Stacks of paper documents and file folders — Photo: Wesley Tingey / Unsplash

Buying guide · Updated October 2026 · By the OfficeRated team

Paper Shredders for Offices & Businesses: A Buying Guide

The right shredder is the one you'll actually use: it takes a stack without jamming, runs long enough to finish the job, and cuts small enough for what you're getting rid of.

The quick rule: for bank statements and anything with an account or Social Security number, get P-4 or better. Then pick run time to match how much you shred at once.

Models to consider

Listed alphabetically by brand. The order is not a ranking.

Specs come from manufacturer manuals and spec pages, or retailer listings where noted (linked). "n/a" means we couldn't verify it. * see notes below the table. Retailer links appear only where we confirmed the retailer sells that exact model; we don't show prices, so check the retailer for current pricing.

Model	Suited to	Sheets per pass	Cut / security	Bin	Run time (min)	Where to buy	Source
Fellowes AutoMax 350C	Hands-off auto feed	350 auto / 12 manual	Cross-cut	18 gal	n/a	Check price · Amazon	spec
Fellowes Powershred 225Ci	Busy shared office	22	Cross-cut, P-4	16 gal	Continuous	Check price · Amazon	spec
Fellowes Powershred 99Ci	Small team	18	Cross-cut, P-4	9 gal*	30 on / 40 off*	Check price · Amazon	spec
Formax FD 8652CC	Busy shared office	32	Cross-cut, P-4	53 gal	n/a	Check price · Amazon Check price · Staples	spec
HSM SECURIO B26	Department, choice of security level	varies by cutter	P-2 to P-7 (by cutter)	14.5 gal	n/a	Check price · AmazonCross-cut, P-4 (B26c, HSM1803) version	spec

* Fellowes 99Ci figures come from the Fellowes Singapore listing (A4 paper; 34 L bin). Formax's FD 8652CC spec sheet doesn't state a run-time duty cycle. The older FD 8250CC is discontinued.

What to look for

Security level (P-1 to P-7). P-4 suits most offices; HIPAA, legal and government work often calls for P-5 or higher. See our security guide.
Sheets per pass. Real capacity is often a couple of sheets below the rating.
Run time and cool-down. Shared office machines should run 20+ minutes or continuously; purge jobs need continuous duty.
Bin size. Micro-cut packs tighter, but for a shared office look for 8 gallons or more; departments often want 15–30+.
Extras. Credit cards, CDs, staples, casters, jam prevention.