Choosing a paper shredder

A paper shredder is an important, easy-to-operate device for any home or business setting. By using a paper shredder, not only will you be able to declutter and organise your space, you’ll also be able to protect your personal or sensitive information. You can minimise the risk of a data breach or your documents ending up in the wrong hands when you choose to shred unneeded documents. For your safety, you should shred documents such as utility bills, bank statements, ID, expired credit or debit cards and much more, as soon as you no longer need them.

When buying a paper shredder, there are a number of things you must take into consideration to ensure you choose one that will suit your needs. So whether you’re just setting up your new home office or your office shredder has given up on you, read our top seven tips to help you choose your new paper shredder.

1. What type of shredder are you looking for?

Many people may not be aware that there are a number of different types of paper shredders, each with their own paper-cutting patterns. These shredders provide different levels of security, meaning they will each have different purposes. The main types of paper shredders include:

Strip-cut shredders

A strip-cut paper shredder can be used for your basic shredding needs. This type of shredder reduces the paper to long, spaghetti-like strips, providing low to medium security. These shredders would typically have a security level of P-1 or P-2, so are suitable for non-sensitive documents such as advertising or campaign material.

Cross-cut shredders

Cross-cut paper shredders (sometimes known as particle-cut or confetti-cut shredders) will cut your paper into smaller, rectangular pieces, meaning they immediately offer more security than a strip-cut paper shredder. You can expect a security level of P-3 or P-4 with a cross-cut shredder, making them ideal to dispose of sensitive or confidential information, such as personal data, payslips or contracts.

Micro-cut shredders

The micro-cut paper shredder is considered to be the safest shredder option as it provides the highest level of security, typically P-5, P-6 or P-7. Your paper will be shredded into fine particles, making this paper shredder the perfect choice if you need to shred highly confidential or classified documents. This shredder is the best option if you would like to prevent a data breach.

You may come across some larger shredders that are better suited to industrial environments, but these three types of paper shredders are bound to take care of your day-to-day shredding needs at home or in the office.

2. What level of security is required for your shredding needs?

DIN P-level	Number of particles	Suitable for...
P-1	18	Non-sensitive, general data
P-2	35	Non-sensitive, general data
P-3	200	Confidential general data, such as addresses
P-4	400	Confidential data, such as bank statements or company information
P-5	2,000	Highly confidential data, such as financial, personal or strategic documents
P-6	6,000	Protected, confidential data, such as legal, financial or military documents
P-7	12,500	Highly classified government data

When it comes to a paper shredder, the security levels are commonly determined using DIN P-levels. The levels range from P-1 to P-7 and they indicate the size of the paper particles after shredding. If you have a paper shredder with a higher P-level, you have a higher level of security. Using our table above, you should be able to decide what level of security you want from your paper shredder.

While a P-7 level paper shredder is the most effective to shred documents beyond recognition, a P-4 or P-5 level shredder is recommended for your privacy. You can search by security level on our website, so you can find the paper shredder you want in no time!

3. How many people will be using this shredder?

One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a new paper shredder is how many people will actually be using it. Whether you work in your own home office or in a busy office with five or more people, you will need to think about the bin capacity, paper input capacity and paper shredder speed. By taking these into consideration, you will be able to select the paper shredder best suited to you or your office.

Paper shredder bin capacity

The bin capacity can be an important factor if purchasing a paper shredder that will have a number of users as it determines how often it will need to be emptied. If you need a shredder for home use, then a small bin size will be sufficient for your needs. For example, the 123ink strip-cut paper shredder has a bin capacity of 7 litres, so it is ideal if you have very little shredding to do at home.

However, if you are working in a big office, then you will probably need to look for a paper shredder with a larger bin. What’s important to remember is that while a large bin will mean you have to empty it less frequently, you may end up shredding a larger volume of paper, resulting in a heavier bin. Are you hoping to empty your bin more frequently? Then why not have a look at our range of recyclable waste collection bags.

Paper input capacity of shredder

The paper input capacity of a paper shredder refers to the maximum amount of paper it can accept at one time. This is also important to consider as it can affect or influence efficiency and the time you spend shredding paper. You should choose a paper shredder that will accommodate your workflow, so if you’re only shredding five to ten pages at a time, you don’t need to choose a shredder with a higher paper input. For an office with higher shredding needs, you will want to get a shredder that can take up to 20 sheets of paper at once.

Shredder speed

The speed of a paper shredder, often measured by feet per minute (FPM) or sheets per minute (SPM), is also something you should take into account when purchasing a paper shredder for at home or in the office. Again, the importance of speed depends on the number of users. Fast shredders, with speeds up to 20 FPM or 20 SPM, will be an advantage to any busy workplace. Auto-feed shredders have a high paper input capacity and are capable of shredding hundreds of sheets within minutes. However, if you have lower shredding volumes, a regular paced paper shredder will work perfectly.

Once you have considered each of these points, you should have a clearer idea of what type of paper shredder will suit yourself and other users.

4. What shredder safety features would you like?

In order to prevent users from potential paper shredder accidents, each device should have some basic safety features. These safety features can enhance the overall user experience, as well as reducing frustration. To improve your shredding process, you should consider safety features such as finger-safe technology, jam prevention and overheat protection.

Finger-safe technology for shredding

Most paper shredders now feature safety sensors so they can automatically detect any abnormal activity whilst shredding. This will stop the shredding process if your fingers or any other objects get too close to the blades. This is one of the most important safety features to consider when shopping for your new paper shredder as it will ultimately prevent any serious injuries while carrying out your operation.

Paper shredder jam prevention

Some paper shredders now come with an anti-jam technology, so if you’re not up to the challenge of trying to unjam a shredder, this is definitely a feature you should look for! This technology works by stopping the shredding process when a jam is detected, and activating an auto-reverse function on the shredder. This means your document will back out of the shredder and you’ll be able to try again. This would be ideal for any home or business setting, where you just don’t have the time to deal with a paper jam.

Your paper shredder will also be more inclined to jam if you do not regularly lubricate the blades. Paper shredders need to be oiled in order to continue functioning properly. By doing this, you will remove any paper dust or other residue, keeping your paper shredder in top shredding shape! To maintain good performance, you should aim to oil your shredder with lubricating oil or oil sheets every two months or as often as you empty the waste bin.

Shredder overheat protection

If a shredder becomes overheated, it can cause serious damage to the motor. This can often happen to smaller machines that are not able to handle a large volume of shredding. Thankfully, most paper shredders now have a thermal overload sensor, which stops the motor when it reaches a certain temperature or once it has reached its run time. Every shredder will have a specified maximum run time, as well as a cooling time, but when searching for a new shredder it is probably best if you choose one that is guaranteed to shut off once it starts overheating.

In addition to recognising your preferred safety features, you should also read the safety instructions and warnings in the user manual of your chosen paper shredder. By following the recommended guidelines, you should be able to avoid accidents.

5. Are you looking for additional features in a paper shredder?

Do you have very specific shredding needs? If so, then perhaps you will need to consider some additional features that not all paper shredder models have. It’s good to keep in mind that paper shredders with additional features often end up being a little bit more expensive, but if they line up with what you’re looking for then they’re completely worth it. Some popular features are automatic feed functionality, noise reduction and shredding different materials. Each of these functions could be beneficial at home or in the workplace, so are definitely worth considering.

Auto-feed shredder functionality

With an auto-feed shredder, you will be able to load a stack of papers into the shredder, without waiting around for each of them to shred. You will no longer need to manually insert paper sheet by sheet, meaning you can carry on with your work and allow the shredder to work its magic. As with any paper shredder, auto-feed shredders also have a paper input capacity and run time, but they are typically greater than your regular paper shredder.

Paper shredder noise reduction features

If the noise level of a paper shredder is a concern in the home, office or library, then perhaps you should consider a machine with a quiet operation feature. While a completely noiseless shredder may be a challenge to find, there are many machines that will reduce noise pollution in your workflow. These paper shredders may have noise reduction features such as improved motors, sound insulation and vibration dampening. You could benefit from noise reduction features as they will ensure a more comfortable and peaceful environment, as well as reducing the stress a regular shredder may create.

Shredding different materials

While paper is the main thing you will shred, perhaps your shredding needs extend to different types of materials. We’ve all made the mistake of shredding staples or paper clips, but with many paper shredders this is not a problem! In fact, many shredders are equipped to shred materials such as credit cards, CDs and DVDs, staples and paperclips and thick paper and envelopes. Some larger, industrial shredders will be able to shred items such as textiles, cardboards or even hard drives. If you are looking for a shredder to process different materials, it is always advisable to check the manufacturer’s guidelines to see what is recommended, to ensure you choose the correct type of shredder.

6. Do you have a specific paper shredder brand in mind?

It’s always a good idea to stick to reputable brands with positive customer reviews, and this can be especially important when it comes to paper shredders. Some popular brands that are on the market are:

• Fellowes
• Dahle
• HSM
• Rexel

Each of these brands have a wide range of paper shredders, with functions that are guaranteed to meet your every shredding need.

However, if you are looking for a paper shredder that you are guaranteed fantastic customer support, then why not choose our own-brand 123ink cross-cut paper shredder? This machine has a cutting speed of 1 - 3.5m per minute, can shred up to 10 sheets at a time and is equipped with anti-jam technology. This makes this shredder perfect for your home or small office.

7. What is your budget for a paper shredder?

The price for your paper shredder will ultimately depend on what type of machine you have decided you want to go with. Everything you have had to consider up to this point will determine the price-point for your desired paper shredder. If you want an efficient shredder with a high level of security, all the latest technology features, as well as safety features, then you will have to be prepared to spend a bit more money. However, you will be able to get a basic shredder on our website from as little as €29.50. Regardless of your budget, you should be able to find a device that suits your shredding needs and helps you protect your personal information.

If you have any questions or you’re still not sure what type of paper shredder you would like, please do not hesitate to contact us! We’ll be happy to select the perfect shredder for you.

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