Best Shredders for Reliable Protection Against Identity Theft in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 2, 2024
Are you concerned about protecting your business or personal information? Then purchasing a shredder can be a great solution for efficient waste management and a stress-free way to dispose of your confidential documents. Look through our review and make your pick. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
SECURITY LEVEL
CUT TYPE
Shred
SHREDDING CAPACITY
RUN TIME / COOL DOWN TIME
BIN CAPACITY
RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF USERS
NOISE LEVEL
Warranty
 
PROS

The castor wheels make the machine mobile, enabling comfortable relocation around the office. The auto-start and auto-reverse features prevent jamming, whilst the overheating and overloading protection mechanisms keep the device running without hiccups for years to come. 

CONS

The auto-start feature has this noticeable delay. 

OUR VERDICT

From its short cooldown time to long runtime, from the noise levels capping at 62 decibels to the 18-sheet per pass shredding capacity, the Bonsaii C149-C puts most paper shredders to shame. This machine can cut 6500 sheets of paper within an hour, also chopping CD/DVD discs and paper clips into pieces.

detailed parameters
SECURITY LEVEL

P-3 (5 x 40 mm)

CUT TYPE

Cross-cut

Shred

Staples, Credit cards, Paper clips, CD/DVD discs

SHREDDING CAPACITY

18 sheets per pass

RUN TIME / COOL DOWN TIME

60 minutes on/10 minutes off

BIN CAPACITY

23 litres

RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF USERS

2-3

NOISE LEVEL

62 dB

Warranty

1 year

PROS

The device is able to shred a sheet of A4 into as many as 2000 pieces up to 2 × 12 mm size. This makes it ideal for highly confidential documents. A large bin can hold at least 387 sheets.

CONS

The unit might overheat with prolonged use.

OUR VERDICT

With P-5 security level and MicroShred cut type, the Fellowes Powershred 10M virtually destroys paper, plastic cards, and staples. Plus, it has a safety lock. Thanks to that, you can effectively use it both at home and in the office and for a wide variety of purposes.

detailed parameters
SECURITY LEVEL

P-5 (2 x 12 mm)

CUT TYPE

MicroShred

Shred

Paper, Staples, Credit cards

SHREDDING CAPACITY

10 sheets per pass

RUN TIME / COOL DOWN TIME

10 minutes on/20 minutes off

BIN CAPACITY

19 litres

RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF USERS

1

NOISE LEVEL

~65 dB

Warranty

Shredder: 2 years

Cutter: 5 years

PROS

For your peace of mind, the shredder comes equipped with a safety lock feature that prevents its accidental activation. Thanks to the quality cutter blades, it doesn't require lubrication too often.

CONS

In order to prevent paper jams, the paper should be inserted into the entry only vertically.

OUR VERDICT

The Fellowes paper shredder is an excellent combination of shredding performance, efficient document destruction, and good price. This shredder will be ideal for destroying medium volumes of documents (up to 50-60 sheets per day).

detailed parameters
SECURITY LEVEL

P-4 (4 x 37 mm)

CUT TYPE

Cross-cut

Shred

Staples, Credit cards, Paper clips

SHREDDING CAPACITY

8 sheets per pass

RUN TIME / COOL DOWN TIME

5 minutes on/30 minutes off

BIN CAPACITY

15 litres

RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF USERS

1

NOISE LEVEL

70 dB

Warranty

Shredder: 2 years

Cutter: 3 years

PROS

Thanks to the advanced cooling system and patented cutting technology, this shredder can work up to 20 minutes without stopping. During these 20 minutes, the machine will destroy about 3000 sheets of paper.

CONS

The unit is somewhat messy to empty.

OUR VERDICT

The Bonsaii C222-A is a productive paper shredder with a high cutting speed and a large waste bin that doesn't have to be emptied too often. The thoughtful design eliminates paper jams, and the technology of protection against overheating and overload will boost the performance of this device.

detailed parameters
SECURITY LEVEL

P-4 (4 x 40 mm)

CUT TYPE

Cross-cut

Shred

Staples, Credit cards, Paper clips

SHREDDING CAPACITY

20 sheets per pass

RUN TIME / COOL DOWN TIME

20 minutes of continuous running

BIN CAPACITY

25 litres

RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF USERS

1

NOISE LEVEL

60 dB

Warranty

1 year

PROS
With its cross-cut approach, this document-shredding machine cuts an A4 sheet into 400 4- x 23-mm pieces, so you do not have to worry about identity thieves and different criminals restoring the document. The noise levels do not go above 65 dB, so the machine is relatively quiet, too.
CONS

The unit's continuous runtime stops at 2 minutes. 

OUR VERDICT

The Rexel Style+ Cross-Cut Shredder balances style and functionality. Its sleek and slim body, featuring smooth lines and elegant glossy finish, allows the unit to seamlessly fit into most office spaces, even the more upscale ones. You can also choose between 5- and 11-sheet models.

detailed parameters
SECURITY LEVEL

P-4 (4 x 23 mm)

CUT TYPE

Cross-cut

Shred

Staples, Credit cards, Paper clips

SHREDDING CAPACITY

7 sheets per pass

RUN TIME / COOL DOWN TIME

2 minutes on/30 minutes off

BIN CAPACITY

12 litres

RECOMMENDED NUMBER OF USERS

1

NOISE LEVEL

~65 dB

Warranty

2 years

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Bonsaii C149-C

Big-Leagues Shredders

The Bonsaii C149-C is what big-leagues shredders are like. This thing is ruthless, able to chop not only staples and credit cards but also paper clips and even CD/DVD discs, cutting them into the tiniest particles. What's even more impressive is the model's shredding capacity measuring 18 sheets per pass so that you can shred the entire office within seconds.

More often than not, paper shredders' runtime caps at less than 10 minutes, sometimes even less than 5. This device is able to last 60 minutes, so, again, you can not only shred the entire office but can basically unsubscribe from any yearly shredding services since this machine more than meets the cut (pun somewhat intended). You can decimate junk mail, tax form, bills, and more.

Even taking everything we've mentioned above into account, what's surprising is that the machine does not even reach 65 decibels, which is where much less capable shredders usually reside. We're talking about shredders that do not come equipped with four castor wheels, enabling easy relocation and shredders without 23-litre bins.

In other words, the Bonsaii C149-C will let you keep shredding and shredding, with its short cooldown time, long runtime, low noise levels, and large shredding capacity.

Review of Bonsaii C149-C Paper Shredder Heavy-Duty Cross-Cut

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £169.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00IOFD08C

 

Fellowes Powershred 10M

Superior Level Security

Whether you're looking for a superior level paper shredder for home or business use, the Fellowes Powershred 10M has you covered. This model boasts a Security Level P-5, making it an ideal machine for shredding highly confidential documents as well as credit cards and staples. Adding to the strengths of the device is its 10-minute runtime. Thanks to that, the shredder can effectively shred medium to high loads of paper every day without breaking a sweat.

To elaborate on the performance, the Fellowes Powershred 10M allows you to shred up to 10 sheets of A4 paper sheets per pass, which is a decent rate for any home office. However, what we particularly appreciate is how well it handles the job. To specify, the machine can shred each piece into 5/32" x 1/2" micro-particles, ensuring that the information you want to keep safe remains beyond the reach of other people. On top of that, the device allows for handling quite high volumes daily, though, take note that the manufacturer recommends you don't go over the limit of 250 paper sheets per day.

Another highlight of this shredder is its spacious 19L bin. Able to hold around 387 sheets, it saves you from the need to empty it too frequently, unlike most traditional cross-cut shredders.

For added safety, the manufacturer fitted the shredder with a safety lock, eliminating the risk of the unit accidentally starting working. If you've got curious kids or pets at home, this feature will be especially appreciated.

To end up, the Fellowes Powershred 10M is an ideal choice for anyone who're on the hunt for a highly secure paper shredder ideal for home and office use. With its superior level micro-cut, the device will virtually chew up your documents, giving you peace of mind that your confidential data never falls into the wrong hands.

Review of Fellowes Powershred 10M 10 Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £140.59
Stock In stock
ASIN B07PN6NQQX

 

Fellowes Powershred M-8C

A Reliable Protection Against Identity Theft

Prevent your personal data from falling into the wrong hands by destroying it with the Fellowes Powershred M-8C. This cross-cut paper shredder is an excellent solution for individual users who want a shredder with an attractive design, a high sheet capacity, and high-level security. The M-8C can cope with pretty big piles of paper. It accepts up to 8 sheets per feed and dices them into 4x50mm cross cut particles (the size common for Security Level P-3). Cross-cut shredding provides a high level of protection against identity theft, so you can rest assured that your documents are disposed of for good. The machine can be used for shredding utility bills, bank statements, receipts, and letters. For your peace of mind, the shredder is equipped with a safety lock feature that prevents accidental activation and ensures a user's safety of use. An overheat indicator enables you to see when it's time to halt the operation of the shredder and give it some time to cool down. 

The shredding cycle of the Fellowes Powershred M-8C makes around 5 minutes and it takes approximately half an hour for it to cool. The 15-litre mesh bin provides mess-free disposal of the shredded paper, and the clear viewing window allows you to see when the bin needs emptying. It's recommended to oil the shredder every time when you empty its waste bin, to maintain its operating condition for a longer time. 

Review of Fellowes Powershred M-8C Cross-Cut Personal Shredder

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £46.50
Stock In stock
ASIN B00DCV1OP4

 

Bonsaii C222-A

Shreds Away Your Secrets

Cross-cut shredders are pretty much the same, so if you want to get more for your money, look at the details. The Bonsaii 20-sheet paper shredder is fast, capacious, and doesn’t overheat; just what is needed for the bulky office jobs.

With the Bonsaii, you can load up to 20 sheets of paper in one go – and be destroying the confidential docs for up to 20 minutes at a time. If you’re concerned that your papers will end up glued together like in the Hollywood flicks, you shouldn’t be. This shredder tears them down to the small-sized 4 x 40 mm particles that no genius will be able to restore. And yes, the credit cards or staples are also on the do-away-with list.

The Bonsaii is actually faster and more robust than other units in its class, which is great for the business needs. The 20-minute session will see the annihilation of up to 3000 paper sheets. The shredder tank is 25 litres, so you won’t have to empty it too often. It does produce the paper dust, and unloading the waste can be somewhat messy. But then, the waste bucket is transparent, and the handy LED lights will let you know when the unit overheats or overloads.

Great, but what about the jams? Never worry, the Bonsaii has a jam-proof system with auto reverse. If your top secret docs were just too much to handle, the paper will be forced back to spare you time and nerves.

Overall, this practical paper shredder is exactly what you need to process large amounts of confidential documents.

Review of Bonsaii C222-A 20-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price £99.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B07G42K2JK

 

Rexel Style+2101946UK

Smooth Lines, Glossy Finish

The Rexel Style+ Cross-Cut Shredder, with its sleek, slim design, adds style to shredding. The smooth lines and the glossy finish allow the unit to fit even the most expensive office settings. These office settings should not be very demanding though. See, the issue here is that the model's continuous runtime caps at 2 minutes. Then, this shredding unit takes 30 minutes to cool down. To add more, its shredding capacity peaks at 7 sheets per pass and the bin capacity extends only 12 litres, which is not bad but sizable office spaces with multiple employees using this device daily will find these numbers lacking.

On the bright side, besides documents (anything from bank statements to utility bills to confidential information), the unit can shred staples, paper clips, and even credit cards. The reverse function's present too, so you'll be easily clearing paper jams. Unlike its strip-cut peers, the unit cuts A4 sheets into 400 4- x 23-millimetre pieces, making these sheets basically impossible to restore.

Measuring 42.8 x 25.8 x 48 centimetres, this document-shredding device fits under most desks, so you will not have to free up any space to accommodate the shredder. When you also take into account that the noise levels this unit produces capped at 65 decibels, making an argument against this device being a perfect fit for home use and small offices becomes pretty difficult.

Review of Rexel Style+2101946UK Manual Cross Cut Shredder

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price £52.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00122ZKXM

 

Infographics

Comparison of Shredders for Reliable Protection Against Identity Theft

What Is a Shredder?

If you’re working in a bank or any other governmental organization, then you know (and better than anyone else) how important a shredder is. Most businesses and individuals who worry over protection of their personal data and privacy come down to using this universal yet effective device to dispose of the papers they don’t want to reveal to anybody else.

Shredders have gained incredible popularity worldwide and become indispensable devices in all those organisations where privacy is far too important. In our review, you’ll find some of the most popular and widespread models to choose from.

An external hard drive can become a nice addition to your home collection of media devices that will let you safely store gigabytes of data, including films, photos, and software. While those of you who seek the top security technology should definitely read the review on the encrypted hard drives and learn their benefits.

What Features to Compare

Security Level

Probably, the most important thing to consider first is a security level of the chosen model. Understanding how the shredders are classified into security levels will help you make the right pick. There are 7 security levels:

  • Level 1 (Р-1) is used to shred general documents into up to 12-mm strips;
  • Level 2 (Р-1) is used to cut paper into up to 6 mm wide strips;
  • Level 3 (Р-3) is designed to destroy confidential data with 2–4 mm of cutting width and 80 mm of shred size;
  • Level 4 (Р-4) is one of the most popular and used to shred sensitive documents with up to 2×15 mm of cutting width;
  • Level 5 (Р-5) is designed to cut top secret documents into 0.8×12 mm cuts;
  • Level 6 (Р-6) is used to shred paper into confetti up to 0.8×6 mm of shred size.
  • Level 7 (P-7) is designed to destroy top-secret government documents into 0.7-2.6 mm cuts and 40000 fragments.

The cut type a shredder produces is also very important. Typically, there are 3 cut types: strip-cut, cross-cut, and micro-cut. Strip-cut shredders cut paper into long strips. They are characterized by a low-security level and are primarily designed for heavy workloads. Cross-cut shredders cut paper in two different directions: along and across. They are best suited for banks and other institutions that don't require the highest level of security for destroying confidential data. Micro-cut shredders cut paper into bits of confetti. They are high-security paper shredders mainly designed for public and state institutions.

Capacity and Type

Other significant features, which need to be considered, are the capacity and the type of a shredder. The shredder capacity is primarily influenced by its operating speed. And the operating speed, in its turn, considerably depends on how many people will actually use the shredder and how many sheets of paper can be shredded per pass. Thus, shredders can be divided into several types according to the number of users and the amount of work they can do:

  • Personal shredders: for 1-2 person use or shredding up to 100 sheets per day and bin capacity up to 20 litres;
  • Small and mid-size office shredders: for 3-4 person use or shredding from 100 to 300 sheets per day, and bin capacity up to 20-70 litres;
  • Large office shredders: for continuous heavy use or shredding from 1000 sheets per day and bin capacity up to 70-85 litres.

It is worth remembering that the high capacity influences the device's runtime and heat level. The average runtime at maximum capacity is up to 15-20 minutes, afterwards, the device needs some time to cool down, generally, it's not more than one hour.

Extra and Safety

When buying a paper shredder, you should also think of the available extras and safety. It should be noted that a shredder features cutting slots for destroying not only paper documents but also credit cards, CDs/DVDs and even paper clips. Also, you should pay particular attention to the models with an Auto Start/Stop function, which makes document shredding more convenient without the need to press any buttons. If the shredder is in a standby mode, the device automatically starts its operation once the paper is placed in the entry slot and then shuts off when the operation is over. You should keep in mind that loading a large amount of paper into the slot may cause a paper jam inside the cutting blades. Therefore, the manufacturers have equipped some paper shredders with an auto reverse function, which allows the blades to shred in a forward direction if required. Besides, the shredder safety is a matter of great importance as the improper use of the device can be very dangerous. For this reason, be very careful when using the device in the workplace and avoid getting foreign objects into the feed slot by accident. Furthermore, there are shredders equipped with a Safety Lock function, which activates when the bin is opened. This means that if the bin suddenly opens during the shredding process, the device ceases its operation automatically. One more essential feature is a motor protection against thermal overload designed to automatically turn the shredder off in case of overheating. This peculiarity greatly extends the lifespan of the device.

Usability

And finally, the last but not least thing you need to consider is usability. In terms of usability, a noise level is probably one of the most important features that determine the user's comfort. Depending on the model, shredders are characterized by different noise levels. Accordingly, it's more convenient to use a shredder with a lower noise level. As a matter of fact, the noise level should not exceed 60-70 dB. Besides, the size of a shredding bin should not be under 4 inches. If the usability is one of the main criteria when buying a shredder, it's worth paying attention to the dimensions of the device as shredders can considerably range in size. Normally, the smaller the shredder is, the easier it is to move it around the office. Among the other things, caster wheels provide your device with mobility. Some advanced models offer a variety of additional features, including a full basket indicator, which shows when the bin is full. On the contrary, when it comes to the cheaper models of paper shredders, you can see if the bin is full through a clear window on the front of the waste basket, which is also quite convenient.

Sources:

1. How to Choose a Paper Shredder, wikiHow.

2. Randal Thomas How to Choose a Shredder, Chron.

3. Paper shredders review, Consumer Reports. October 2011.

4. Jacci Howard Bear Before You Buy a Personal Paper Shredder for Home or Home Office Use, About.

5. The Three Types Of Shredders (And Which One To Choose), DocumentSnap.

6. Shredder Buying Guide, eBay. March 3, 2016.

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Publish Date: 2017-09-15 13:32:31