Best 6 Mail Shredders In 2022: Destroy Junk & Unopened Mail Effortlessly

Are you looking for the best shredder for pamphlets and adds?

Then keep reading how to get rid of all junk mail easily with this device. Our buying guide will teach you how to choose the best shredder and which features every good mail shredder should have.

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What Is A Mail Shredder, Exactly?

A paper shredder for destroying mail is any model that allows you to slice up your personal mail, junk mail, and sometimes even unopened mail envelopes. Simply feed your paper mail into the slot at the top of the shredder and the blades will chew it up before disposing it into the bin underneath in small strips or particles.

What Type Of Shredder Is Recommended For Mail?

To make sure that no sensitive information or confidential documents get leaked or used against you (ID theft), you should go for a cross-cut or a micro-cut shredder. They shred sheets of paper into small particles that would be hard to reassemble, thus giving you a higher level of security.

What Are Mail Shredders Used For?

You can benefit from having a machine for shredding mail in different ways. If you are unsure of why you would need one, let’s show you what it is good for:

• Personal shredder – it will be your way of getting rid of personal documents, such as bills, bank statements, and other things you are regularly mailed.
• Shredding unopened mail – you can shred unopened mail (papers with an envelope) with some paper shredder models so that you do not have to spend time on opening it
• Shreds mail with your name and address – before disposing of your personal mail, it is best to destroy the evidence of your name and address
• Security and safety – by shredding mail into small pieces, you can be sure that no one can steal your identity or mess with your personal data

What To Pay Attention To When Buying A Shredder For Mail?

When buying a shredder that will destroy your mail, you can choose between different sizes, cutting types, and other features.

Shredder Sizes For Destroying Mail

If you occasionally have to get rid of mail, a small size will be enough for your home, for example, a 3-gallon model. However, if you get higher volumes of mail, you can choose accordingly with models that have baskets of 5 gallons, 9 gallons, or more.

Sheet Capacity

This depends on how often you use the paper shredder and about the amount of junk mail. If you have a lot of junk mail throughout the day, consider a paper shredder with 15 sheets per single pass. Choose 1-10 sheet capacity if you rarely have junk mail.

Run & Cool-Off Time

For models that are mostly used for cutting only mail and junk mail, the usual run time is between 4 and 9 minutes. Depending on how many sheets it can take at once and how long it can run for, you will be able to make the perfect choice for yourself and how much junk mail you have to cut at once. Usually, shredders suitable for mail need around 45 minutes to cool after use, too.

Cutting Type

Most models of paper shredders for cutting mail are cross-cut types. This offers a medium level of security, which is recommended for shredding mail. A lower level of security would be a strip-cut model. Meanwhile, a micro-cut model is even safer and usually used for confidential, secret, and top-secret information destruction.

Which Media Can They Shred?

The shredder for junk mail should be able to shred the sealed envelopes. So, you don’t have to open it and then feed the paper shredder. Also, the mail shredder needs to shred paper clips, staples, and credit cards. That means the mail shredder should have a powerful motor.

Anti-Jam Feature

If you put too much junk mail into the paper slot, paper jams occur. You can try to solve the problem and remove the papers. But some paper shredders have an auto-reverse function. It will automatically reverse the blades and shred the paper without your intervention. Some shredders can’t shred sealed envelopes.

Choose A Device That Shreds Mail Quietly

The mail shredder doesn’t have to produce a loud noise. It is annoying if you need to shred a huge amount of junk mail and listen to the shredder’s noise. The 65 decibels is comparable to the washing machine, so choose the shredder with a lower sound level. The 60 decibels or lower is a better choice.

Best 6 Mail Paper Shredders

Aurora Au1200XD Shredder

Compact Shredder
The Aurora AU1200XD mail shredder is a desktop size paper shredder. Its dimensions are 13.19 x 9.92 x 11.77 inches. it weighs 17.20 pounds. Aurora is best for personal and home office use. It is able to shred CDs, DVDs, credit cards, junk and unopened mail.

Medium Security Level
It’s a cross-cut paper shredder and the security level is P-4. This type of mail shredders provides a medium security level. The paper opening is 8.7 inches wide, so you don’t have to fold the paper. The maximal sheet capacity is 12 papers per single pass.

Quiet Operation
Aurora works quietly. It is able to shred the paper for 5 minutes without stopping. Then the cooling down period lasts 45 minutes. It features an anti-jam auto-reverse function, so if there are paper jams, the Aurora will automatically reverse the blades and release the paper.

Safety Features
The wastebasket capacity is 1.8 gallons. It is a pull out bin with a transparent window. On top of the machine, there are LED lights for overheat, overload, standby and door status. If there is force entry, the Aurora will automatically shut off, that prevent accidents.

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GBC 1757394 Paper Shredder

Personal Workspace
The GBC paper shredder, model number 1757394 is a compact paper shredder. There are 19 x 10.8 x 18.6 inches. This machine shreds paper, CDs, DVDs, credit cards. Also, you don’t have to remove the staples or paper clips from the paper. You don’t have to open junk mail, just throw it.

High Sheet Capacity
This mail shredder is available in three colors – blue, black and black/silver. You can choose the sheet capacity. This model is able to shred 12 sheets of paper per single pass. It is a super cross-cut paper shredder that provides a P-4 security level.

Jam-free Shredding
The continuous run time lasts 4 minutes and the cooling period lasts 45 minutes. There is a cool down indicator, so you can see when the mail shredder is ready or resting. GBC shreds paper into two directions, so there are no paper jams. The red and green lights show when the machine is full.

Affordable Price
There is a pull-out wastebasket with a capacity of 5 gallons. Also, it has an LED indicator, so you’ll know when it’s time to empty it. Through a small transparent window, you can see if you need to empty the bin. The price of this paper shredder is affordable and the warranty lasts 1 year.

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Ezbasic Mail Shredder

Convenient Machine
The Ezbasic features a sleek and compact design, shredder will fit in any home or office. It has 13.46 inches of height, 7.45 inches of width and 14.93 inches of length. It can shred paper, paper clips, staples, junk mail and credit cards. Don’t feed it with CDs or DVDs. It is an affordable device with a 1-year warranty.

Ultra-Low Noise
This cross-cut paper shredder is great for your sensitive documents like a bank statement, bills or other unwanted info. Ezbasic meets the P-4 security level. When it runs, there is no loud annoying noise, it produces only 58 decibels. That is equivalent to normal people’s conversation.

Easy To Maintain
You don’t have to use lubricant or lubricant sheets to maintain this mail shredder. Ezbasic runs continuously 5 minutes and then it needs 30 minutes of cooling down period. The bin capacity is 3.1 gallons. The manual reverse makes paper jams cleaning easily.

Auto-features
When the sensors detect the paper near the slot, the device will automatically start working. If it begins to overheat, the Ezbasic will automatically stop shreds to protect the motor. It is important to never full the wastebasket to the maximal capacity. There is a visible window, so it is easy to see when it’s time to empty the bin.

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Bonsaii C220-B Mail Paper Shredder

Universal Wheels
There are three variants of this model, so you can choose the dimensions and colors. Its dimensions are 13.20 x 8.90 x 17.80 inches and it weighs 14.9 pounds. It is easy to use and great for home or small office shredding. Bonsaii has removable universal wheels and the front wheels are lockable and non-slip.

Security Documents
This is a micro-cut paper shredder that provides the highest security level. You can shred documents with private information. It shreds credit cards, CDs, DVDs, staples and paper clips. Also, you can put 10 sheets per single pass into this machine.

Safety Features
On the front is a transparent window, so you can see when the bin is full. The bin has a small capacity, it is 3.5 gallons or 1.3 liters. Bonsaii mail shredder features auto start function. Also, there is a manual reverse function that protects the machine from paper jams.

Run Time
The overheat and overload indicator will turn on if the motor starts overheat or when the bin is full. Then it will automatically stop shredding. Those features prolong the paper shredder life. This micro-cut paper shredder runs 5 minutes and then it cools down for 45 minutes.

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AmazonBasic Mail Shredder

Desktop Size Shredder
The AmazonBasic is a convenient machine, there are 9.92 x 13.19 x 11.77 inches and it weighs 17.20 pounds. You can put this mail shredder on your desk, under it and in the corner of the room, it will fit anywhere. Its capacity is 12 sheets per single pass.

Cross-cut Shredder
This cross-cut paper shredder provides a medium level of security, so don’t throw the very sensitive documents. You can feed it with paper clips, staples, CDs, DVDs, junk mail and credit cards. The cool-down time lasts 45 minutes and the continuous run time lasts 8 minutes.

Minimalize Paper Jams
The removable bin has 1.8 gallons of capacity. There are many useful functions like thermal protection, so if the motor starts to overheat, this machine will automatically stop working. Also, there is an auto-start feature, you don’t have to turn it all each time.

Four Buttons
The auto-reverse feature will automatically reverse the blades and prevent paper jams. The LED lights will indicate if there is any problem with the paper shredder running. On the top of the device, there are four buttons for on/off, forward and reverse switch. It is an affordable mail shredder.

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Fellowes Powershred 99Ci Mail Shredder

Heavy-duty Shredder
The Fellowes Powershred 99Ci is a heavy-duty paper shredder for a business and office or home use. It measures 25.2 x 11.4 x 17.3 inches and it weighs 36.3 pounds. Fellowes mail shredder is designed for multi-users, the three people are optimal. Four casters provide easy mobility.

9-gallon Wastebasket
It is a cross-cut paper shredder with a 9-inch feed slot. Fellowes is suitable for confidential papers, but not for secret documents. The shredded paper falls into a pull-out basket of 9-gallon capacity. If the machine is on, just put the paper near the slot and it will automatically start runs.

Three Buttons
There are some buttons on the top of the device. Use the Back button to reverse shredding direction if paper jams occur. The Enter button is intended for automatic mode and the Forward button is for shredding. Feed it with plastic cards, staples, CDs/DVDs and junk mail envelopes.

Speedy Device
Fellowes has a shredding speed of 13.1 feet per minute and the rated capacity is 18 sheets at the time. It shreds continuously for 30 minutes. The cooldown period should last 40 minutes. This office paper shredder runs quietly, so there is no annoying noise in your workplace.

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Care & Maintenance For A Junk Mail Shredder?

To ensure the smooth and long performance of your paper shredding machine, you should keep the following things in mind.
Read the manual guidelines – only then you will know which things you can feed your shredder with if it can handle unopened envelopes, and how many sheets you can shred per pass
Oil the blades – oiling them regularly is recommended by manufacturers, for example, after each shredding session and every time you empty the shredder bin; you can do so with oils and lubricant sheets
Run it in reverse – to remove paper dust that can clump up the blades, run your machine in reverse every now and then
Empty the bin – do this before it gets completely full to prevent jams that happen when the bin is overloaded
Turn off and plug out – when not in use, turn the switch off and unplug the shredder for safety reasons; while running, turn it off if it starts overheating

How Do You Destroy Mail Without A Shredder?

To get rid of mail when you do not have a shredder, you could burn the papers, dissolve them in water, or even shred them by hand. However, these might be time-consuming and even have safety risks.

Do Shredder Scissors Work?

Another manual alternative to a paper shredder machine, scissors for shredding mail will also cut paper up into small fragments. They are easy to use and have multiple heads that cut paper into small strips which you can then also cut into even smaller particles. Moreover, they are good for crafts, too.

DIY Paper Shredder

If you like getting crafty and love to spend time on DIY projects, you could also create your own machine for mail shredding. One way to do so is to use an egg beater, some water, and an empty coffee can. Another option is to build it by using cardboard, tin sheet, some wires, wood, and motors with gear! Check the demonstration below:

If you really like to get crafty, there is another way to do this, too:

Is It Safe To Throw Away Mail With An Address On It?

There is always a risk that someone could steal your identity, so it is important to shred papers that contain your personal information, including your address. Apart from identity theft, another risk is burglary.

Should You Shred Bank Statements & Utility Bills?

Bank statements should be kept in hard copy or electric form for a year, after which you can shred them. For anything else, including utility bills, you should only get rid of them by shredding after three years if they are tax-related.