6 Best Cardboard or Paper Shredder Reviews
Introduction
Paper shredders should be used to destroy documents on “paper.” However, you’re looking for a way to shred cardboard waste with a paper shredder so that you can compost it in your yard. Alternatively, you may wish to use fewer cardboard boxes in total before recycling them. So, we have compiled a list of the best cardboard shredder in this article.
Shredders are important tools for both residential and commercial businesses, but they are frequently overlooked. They come in a variety of sizes, working capacities, and price points. They all guarantee that private data will be kept private when discarded, which is the one thing they all do.
Choosing the best cardboard shredder can be difficult, especially when searching online. Whether you use it at home or in the office, the cardboard shredder is always useful for getting rid of private documents or data that you don’t want others to see. Furthermore, because the majority of purchases are made online, getting rid of those large cartons is made simple if you have a cardboard shredder at home.
In light of this, we’ve selected some of the best cardboard shredders on the market right now. Before we reveal the list, you should be aware of a few key aspects of shredders in order to select the best cardboard shredder for your needs.
Sheet Capacity:
Always think about how many sheets a high-quality cardboard shredder can shred at once. It also contains a wealth of information about the maximum thickness of cardboard that the machine can shred. The majority of the shredders on this list can shred between 12 and 18 sheets at a time, but there are some excellent ones that can shred up to 20 sheets.
Run Time:
The run time of the shredders can be used to determine their efficiency. Longer run times allow a shredder to operate continuously without stopping to cool. If you want something you can use all day, get a shredder with a high run-time rating.
Jam Proof:
One of the most common problems with cardboard shredders is that they jam due to overloading or using thick cardboard. We only chose cardboard shredders because of their complete jam-proofness and ease of use.
You can learn more about all of the characteristics associated with cardboard shredders by reading the “Buying Guide” that we have provided below in this article. We’ve covered all the important details about cardboard shredders to help you better understand the products and choose the best one for you.
Best Cardboard Shredders 2023
Fellowes LX22M Powershred Micro Cut 20 Sheet Paper Shredder
WOLVERINE 18-Sheet Quiet Shredder
Bonsaii 18-Sheet Crosscut Paper Shredder
AmazonBasics 12-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder
Aurora AU1210MA Professional Grade Shredder
AmazonBasics 8-Sheet Card Shredder
The Fellowes LX22M Powershred paper shredder takes the top spot on this list due to its capacity of 20 sheets. Despite its high price, this shredder is ideal for use in offices. It has a strong motor that can run continuously for 30 minutes.
Furthermore, this Fellowes paper shredder notifies you when the machine’s 8-gallon bin is nearly full or when the allotted run time is up. Because it shreds all of your documents into tiny 5/32′′ x 1-3/8′′ micro-cut fragments, using this paper shredder will not jeopardize your security.
It also has SafeSense technology, making it a very safe and practical shredder option for home use. It can detect whether a hand or paw is contacting the entry slot and stops immediately to prevent any accidents.
This paper shredder’s best feature is that it is completely jam-proof and can easily shred junk mail, staples, paper clips, and credit cards. In terms of warranty, Fellowes offers a one-year warranty on all of its products.
The Wolverine P-4 Heavy Duty Paper Shredder SD9113 is ranked second on our list due to its powerful motor, which has a maximum operating time of up to 60 minutes. This type of shredding machine is ideal for large offices because it can quickly destroy a large stack of documents at once.
The cross-cut shredding process reduces paper to tiny cuts measuring 5/32′′ x 1-3/8′′ (4mm x 35mm). It can also easily rip credit cards, CDs, paper clips, and staples. Because of their incredible 18-sheet capacity, the thicker report files can be easily destroyed.
Furthermore, even if you push it to its limits, the machine blades will not jam because it has an anti-jam reversal mechanism. In terms of size, it has a large 6-gallon container with a see-through window. Its impressive 60-minute runtime is supported by a powerful cooling mechanism that keeps the motor running longer.
The following item on the list is another high-quality Bonsaii cardboard shredder. This shredder is ranked third on our list due to its long run time and high-security shredding.
Having said that, we really appreciate its 60-minute runtime, which is made possible by the sophisticated cooling system, which allows the motor to run for an extended period of time without needing to cool down. The overall design and construction quality are of the highest caliber because it is intended for heavy-duty home and office use.
This Bonsaii cross-cut paper shredder has a great 6-gallon bin and a good 18-sheet capacity. It has professional steel blades that can shred paper, staples, and credit cards into 13/64 x 1-37/64-inch particles. In terms of additional features, it has reverse jam protection as well as auto On/Off capabilities.
This shredder also protects against overloading and overheating, making it an excellent choice for anyone. This shredder also has four casters for easy mobility and a low noise level of 62dB, which is an excellent feature.
AmazonBasics, one of the most well-known companies, is known for providing high-quality goods at low prices. Having said that, if you’re on a tight budget, you should definitely consider AmazonBasics’ cross-cut paper shredder.
It has all of the features, such as LED indicator lights, Auto-Off, and Reverse for Jam Protection. Because of its overall good build quality and compact size, you will have no trouble using it at home or at the office.
It has an excellent shredding capability because it can handle more difficult materials like CDs and DVDs as well as up to 12 sheets at once. Furthermore, paper clips can be quickly and easily shredded, and the blades can be used as staples.
The shredder’s 7-minute run time may appear to be insufficient for infrequent or quick shredding of a few sheets. Despite its diminutive size, the shredder includes a 4.8-gallon container with a see-through window.
The Aurora AU1210MA Professional Grade Paper Shredder is another good option at a reasonable price. It’s actually a wise decision to consider if you only want to use the shredder occasionally at home or at work.
The micro-cut blades on this shredder make it simple to shred paper, CDs, credit cards, and other items into smaller security-level P-4 pieces measuring 5/32 by 15/32 inches.
This paper shredder’s best feature is its 60-minute non-stop runtime, which demonstrates that it also has an excellent cooling system. This shredder’s bin has a 5-gallon capacity, which is large enough to hold a small clipping of approximately 300 pages.
It also has reverse capabilities, which prevent jamming. It also has LED status indicators for standby, overheating bin full, overload, and open doors.
Last but not least, we’d like to recommend another great shredder alternative made by the same company, AmazonBasics. In contrast to the previous one, this one is primarily intended for domestic use. Because it meets security level P-2 criteria, it strips the paper at a rate of 9.84 feet per minute into 1/4-inch-wide strips.
This shredder has an approximate 8-sheet capacity and a continuous run time of 2 minutes. This shredder is notable for having a separate slot for cards and discs, eliminating the need for staples or paper clips.
Even though some may believe the run time is shorter, it is sufficient for use at home. To protect the motor, it also has an overheat prevention feature that turns the machine off when the maximum runtime is reached. It also has a reverse function that allows you to remove unshredded material and clean the blades to avoid jams.
Furthermore, given its small size, the shredder’s bin capacity is approximately 3 gallons. It has a one-year warranty because it is an AmazonBasics item.
What is a Cardboard shredder?
A cardboard shredder is a machine that shreds cardboard boxes and sheets into small strips or fragments.
Despite their similar appearance, they are capable of producing cushioning, flat netting, chips, shreds, or stripes and should not be confused with paper shredders.
Specialty cardboard shredders, as opposed to the Pokemon card maker machine, are designed to convert cardboard into flexible perforated material for packaging.
Depending on the design of the cardboard shredder and how it is used, the shredding process involves converting cardboard into tiny chips, long strips, perforated sheets, or small fragments.
They prepare recyclable cardboard for repulping as well as processing and packing materials for product transportation.
Can you put cardboard in a paper shredder?
No, a standard home paper shredder is not intended to shred cardboard. As a result, we recommend avoiding shredding cardboard with a standard paper shredder. Please shred cardboard at your own risk as it may damage the shredder.
Furthermore, the feed aperture of a paper shredder is relatively small and is designed solely for A4 documents, not cardboard boxes. This suggests that the purpose of a paper shredder isn’t to shred thick and substantial pieces of cardboard.
As a result, we recommended that you use a cardboard shredder to destroy (corrugated) cardboard; an example of one of these devices is shown below. A cardboard shredder’s primary function is to create environmentally friendly packaging. A cardboard shredder, on the other hand, could be used for animal bedding or composting.
Types of Cardboard Shredder
When you need a paper shredder to shred cardboard, you can purchase a strip-cut, cross-cut, or even micro-cut shredding machine. How do they differ, though?
Strip-cut or cross-cut?
A strip-cut shredder is used to shred paper and cardboard into long, narrow strips. As a result, this looks more like spaghetti than confetti. If you want to shred very small pieces of cardboard, we recommend using a cross-cut shredder.
If you want the smallest bits of paper, look into micro-cut paper shredders. The only disadvantage of a micro-cut shredder is that it typically has a lower maximum sheet capacity and takes longer to shred each sheet.
Buying Guide for the Best Cardboard Shredder
A cardboard shredder is one of the most common machines found in business offices. For security reasons, you should properly destroy all private documents and reports that you no longer require. Because shredding a large stack of papers by hand takes a long time, shredder machines are highly regarded.
If you’re looking to purchase a new cardboard shredder for your business or home, you should first be aware of all of its features. We will cover all of the aspects and features you should always consider before making a purchase to ensure that you spend your money wisely and get the best shredder possible.
Sheet Capacity
You can determine the shredder’s efficiency by looking at its sheet capacity. The majority of cardboard shredders on the market have sheet capacities ranging from 12 to 18 sheets.
Although some more advanced models allow you to shred 20 pages at once, such a shredder would be expensive. These powerful shredders are intended for large offices where multiple reports or papers must be handled at the same time. A few cardboard shredder machines have separate slots for destroying credit cards and CDs.
Run Time
The majority of cardboard shredders are powered by a motor that drives rotating knives that cut paper or cardboard. The length of time the shredder can run continuously before the motor needs to cool down can be used to determine the machine’s efficiency. Domestic shredders typically have simple motors with run times ranging from 15 to 30 minutes.
If you need a better cardboard shredder for heavy-duty office applications, there are a number of excellent shredder alternatives available that can operate continuously for 30 to 60 minutes without requiring a cooling period.
Jam Proof Feature
When you feed thick cardboard through the shredding machine, it usually struggles. The cardboard piece may jam the machines because the blade knives may not be able to cut through it. That was one of the most common issues encountered by users of these PCs. However, almost all modern cardboard shredders have an anti-jam feature. To avoid jams, the cardboard or paper can be reversed in the Jam Proof cardboard shredders.
Bin Size
Although it is rarely discussed, the bin size should be considered when purchasing a new cardboard shredder for your home or business. A shredding machine is a small unit, and the rest of the shredder is just the bin.
Depending on how many documents you intend to shred with the machine, you can select any cardboard shredder of any size that appears appropriate for your use. We recommend a shredder with a bin capacity of at least 5 to 6 gallons for use in offices. However, for personal use, you can use any shredder, including those with smaller bins. Smaller ones are more portable and require less storage space.
Safety Features
When purchasing a new cardboard shredder, especially for home use, it is critical to look for safety features. Some cardboard shredders include dedicated sensors that detect any hands or paws contacting the paper entering slot. It is safe to use a cardboard shredder if you have children or pets at home.
Overload and Overheating Safety
Look for overloading and overheating protection features as well. Nowadays, almost all machines are equipped with such features, which are becoming increasingly common. Overload detection is simply a safety feature that alerts the machine when you insert heavier cardboard, which helps to prevent jams. When the run time is up, the cardboard shredder immediately shuts down due to the overheating detection mechanism. This increases the machine’s overall lifespan and keeps the motor from overheating.
Conclusion
So far in this post, we’ve discussed some of the best cardboard shredders on the market. Because we attempted to describe each item’s qualities as well as its benefits and drawbacks, anyone should be able to choose the best option from the list.
If you are still unsure, you can use the purchase advice to help you make an informed decision in the end. If you’re wondering what our top three picks from the list are, we have a few good recommendations for you all that you can consider purchasing:
- We recommend the Fellowes LX22M Powershred Micro-Cut Paper Shredder for heavy-duty office needs because it is 100% jam-proof and can shred 20 sheets at a time. It has a reasonable run time of 30 minutes, which is sufficient for office use.
- If you want a shredder with a longer run time, you can also look at the Wolverine P-4 Heavy Duty Paper Shredder SD9113. It has an excellent cooling system that allows it to run continuously for 60 minutes. It also has a large 6-gallon bin and a Jam Reverse system, making it one of the best options for offices.
- Finally, if you need a heavy-duty shredder at an affordable price, the Bonsaii Crosscut Paper Shredder (C149-C) is ideal. With a decent capacity of 18 sheets and a run time of 60 minutes, you can use it anywhere, at home or at the office. The best part is that it has a low noise level of 62 dB, which is ideal because it will not disturb your colleagues.
