The 7 Best Paper Shredders Under $100, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: P-4 security and a 15-minute run time that handles a full file drawer in one go.

This Bonsaii cross-cut shredder takes 12 sheets at a time at P-4 security and runs continuously for 15 minutes, which comes to about 900 sheets per cycle. It has a 5.5 gallon bin and a jam-proof reverse function.

The run time is the reason it leads. Every other shredder here stops between 3 and 9 minutes, so a backlog of statements takes several cool-down breaks. At 900 sheets a cycle you can clear a drawer in one sitting. It sits in the $50 to $100 tier, the top of the budget, and the jam-proof reverse reduces the frustration of a stuck sheet.

Buy it if you shred in big batches and want identity-grade cuts. The caveat is the footprint: a 5.5 gallon bin makes it bulky under a small desk.

Capacity

12 sheets, cross-cut

Security

P-4

Run time

15 minutes, about 900 sheets

Bin

5.5 gallon

Our verdict: The cheapest shredder that actually delivers P-4 cuts, with a credit card slot.

The Amazon Basics 8-sheet shredder cuts cross-cut at P-4 high security, runs continuously for 3 minutes and has a 3.7 gallon bin. It shreds credit cards as well as paper and sits in the $25 to $50 tier.

Its value is the P-4 level at the lowest price. Cheap shredders often use strip or larger cross-cuts, so P-4 here is a real security feature rather than a label. The 3-minute run time is short, the weak point of the group, but for weekly mail it is enough. It ranks second because the Bonsaii 12-Sheet clears far more paper per cycle for a step up in price.

Buy it if you want secure shredding for light use and an occasional card. The caveat: after 3 minutes it needs time to cool.

Capacity

8 sheets, cross-cut

Security

P-4

Run time

3 minutes

Bin

3.7 gallon

Our verdict: A compact under-desk P-4 shredder with a 5-minute run time and an ETL mark.

BONSEN's shredder takes 8 sheets of cross-cut at P-4, runs for 5 minutes and has a 4 gallon bin in a compact under-desk design with a lift-off handle. It is ETL certified.

The extra two minutes and larger bin separate it from the Amazon Basics at a small premium. The ETL certification is a third-party electrical safety mark, which is a point in its favor for a motor that runs in an office. The lift-off handle makes emptying easier. It ranks third, below the Bonsaii, because 8 sheets and 5 minutes limit batch work.

Buy it if a shredder has to live under a desk. The caveat is that 8 sheets means feeding paper in small stacks.

Capacity

8 sheets, cross-cut

Security

P-4

Run time

5 minutes

Bin

4 gallon, lift-off handle

Our verdict: A compact 12-sheet P-4 shredder with a 6-minute run and a 5.5 gallon bin.

This Bonsaii shredder takes 12 sheets at P-4, runs for 6 minutes and has a 5.5 gallon bin in a compact body.

It shares the 12-sheet capacity with the top Bonsaii but runs for 6 minutes instead of 15, which is the whole price difference. Six minutes is double the Amazon Basics 8-Sheet, so it handles medium stacks. It ranks fourth because a 15-minute model in the same tier clears more paper per cycle, and this one offers the same bin size.

Buy it if you shred a few stacks a month and want the 12-sheet speed. The caveat: it overheats sooner than the top pick.

Capacity

12 sheets, cross-cut

Security

P-4

Run time

6 minutes

Bin

5.5 gallon, compact

Our verdict: A 10-sheet P-4 shredder that handles staples and credit cards, with a 5.5 gallon bin.

This Bonsaii shredder takes 10 sheets at P-4, runs for 4 minutes, has a 5.5 gallon bin and handles staples and credit cards.

Staple handling is useful because pulling staples from a thick packet is the tedious part of shredding. The bin matches the 12-sheet Bonsaii models, but 10 sheets and 4 minutes sit between the Amazon Basics and the top Bonsaii. It ranks fifth because the 12-sheet 6-minute Bonsaii costs the same and does more.

Buy it if you shred stapled packets often. The caveat is that it is outclassed by a same-price Bonsaii on both capacity and run time.

Capacity

10 sheets, cross-cut

Security

P-4

Run time

4 minutes

Bin

5.5 gallon

Our verdict: A compact 9-sheet P-4 shredder rated for about 180 sheets per 5-minute cycle.

The Bonsaii 9-sheet shredder cuts crosscut at P-4, runs for 5 minutes for about 180 sheets per cycle, and measures 7.34 by 12.2 by 14.88 inches.

The small footprint is the draw. At 7.34 inches wide it slides beside a desk or into a closet, and 180 sheets per cycle is enough for a month of mail. It ranks sixth because the BONSEN also runs 5 minutes with a larger bin for a similar price, and 9 sheets is a minor step up from 8.

Buy it if space is tight and you shred modestly. The caveat: the bin is small, so empty it often.

Capacity

9 sheets, cross-cut

Security

P-4

Run time

5 minutes, about 180 sheets

Size

7.34 x 12.2 x 14.88 inch

Our verdict: A 12-sheet, 9-minute shredder, but only at P-3 security.

This Amazon Basics shredder takes 12 sheets cross-cut at P-3 security, runs for 9 minutes and has a 5 gallon bin. It also handles credit cards.

It offers the second-longest run time and a large bin, which is attractive for batch work. The catch is the security level: P-3 leaves larger particles than P-4, so it suits ordinary paper but not sensitive financial or medical records. That is why it ranks last in a list where every other model is P-4.

Buy it if you shred non-sensitive paper in volume. The caveat: if you handle statements or ID documents, choose a P-4 model instead.

Capacity

12 sheets, cross-cut

Security

P-3

Run time

9 minutes

Bin

5 gallon