While a regular paper shredder is fine for many tasks and usage cases, there are some jobs that demand a heavy duty paper shredder. If you’re needing to shred large volumes of documents on a regular basis, then you’re in the right place – let our reviews guide you in finding the best heavy duty paper shredder today.

PictureNameRuntime / Cool DownPriceOur Rating
PictureNameRuntime / Cool DownPriceOur Rating
HSM Classic 108.2, 22-24 Sheet, Strip-Cut, 13-Gallon Capacity ShredderContinuous$$$$$4.8
Fellowes 99Ci 100% Jam Proof Heavy Duty Paper and Credit Card Shredder, 18 Sheet Cross Cut30 min / 40 min$$$4.6
Bonsaii EverShred C149-C 18-Sheet Cross-cut Paper/CD/Credit Card Shredder60 min / 10 min$$4.6
AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper, CD, and Credit Card Shredder25 min / 60 min$$4.6
Fellowes 125Ci Heavy Duty Commercial Paper and Credit Card Shredder, 18 Sheet Cross Cut45 min / 45 min$$$$$4.6

What Is A Heavy Duty Paper Shredder and Why Do You Need One?

A heavy duty paper shredder is designed for use in medium to large offices with a high volume of documents to shred. These units are designed to be fed with a large volume of papers. Some of the models that we’ve reviewed here can take up to thirty papers at a time, and most are designed to be operated for extended periods with shorter cool down times. They are designed to destroy paper, credit cards and other plastic ID cards as well as CD’s and DVD’s in to small pieces, using either a cross cut or micro cut pattern.

They are needed in an office because they can quickly and effectively destroy large volumes of paper. Using a shredder ensures secure destruction of confidential information, which could be detrimental to the company if it ended up in the wrong hands. This could include things like old financial records, or sensitive customer data like photocopies of personal identity documents.

There are basic requirements that you should expect a heavy duty shredder to have and they include at least a cross cut but preferably micro cut level of destruction, a quiet motor to minimize disturbances while using the machine, a large capacity bin to store shredded documents and the ability to handle 15 or more pages at one time.

How to Find the Best Heavy Duty Paper Shredder

When you are shopping for a heavy duty paper shredder, the most important factor to consider is the level of security that it provides you with. Your new shredder should feature at least cross cut technology which will turn a piece of paper into between 300 and 500 pieces. For more sensitive documents, look for micro cut shredders which will cut your piece of paper into 3,000 pieces. The smaller the pieces that your shredder produces, the harder it will be for anyone to potentially re-assemble the document.

Ease of use is the second factor to consider. Look for a machine that features an auto start/stop function that allows you to insert pages and have the machine automatically shred them and turn itself off when it has finished. A reverse button can allow you to remove any jammed papers, although many heavy duty shredders include other jam prevention mechanisms as well.

The third factor to consider is safety. You should look at the safety features that are included in the machine. Some models include a feature that will automatically turn off the shredder if a hand touches the paper opening.

Moreover, you have to consider the type of papers or other items that you want to be able to securely destroy with your new shredder. If you need to securely destroy credit cards, ID cards, CDs and DVDs, you should make sure that your chosen shredder is capable of this.

Most importantly, you have to consider your budget. You have to consider how far your budget can stretch before you make your final decision on the type of machine to buy.

What Makes a Good Heavy Duty Paper Shredder?

There are several factors that determine a good heavy duty paper shredder. They include

  • Sheet capacity is the most important factor that determines a good shredder. In order to be considered a heavy duty shredder, it should be able to handle a large volume of pages a time.
  • Run time and cooling time. Most heavy duty shredders can run for between 15-20 minutes before needing a cool down break, although some can run for as long as 60 minutes before needing a rest. If you use a small consumer grade shredder that has a short runtime, you will always find yourself waiting for it to cool down.
  • Security level is another factor that you must consider while making your choice. The smaller the pieces that your shredder creates from your documents, the more secure they will be. Micro cut shredders are more secure than cross cut shredders, and strip cut shredders should not be used for highly sensitive documents because they can be recreated with special computer software.

The 5 Best Heavy Duty Paper Shredders

HSM Classic 22-24 Sheet Strip-Cut Shredder

The HSM Classic 108.2 shredder was first introduced in 1987 and has stood the test of time in offices worldwide. It can cut up to 384 sheets per minute, and has a continuous duty motor that allows it to run uninterrupted with no cool down periods required. It is, however, only a strip cut shredder, which means that it is not as secure as the more modern cross cut and micro cut models. This shredder can securely destroy credit cards and ID cards, DVDs and CDs. Like most heavy duty units, staples and paper clips can be left on documents and they do not interfere with the shredder’s performance. Made in Germany and backed by a lifetime warranty, this shredder will last you many years to come.

Check the price and Buy it Online from Amazon

Fellowes 99Ci Heavy Duty Paper and Credit Card Shredder

Fellowes is a trusted brand in office equipment, and after reviewing this machine, it’s easy to see why. Featuring their 100% Jam Proof technology, it powers through any job quickly and quietly. It also features their proprietary SafeSense technology, which stops the machine when it senses that a hand is touching the paper opening. This is especially useful if there are children or pets that might be in the same area as the shredder.

It also includes SilentShred noise reduction, which helps to reduce the amount of noise generated when shredding documents. The blades are strong enough to securely destroy credit cards and ID cards as well as CDs and DVDs. You do not need to remove staples or paper clips from documents before shredding with this unit either. Capable of 18 pages at a time, with a 30 minute runtime before it needs a 40 minute cool down, this heavy duty shredder could be just the right model for your office.

Check the price and Buy it Online from Amazon

Bonsaii EverShred C149-C

This heavy duty paper shredder from Bonsaii impressed us and we think it will impress you too. It can work for up 60 minutes continuously, with only a 10 minute cool down period before resuming shredding. It can shred up to 18 sheets of paper at a time in to cross cut particles that are 1/4″ x 1-23/50″ in size. Like all of the heavy duty shredders that we have reviewed, it is capable of shredding DVDs, CDs, credit and ID cards, as well as documents that still have staples in them.

Equipped with a very quiet motor that runs at just 62 decibels and Automatic Jam Protection that will engage reverse mode, it is an impressive machine with an even more impressive price tag. This unit should definitely be on your short list.

Check the price and Buy it Online from Amazon

AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper, CD, and Credit Card Shredder

This cross cut shredder is part of the AmazonBasics range, their house brand products that are designed to provide great value for money. It can handle up to 24 pages at a time and can also destroy ID and credit cards, DVDs and CDs. It shreds papers into 7/32″ by 1-27/32″ particles. It is fitted with a range of LED indicators to remove some of the guess work that normally comes with troubleshooting shredder issues, indicating common issues such as overheat, overload and open door. It includes an auto reverse feature to handle paper jams easily and without the normal hassles that they can cause. The only downside? The runtime on this unit is just 25 minutes before requiring a 60 minute cool down.

Check the price and Buy it Online from Amazon

Fellowes 125Ci Heavy Duty Commercial Paper and Credit Card Shredder

This shredder is designed to handle the heavy work loads of small offices. It is slim in design and one of the best performing shredders out there. It can handle 18 pages at a time, utilizing a cross cut system to cut paper into 5/32″ x 1-1/2″ particles. It eliminates the frustration of paper jams with three stages of jam prevention that form part of its 100% Jam Proof system. The first level of jam protection prevents users from overfeeding paper by measuring the thickness using a sensor in the paper inlet. It is then capable of turning up the power to get through tough jobs that are caused by wrinkling or folding of pages that sometimes occurs as documents are shredded. Finally, it helps to maximize the productivity of the machine by providing feedback to users about the amount of paper they’re feeding into the machine – there’s a light bar that shows the percentage of capacity that the machine is running at. It can run for 45 minutes before requiring a 45 minute cool down period.

Check the price and Buy it Online from Amazon

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