You need a new shredder for your home or office?
You don’t want to spend too much money?
No worries, you are in the right place! In this post I am going to help you find the best cheap paper shredder on sale. The first part of the post is made for sharing information about everything you need to know before buying a good cheap paper shredder. The second part of the post is filled with different and some of the best cheap paper shredders.
Everything You Need To Know Before Buying A Cheap Shredder
Where To Buy Cheap Paper Shredders?
You can buy your cheap shredder on the brand’s official website or on websites such as Amazon. If you decide to buy your inexpensive paper shredder for sale on Amazon you will get a bigger offer of the products (color, size) and sometimes even free shipping. The best thing about buying your affordable paper shredder on Amazon is the price of the product changes from time to time.
Different Types Of Paper Shredders
There are small manual ones that you can easily place in a drawer, and they are great for light use only, when you need to shred few sheets of paper a day, and they are really cheap paper shredders. And opposite to them, there are truck-size paper shredders that can shred a million sheets of paper in an hour but the price is also pretty high.
Different Ways Of Cutting Paper
And of course, these paper shredders also differ on the way of shredding the paper, from most simple strip-cuts, cross-cuts that provide a good level of security and they are faster than micro-cut, which provides the highest level of security, but those models are also more expensive.
Best Cheap Shredder Reviews
Best Paper Shredder Under $50
Amazonbasics 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
This is one of the best cheap paper shredders available right now. It cross-cuts paper in small pieces (7/32” x 1-27/32”) and it can fit 6 sheets of paper at once, and you don’t have to lose your time removing staples and paper clips because it shreds them too. This shredder is made for light use, for tax documents, junk mail, private letters and it will also destroy credit cards, just insert one card at the time in the shredder.
Operating this shredder is easy, once set in Auto-mode it will shred the papers as soon as it detects them being inserted. The shredding unit is on top of a 3.8-gallon trash bin and it is easily removed for emptying. This is a small shredder and it can run 2 minutes continuously before needing 30 minutes to cool down. This is a great shredder for personal use or small offices, but keep in mind that if you are sharing it with someone else not to overheat it.
If it runs too long and the unit senses temperatures are getting higher it will automatically turn off to protect the engine. Make sure not to overload the shredder since it might get to paper jams. They are easily fixed since you can manually reverse the blades. It is recommended that you should lubricate the blades every time you empty the full trash bin.
You can buy lubricant sheets or you can use mechanical or cooking oil and spread it in between two sheets of paper and insert it in the shredder. If you lubricate it when needed and you do not overheat it, this paper shredder will serve you for a long time.
Cheap Office Shredder
Amazonbasics 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
This is a bigger cheap paper shredder than the previous one, but they are in the same price range. This paper shredder is great for personal use or small offices since it can fit up to 8 sheets of paper. You can destroy all your unwanted mail, misprinted materials, private mail and any other document, including staples and paper clips so you don’t have to waste your time removing them.
There is special input for credit cards in the middle of the shredding unit and you should put in only one credit card. It will cut the paper into cross-cut pieces that are the size of 3/16” x 1-27/32” and it will give you a good level of security and you don’t need to worry your documents will become public. This shredder can run for 3 minutes, but then it requires a 30 minutes break.
If you are sharing it with someone you have to consider that if the shredder runs longer than recommended it will overheat and shut down. When the shredder’s Auto mode is turned on, it will start shredding as soon as you put the paper in the input. This shredder can fit up to 8 sheets of paper so don’t overload it, otherwise, the paper might jam the blades. If that happens you should manually reverse them to remove the blockage.
The shredding unit is on top of a 4.1-gallon plastic trash bin, it is a little bigger so you don’t have to empty it as often. The unit is easily removed to empty the bin that also has a small window to see when it is full. Regarding the maintenance, it is recommended to lubricate the blades every time you empty the full trash bin. You can purchase lubricant sheets or you can use mechanical or cooking oil spread between two sheets of paper which you insert into the shredder.
Cheap Micro-Cut Shredder
Amazonbasics 12-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder
This is one of the best paper shredders under $100 although it’s the most expensive one on our list. It can shred 12 sheets at a speed of 6 feet per minute. Its stainless steel blades will shred paper into tiny pieces which result in the maximum security level.
Besides paper, it can effectively destroy paper clips or even staples attached to the paper. The same story is with CD/DVDs and credit cards, but make sure to insert one by one. It is easy operational, you just have to plug it in and the process will start the moment you insert the paper.It can run continuously for 8 minutes but prepare for the 45 minutes break after that.
If you run it for longer than 8 minutes, it will overheat and shut down. 6.7 gallons pull-out trash bin is a very good size for the model of the shredder. Also, it comes with an integrated small window so you can how full it is. Once it is full, simply pull out the bin and empty it.
Like any other paper shredder, this one also requires regular lubrication to keep the blades in shape. Due to its big capacity, high speed, great trash bin storage and micro-cut level of security this paper shredder is also good for medium and small offices, not only personal use and also it has small wheels to ease-up the moving.
Best Paper Shredder Under $100
Bonsaii Docshred C156-D Cross-Cut Shredder
With this affordable shredder, you can cut up to 12 papers at the same time with strong steel blades that cross-cut the paper into small pieces the size 1/5” x 1-25/32” giving it a really good level of security and peace of mind knowing your documents will never become public.
You can shred any kind of paper documents A4 size or smaller and you don’t have to remove staples and paperclips. Also, it can cut credit cards and CD/DVDs one at the time in for that designated input. It’s easy to operate this shredder; you just plug it into a power circuit and set it to Auto mode. The shredder will start shredding as soon as it detects paper.
The recommended running time is 3-5 minutes; after that, it will start overheating. The shredding unit is on top of the 5.5-gallon trash bin with a small plastic window to show when it’s full. The unit has a useful handle to make emptying the bin “piece of cake”.
Due to the paper waste, it might happen that the blades will jam, which often happens if you put too many sheets of paper or if the paper is thicker than the usual office one. In that case, manually reverse the blades to unclog it. Shredding capacity and size make this paper shredder a good option for small offices or private purposes. As long as you take care of your shredder it will serve you for a long time.
Best Paper Shredder Under $200
Aurora AU1230XA Cross-Cut Shredder
AU1230XA is the last model on the list of cheap paper shredders. It is a cross-cut shredder with 12 sheets shredding capacity. Its sharp steel blades will cut through the documents with staples and paper clips like it was butter, making all your confidential information secure by turning it into confetti-size pieces.
Besides paper materials, it can cut credit cards one at the time, in for that special insert slot. The auto mode starts the blades instantly as the sensor detects the credit card or the paper is inserted into the slot. In case of excess of paper, this shredder has an Anti-jam feature which means it will automatically switch to reverse the blades and clean the paper jams.
It can work for 5 minutes without stopping, and then 30 minutes’ time-out to cool down will be necessary. On the shredding unit, there is a 4-mode switch button and an LED light indicator that shows when the shredder is overheating.
Also, the shredding unit had handled in the middle to make emptying the trash bin quick and easy. Although with 5.2 gallons bin capacity you won’t have to bother with emptying that much since it also has a plastic window which shows when the bin is full. The size of the device is 8.46” x 13.31” x 15.87” makes it perfect for small offices or for use at home, and the shredding capacity and anti-jam feature makes this really affordable shredder a great option.
Cheap Industrial Shredder
Fellowes W11C Cross-Cut Paper And Credit Card Shredder
This cheap paper shredder from the brand Fellowes. It can shred 11 sheets of paper per pass into 431 (5/32 x1-3/8″) cross-cut particles. It can shred staples, credit cards, and paper. It features a high-security level, P-4.
It runs for up to 5 minutes straight before it needs to cool down for 20 minutes. This cheap paper shredder features a patented safety lock that disables the shredder for added safety protection. It comes with the 4.75- gallon waste bin and the lift-off head with a handle, so you won’t have to worry about emptying your shredder. This is a perfect home office shredder that is child and pet safe. The design is pretty simple, black shredder with the silver head that will fit your home perfectly.
The dimensions are 8.5 x 13.75 x 18 in, and it weighs 14 pounds. The size and the entire design isn’t too bulky so it won’t take too much of your space and that is always a plus, no matter if you have it at home or in the office.
Cheap Heavy Duty Paper Shredder
HSM Profi Pack 400 Single Layer Card Board Converter
HSM Profi Pack paper shredder is a heavy-duty paper shredder. It shreds paper and cardboard. The sheet capacity on this model is 1 layer. It has a strong cutting roller that can cut through one layer of cardboard.
This cheap paper shredder will work at a speed of 26 feet per minute. One of the features is that it is controlled with a rocket with that comes with 3 options – on, off, and reverse. The reverse option is manual. This model has a motor that can run continuously without stopping down. In addition, it won’t produce a lot of noise nor vibrations. The design is unique, it comes in white color and in a compact size that will fit anywhere. It also features a thermal fuse that will prevent the overheating. The motor size is 1150W.
The dimensions of this product are 14.12” x 23.25” x 14.5” and it weighs 82 lb. The manufacturer’s warranty on this product is 1-year parts and labor, 10 years on the cutters.
Cheapest Paper Shredder For Home Use
Fellowes PowerShred P-30C Personal Shredder
This model is an affordable paper shredder that is ideal for personal use in your own home. It is suitable for everyday use making it ideal for one user. This Fellowes desktop shredder can shred up to 6 sheets of paper per pass into 5/32” x 1-1/2” . It can also shred continuously for up to 3 min. The 4 gallon bin is a very large space for shredding and this desktop paper shredder has also an easy lift-off head that makes emptying paper waste mess easier.
The design is unique and it hardly takes up any room. It will take a little space and it won’t look out of place in your home. You can put next to or under your home office desk, or maybe in the corner of the kitchen, so it will always be close when you need it. This model is suitable for disposing of information that is less sensitive.
This desktop paper shredder has a high level of security and protection against information and identity theft. You can be confident in your documents. This model also has a 1-year warranty.
Conclusion: What Is The Best Inexpensive Paper Shredder?
Considering all the cheap shredder reviews, I would recommend the Bonsaii Docshred C156-D Cross-Cut Shredder. With this affordable shredder, you can cut up to 12 papers at the same time with strong steel blades that cross-cut the paper into small pieces the size 1/5” x 1-25/32” giving it a really good level of security and peace of mind knowing your documents will never become public. If you are interested in knowing more you should check my post about best shredders for home use or best quiet paper shredders. Also, you should check my post about the best paper shredders at the moment.