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How-to · By the OfficeRated team
Cross-Cut vs Micro-Cut: Which Security Level Do You Need?
Shredders are rated P-1 through P-7 under the DIN 66399 standard. The higher the number, the smaller the pieces. Most people need P-4, and few need more than P-5.
| Level | Typical cut | Max particle size (DIN 66399) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| P-2 | Strip-cut | ≤ 800 mm² or strips ≤ 6 mm wide | Internal documents with nothing personal on them |
| P-3 | Cross-cut | ≤ 320 mm² or strips ≤ 2 mm wide | Everyday mail, light personal info |
| P-4 | Cross-cut / micro-cut | ≤ 160 mm² | Bank statements, tax forms, medical bills: the home-office sweet spot |
| P-5 | Micro-cut | ≤ 30 mm² | Legal, HR and client records |
| P-6/P-7 | High-security | ≤ 10 mm² / ≤ 5 mm² | Classified or government material |
Cross-cut vs micro-cut in practice
Cross-cut
Rectangular confetti, often around 4×38 mm. It usually rates P-3 or P-4, takes more sheets per pass and runs faster.
Micro-cut
Tiny particles, around 3×10 mm or smaller, rated P-4 to P-5. It takes fewer sheets and needs more maintenance (oil it regularly), but it's much harder to piece back together.
Our recommendation
- Household paperwork: P-4, micro-cut if your budget allows.
- A small business handling client data: P-4 minimum. Check your industry's rules.
- Just junk mail: a P-3 cross-cut is fine.