Shredders for more challenging use have high sheet capacities, usually around 50 sheets or more. For your home, you won’t need more than around 20 sheets per pass. For your office, you should look for those that can cut up to 100 sheets at once. And for industrial use, you can choose those that cut 200 to 500 sheets per pass.

Bin Capacity

According to the sheet capacity, you will also pick between machines with smaller or bigger bins. For example, you can find ones with a bin of up to 10 gallons for your home, 10-20 gallons for your office, and over 50 gallons for large jobs.

Shredding Speed

Before buying, it is important to check how quickly the device can shred paper. This is measured in FPM or Feet Per Minute. They offer at least 12 feet per minute, that is approximately 200 papers in 60 seconds. They shred a large amount of paper in a short time.

Cutting Mechanism

Choose either a strip-cut, cross-cut, or micro-cut. The first is not as reliable for destroying sensitive information. In your home, you will need at least a cross-cut to protect your data. For shredding in offices and enterprises, you should pick a cross-cut or a micro-cut if you will have to destroy secret information and highly confidential documents.

Security Level

For safe information destruction, you can choose between security levels, starting from P-1 to P-7. A P-1 level is the lowest security and P-7 is the highest security. To shred paper securely so that it is very hard to put back together, choose at least P-4, P-5 or higher.

Long Or Continuous Run Time

Shredders need to have a long run time of over one hour or they need to run continuously without any downtime. For destroying paper in your home, you most probably won’t need a device that runs for longer than one hour. However, if you have a lot of paper to shred every day or all the time, you will need either one that cuts continuously or that runs for a couple of hours at least.

Cooldown Time

If you get a machine that runs for a certain time, you will have to keep it turned off for the recommended cooldown time so that it does not overheat. If you want to get back to shredding quickly, make sure the product you choose needs no more than 20 minutes to cool down.

Noise Level

These machines should not make loud noises when working. Look for ones that work at a noise level of around 60 decibels to protect your hearing, prevent headaches, and keep your home or office quiet for fewer distractions.

Auto Vs Manual Feed

For higher shredding needs and more independent device’s work, you can choose one with an auto-feed tray. You fill the auto tray with paper, turn it on and it will do the rest. If you want to stand over it and feed it every pass, you can go for a manual feed. These are usually smaller.

Shredding Paper & Tougher Materials

Usually, you will have more than just paper to destroy. Due to that, choose a device that can also destroy CDs, DVDs, paper clips, staples, credit cards, etc. Some heavy-duty units can also destroy cardboard. Before feeding it with other materials, check if you are allowed to do that in the manual.

Automatic Oiler

Some models come with automatic oilers so that you don’t have to get your hands dirty and think about maintenance as often. Check with the manufacturer if your shredder of choice is suitable for it.

Safety Features

Look for models that have auto stop and auto shut-off functions. Auto-reverse is also good to have to clear up paper jams quickly. Industrial units might even have emergency stop functions, and more. Also, some will have protection for hands and fingers, safety locks, etc.

Best 12 Heavy-Duty Paper Shredders

Fellowes AutoMax 550C AutoFeed Shredder

550 Sheets Shredded In 7 Minutes
This shredder can run automatically and manually. The manual sheet capacity is 14. However, you can load the auto-feed with up to 550 sheets per pass and it will cut even through papers with clips or staples. It needs only 6 to 7 minutes to cut through 550 sheets. It can run for up to 45 minutes before it needs to cool down.

Cuts Different Materials
Use it either at home or in the office to get through many sheets of paper in a short time. It can even cut through CDs, DVDs, glossy paper, etc. This cross-cut destroys paper into sizes of 5/32″ x 1-1/2″. It features smart features like auto-reverse, smart-lock, and sleep mode.

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HSM Powerline FA400C Shredder

Commercial Item
HSM Powerline is a large item, it measures 61.7 x 45.4 x 65 inches. This device is really heavy, there are 937 pounds, but it is equipped with four durable casters for easy transport. It is a cross-cut that offers a medium level of security, not suitable for highly confidential paper.

Auto-reverse Function
It can shred up to 120 sheets per single pass. HSM shreds at a rate of 43.3 feet per minute. Insert paper, optical discs, credit cards, USB flash drives into the wide feed slot. Automatic reverse function releases paper from cutters and ensures smooth operation.

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Swingline Auto-feed Paper Shredder

High-quality Cutters
Swingline GBC isn’t so large device, its dimensions are 22.9 x 18.2 x 23.2 inches and weigh 41 pounds. Four durable casters provide easy mobility. Swingline’s cutters are covered with a 10-year warranty, while the device is backed by a 2-year warranty.

Intelligent Features
Insert 230 sheets in the auto-feed tray and it will shred them automatically. When the shredding process is finished, the device will shut down. The intelligent Auto Jam+ Clearance will automatically reverse and re-shred jammed paper. Read more about auto-feed paper shredders and find the best model for your needs.

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Bonsaii 20-sheet Paper Shredder

Mobile Paper Shredder
Bonsaii C222A is a big machine that measures 14.7 x 9.6 x 21.8 inches. It is heavy, so equipped with four durable casters for easier transport. These universal wheels are detachable and the front wheels are lockable, keeping it in stable placement.

Ideal For Confidential Documents
It shreds documents into tiny particles of 5/32 x 1-32/64 inches. You can shred private and confidential documents, it’s impossible to read these tiny pieces. Bonsaii shreds paper, paper with clips and staples and credit cards. The Jam Proof system prolongs the shredder’s lifespan. If you’re looking for a powerful unit, you can check 20-sheet paper shredders.

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Rexel Cross Cut Paper Shredder

Backed By 2-warranty
This is a compact yet powerful device that fits on an office desk, workbench, under the desk, etc. A 2-year warranty is provided by the manufacturer. You don’t have to remove staples or paper clips from documents, also it shreds credit cards. Rexel is a cross-cut that offers a medium level of security.

60 Sheets Per Pass
It can shred 60 sheets per single pass. Put the stack of paper into the tray and Rexel will shred it automatically. It produces a low noise level, so won’t disturb other people, it is suitable for offices.

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Fellowes Powershred Shredder

Home Office Use
Fellowes model number 3103201 is a practical device that fits under your desk or beside it. It is 17.7 inches high and 13.6 inches wide. Fellowes is a great personal shredder for small office use. It shreds paper, credit cards, staples and paper clips. Not for CDs and DVDs.

High-Security Level
This cross-cut offers a high-security level, making it suitable for confidential documents. The shredded particles have 5/32 x 1-3/8 inches in size. Fellowes runs 5 minutes continuously and its cooldown period lasts 20 minutes. Take a look at other home office paper shredders in the linked review.

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Intimus 347904 PacMaster Shredder

Robust Steel Housing
Intimus 347904 model features extremely robust steel plate housing for harduse. This cardboard shredder measures 27.2 x 18.5 x 37.4 and weighs 308 pounds. For easier transport, Intimus is equipped with four solid casters. It features a user-friendly interface.

Emergency Switch
There is a lockable power switch which is actually an emergency stop switch for unpredictable cases. Intimus shreds old and obsolete cardboard, making it perfect packaging materials. Its shredding speed is 34 feet per minute and the feed slot is 16.7 inches wide. Check out more models in the review on cardboard shredders.

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Bonsaii DocShred Paper Shredder

Micro-cut Shredder Type
Bonsaii DocShred C156-C measures 17.4 x 13.8 inches and weighs 10 pounds. It is a great model for those who need one for occasional use. Also, its price is pretty affordable, it is under 100 dollars. Its micro-cutting mechanism shreds paper in unreadable particles, so it’s ideal for sensitive documents.

Separate CD/DVD Slot
This machine cuts paper into particles of 5/32 x 25/64 inches. Moreover, Bonsaii DocShred can shred credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs and DVDs. There is a separate slot for CDs and DVDs. It cuts the CDs/DVDs into three large pieces. If you want to consider other shredders for CDs, read our post on CD/DVD paper shredders.

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Bonsaii EverShred Paper Shredder

Solid Cutters
Bonsaii EverShred device available in black color and it’s designed for medium-sized offices. The shredder dimensions are 12.9 x 9.5 x 19.8 inches and it weighs 16 pounds. Credit cards, CDs, DVDs, paper, staples and clips can be cut with the shredder’s solid cutters. Shreds 14 sheets per pass.

Patented Cooling System
This cross-cut unit runs for 30 minutes continuously, and for that time it shreds 3500 sheets. The patented cooling system prolongs the shredder’s lifespan. Also, automatic jam protection reverse cutters and release jammed paper.

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Aurora AU1540MB Paper Shredder

Professional Shredder
Aurora AU1540MB is a professional and reliable machine available in a grey color. It is a high-capacity micro-cutting device that uses shredding technology which is ideal for customers who demand the highest level of protection. It shreds letter size paper into unreadable particles.

Runs For An Hour
It shreds credit cards, paper, CDs, DVDs and small paper clips. Feed it with a maximum of 15 sheets of paper per single pass. Aurora runs for 60 minutes continuously, then it requires a cool-down period. For more models with similar features, read the article on high-capacity paper shredders.

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GBC Auto-feed Paper Shredder

300 Sheets Of Paper
GBC is a large shredder, but it is simple to use. Put a stack of paper into the auto-feed tray and leave it to cut the paper. Its maximum capacity is 300 sheets of paper. It is designed for medium-sized offices with 10-15 users. Compatible with the SmarTech app, so when shredding is complete, you’ll receive notifications.

Low Maintenance
It provides a high-security level, ideal for sensitive and confidential documents. GBC runs 60 minutes continuously then requires a 30-minute cool-down period. It features self-cleaning cutters, no maintenance is needed. Check out more big shredders in the post on large paper shredders.

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Sentinel Micro-cut Shredder

UL-approved Shredder
Sentinel FM60P is a black hredder designed for personal use at the home office. Its dimensions are 13.6 x 14.6 x 6.5 inches and it weighs 9.6 pounds. This is an affordable option that meets UL safety standards. Also, it is backed by a 1-year warranty.

Overheating Protection
It is ablee to shred six to ten sheets per single pass and credit cards. This micro-cut type ensures a high level of security. A pull-out wastebasket has a capacity of 1.9 gallons. Integrated overheating protection prolongs the shredder’s lifespan. Learn more about quality and secure shredders, read the review on high-security paper shredders.

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What To Do To Maintain It?

These types of machines need to be maintained regularly for optimal performance. You will have to keep the blades and cutters oiled and do other things to keep the shredder clean. For instance, you can run the shredder in reverse from time to time, freeing up any stuck paper and dust particles between the blades.

How Often Do You Need To Lubricate This Shredder?

It needs to be lubricated very regularly to be able to run smoothly. They cut through a lot of paper at once, they need to be oiled very often. For example, cross-cut models need to be oiled after every 30 minutes of use, and micro-cut every 15 minutes of use. Also, oil it each time you empty the bin and after every intense shredding session.

How Can You Clean The Blades?

Besides running the machine in reverse and cleaning between the blades with tweezers, also use a can of compressed air to get out the smallest particles stuck between them.

Empty The Shredder Bin On Time

Emptying the bin before it gets too full is very important, as it will help prevent paper jams. For high-capacity models, it is helpful to have them on wheels for easy mobility.

How Do You Destroy Paper Without A Paper Shredder?

If you want to destroy paper without investing in this device, you have a few alternatives to consider. Firstly, you can light your documents on fire, but you will have to deal with ashes afterward. Secondly, you can put your documents in a bucket and soak them in water and bleach. Finally, you can hire a professional shredding service to do all your shredding for you.