Every office needs at least one paper shredder. But, if you don't have one, this is the time to grab one for yourself. You can even get the best paper shredder under $100. Whether you work from home or in the office, your work area needs a shredder. These devices are essential in our daily lives as they help shred confidential papers and documents easily and quickly.
Paper shredders make work easier by cutting many pieces of paper within a short time. The best types shred everything, ensuring none of your confidential documents is left or exposed to potential danger. Before you decide on the shredder to buy, I'd like us to go through some of the types available so that you can make your choice, based on the type as well.
Do You Really Need a Paper Shredder?
Every home and office should at least have one paper shredder. So, yes, you do need a paper shredder because protecting yourself from identity theft is more effortless than filing up a case. In addition, a paper shredder helps you dispose of your confidential documents and those of your clients without putting anyone at risk by exposing them.
You should be shredding documents with your personal information instead of throwing them away. Such information includes phone numbers, addresses, and even your name.
Types of Paper Shredders
There are different types of shredders categorized by their shredding capabilities. These types are discussed below.
a). Micro-Cut Paper Shredders
A micro-cut shredder cuts your papers into tiny particles and is usually used by government organizations. Micro-cut shredders are the best as they cut into extremely tiny particles, making them the safest to use.
b). Cross-Cut Paper Shredders
A cross-cut paper shredder cuts confetti-like paper slices. The paper shreds come in different sizes, including 1/32 inches and 3/8 inches wide. Cross-cut shredders are more affordable and even easy to find, so they are the most commonly used by customers.
c). Strip-Cut Paper Shredders
Strip-cut shredder is slightly different from micro-cut and cross-cut paper shredders as it strip cuts papers into long pieces. Some cut into shorter one-inch strips, which are better than the longer strips. This is because if you cut your papers into very long strips, the information can be retrieved, which may cause problems.
Now you know the types of paper shredders available. Let us see if there is a cheap paper shredder for you to grab.
The Best Five Paper Shredders Under $100
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1. Amazon Basics Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Office Shredder
- 6 sheet crosscut paper/credit card shredder
- Auto Start and overheat protection
- Thermal Protection to prevent overheating
- manual reverse to clear paper jams
- shreds credit cards; small paper clips; staples
For the best paper shredder under $100, Amazon Basics has precisely what will meet your expectations. You can use it to destroy credit cards, sensitive documents, and other documents with personal data which you cannot expose to avoid identity theft. It is a cross-cut paper shredder and cuts papers in small pieces to keep your sensitive information protected.
Amazon basics paper shredder also features an auto start and overheat protection that lengthens its life, preventing the motor from overheating. In addition, the manual reverse helps to clear paper jams, keeping your paper shredder functioning with its full potential. The reverse function also helps to retrieve unshredded documents.
Don't let small paper clips and staples waste your time. Amazon Basics shreds right through them, making you use less time when shredding unwanted documents. In addition, it is a light-duty shredder and shreds only six sheets of paper at once. So be careful not to overload it.
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2. Amazon Basics Strip-Cut Paper, CD and Credit Card Shredder
- Shreds/cuts paper into 1/4-inch-wide strips at a rate of 9.84...
- Shred up to 8 sheets of 20-pound bond paper at a time (no need to...
- Run time is 2 minutes on / 15 minutes off; if shredder runs...
- 3-mode control switch (auto, off, reverse); easy-to-empty...
- Please refer to the user manual, troubleshooting guide, and...
Another one from amazon basics. This strip shredder cuts paper into 1/4 inch wide strips at a speed of 9 feet per minute. Amazon Basics paper shredder shreds up to eight sheets of 20-pound bond paper at once. And you don't have to remove the staples or paper clips. It shreds right through them with ease. It does not only cut paper, but it also destroys CDs, DVDs and credit cards.
This strip-cut shredder runs for up to two minutes nonstop before a 15-minute break. However, if you are busy and forget to rest, it will automatically shut off after two minutes. This helps to prevent the motor from overheating, which in turn protects it from getting damaged. The three-mode control switch also helps to ensure you shred everything as desired and helps in preventing jams.
The shredder comes with a removable waste in for easy emptying.
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3. Bonsaii 10-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
- 【Home Office Paper Shredder】With 10 sheets of shredding...
- 【Easy Operation & Safe Protection】Paper shredders for home...
- 【Large Gallon Basket】5.5 gallons large wastebasket capacity,...
- 【Shredders for Home Office Heavy Duty】4-minute continuous...
- 【1-Year Warranty】Bonsaii shredders for home office provides...
If you need a shredder that you can use in your home office, Bonsaii has some of the best paper shredders, and this is one of them. This particular one can shred up to 10 sheets of paper. You can use it to destroy junk mail, credit cards, and even staples and small paper clips.
This cross-cut shredder is easy to use and features overload protection to make it safer. Besides that, it also has a light indication. If you have a busy office, this may be the most suitable paper shredder for you. It has a large wastebasket capacity which makes it hold up to 320 sheets of shredded paper. In addition, the shredder has a visible basket window so you can conveniently see when it is full and empty it.
As mentioned earlier, this cross-cut shredder is suitable for a busy office. It runs for up to four minutes continuously, but it also requires more rest time, 40 minutes to cool down.
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4. Fellowes Powershred 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper Shredder
- Ultimate Security with Micro-Cut: Effectively shreds 8 sheets of...
- Powerful Deskside Shredding: In addition to paper, the 8MC also...
- Added Protection for Home and Office Use: Comes equipped with...
- Quiet Operation: Produces minimal noise for fewer distractions in...
- 5-Minute Continuous Run-Time: Shreds up to 5 minutes before a...
Fellowes Powershed is one of the best paper shredders under $100. One of the essential features is the patented safety lock that disables the shredder for safety. In addition, this micro-cut shredder cuts papers in pieces six times smaller than cross-cut shredders. Due to the small sizes of the cut paper, its 3.8-gallon bin holds over 80% more paper per gallon than a cross-cut bin.
With a Fellowes shredder, you can shred paper continuously for up to five minutes before you give it a break for half an hour. However, if you let it run for more time, it automatically shuts down to let the motor cool, preventing overheating. Also, this paper shredder can cut up to eight sheets of paper per pass.
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5. Aurora 14-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper, CD and Credit Card Shredder
- High security crosscut with 14 sheet capacities; destroys CDs,...
- Shreds paper, CDs, DVDs, credit cards into small pieces (5/32 by...
- Nonstop 10-minute continuous run time
- Overload protection prevents serious paper jam, quiet operation
- 5. 0-Gallon pullout bin with LED indicator lights standby/...
Try Aurora cross-cut shredder if you need the best paper shredder under $100 that can run continuously for ten minutes. This shredding machine will help you get rid of sensitive documents, shred credit cards, small paper clips, CDs and even DVDs. This will ensure non of your documents are thrown into the trash without shredding them first.
Aurora cross cut shredder runs for 10 minutes nonstop, which saves time as you can shred many papers within ten minutes. In addition, the overload protection prevents paper jams, making the paper shredder more convenient and easy to use.
This Aurora shredder cross cuts up to 14-sheets of paper at a time, making it faster as you don't have to spend your whole day doing the same thing. It has a 5-gallon pullout with LED indicator lights, including overheating, bin-full, door open, and standby, and all help easy operation.
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What Should You Consider When Buying the Best Paper Shredder Under $100?
Getting the best paper shredder under $100 could be challenging, especially if you don't know what to look for. However, if you know the features you should e looking for at your fingertips, it is even easier to get a genuine product. So, below are the factors to consider before you buy a shredder under $100.
a). Shredding Power
If you want the best paper shredder under $100, you will need to search well to ensure you get some f the most important features like power. You need something powerful as only that will make your work in the office worth it. Imagine buying a paper shredder that takes forever to shred a bunch of papers. If your shredder is designed for light use, try not to overwork it as that may damage your motor.
b). Type
Buying the best shredder for your specific needs is not so hard. All you need to know is the type you need. As already mentioned, there are three types of shredders, categorized according to their cutting design.
You can go for a strip shredder, which is not very secure as it cuts papers into long strips. This means that someone can recover your personal information. If you want a shredder that will ensure no information is visible to the outside world after shredding the papers, a micro-cut paper shredder will do. It cuts paper into tiny pieces that cannot e retrieved.
Lastly, the most common type is the cross-cut paper shredder. Although it is not as secure as the micro-cut shredder, it cuts paper into small pieces that make it hard to retrieve the information.
c). Jam Resistance
You are likely to experience paper jams if you shred a large number of documents often. Paper jams slow down the process of shredding, making it more time-consuming. Therefore, if you need the best paper shredder, ensure that it does not jam.
You may also find some shredders with additional features which help when paper jamming occurs. Such are also great options to go for.
d). Office Space
If you have a small home office where you intend to use your paper shredder, you may need to consider a smaller size. Also, if the space is minimal, a smaller size works best as you can also place it on top of your desk. You may as well need a smaller model which you can easily store in a drawer. Therefore, if you have a small office, consider getting a shredder with a compact design that is easy to store.
However, if you have ample space, you can also consider buying a freestanding model. If you go for such, it means that the shredder stays there throughout, and that is why you need more space.
e). Bin Size
The bin size may not be so crucial for some people, but you sure need a bigger bin if you tend to shred many papers. A small in means you have to empty it severally before you finish shredding. However, if you find a good paper shredder with a small bin, you may as well take it as it may have more important features.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it worth having a paper shredder?
One of the reasons to get a paper shredder is to avoid identity theft. Of course, it is not safe to throw away personal documents or those with sensitive information. However, by shredding them, you reduce the chances of someone coming across them and using them for their selfish purposes.
2. Can shredders shred metal credit cards?
Shredding credit cards may be effortless until it's time to shred a metal credit card. But then, shredding the card may damage the cutting blades of your shredder, leaving it useless. Therefore, if you want to destroy a metal credit card, if it's one with a plastic coating on both sides, better rip off the plastic coating and dispose of them.
