Best Heavy-Duty Paper Shredders for High Capacity Shredding
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Shred High Volumes of Confidential Documents Continuously
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Are you looking for a reliable office shredder for shredding large amounts of sensitive documents? Then we recommend a heavy-duty shredder. These commercial, centralized paper shredders are able to shred high volumes of documents continuously.
Standard paper shredders need to cool down after a few minutes of shredding, but a large paper shredder for heavy-duty shredding is optimized to shred for long shredding sessions because of its long run-time and large bin capacity.
Top 10 Powerful Shredders
Top 10 Heavy-Duty Shredders for Non-Stop Shredding
- Centralized office shredder for 8-10 users – ideal. 2604
- Automatic paper shredder for large offices – Fellowes AutoMax 550C
- Super Micro-Cut P-7 shredding machine – ideal. 2445 High Security
- Continuous centralized office paper shredder – ideal. 4002
- High security for small office use – Fellowes Powershred 225Mi
- Auto feed shredder for medium/large offices – Fellowes AutoMax 350C
- NSA-compliant shredder for 10+ users – Fellowes Powershred 425Ci
- Particles 10 times smaller than standard cross-cut – Aurora AU1540MB
- Quiet high volume shredder for 6-10 users – Fellowes Powershred 325Ci
- Safe, reliable and very heavy duty – Fellowes Powershred 485Ci
What is the best high capacity shredder for professional use? Check our top 10 with recommendations for commercial shredder machines. These powerful shredders are able to shred high volumes of confidential documents into small particles.
#1 | ideal. 2604
Powerful centralized office shredder for 8-10 users.
Our #1 Best Seller
The ideal. 2604 the perfect centralized shredder for small offices. This shredder is designed to be operated by 8 – 10 users. But this shredder is also great for departments or floors with relatively few employees. The shredder can also shred CDs, DVDs, credit cards, paper clips and staples. The automatic oil injection is responsible for lubricating the cutting shafts automatically while shredding. You can shred around 490 sheets per minute and shred up to 25 sheets per pass.
- Security level: Cross-cut
- Run time: Continuous
- Sheet capacity: 23-25 pages
- Bin capacity: 26 gallons
- Noise level: – dB
#2 | Fellowes AutoMax 550C Auto Feed
Hands-free automatic paper shredder for large offices
The Fellowes AutoMax 550C Auto Feed is a ‘walk-away’ heavy-duty paper shredder provides maximum productivity for large offices or departments. Shredding is easy and quick by loading the tray with a stack of sensitive documents (up to 550 sheets). It is recommended to stack the sheets neatly. Press start and the AutoMax 550C will do the rest for you. It takes up to 6 to 7 minutes to shred all the documents in P4 particles. You can also shred up to 14 sheets of paper manually in the manual feed slot. The automatic shredder also shreds CDs, DVDs, credit cards and junk mail.
- Security level: Cross-cut
- Run time: Continuous (automatic)
- Sheet capacity: 550 pages (or 14 manual)
- Bin capacity: 22 gallons
- Noise level: 60 dB
- Official product page
#3 | ideal. 2445 High Security
Superb high security micro-cut P-7 shredding machine
The ideal. 2445 is a large capacity micro-cut shredder that offers your company high-security because of its P-7 security level. The high-security shredder is ideal for shredding data sensitive and highly classified documents that are top secret. The strong and whisper quiet 1/2 HP motor provides continuous operation and makes sure the shredder can shred through 5-7 sheets of paper per pass.
- Security level: Super micro-cut
- Run time: Continuous
- Sheet capacity: 5-7 pages
- Bin capacity: 9 gallons
- Noise level: 55 dB
#4 | ideal. 4002
Continuous centralized office paper shredder.
The ideal. 4002 is a powerful office shredder with an automatic oiler, which makes sure it can run all day. This shredder is capable of fast shredding up to 26 pages per pass continuously thanks to its powerful single-phase 13/4 HP motor. The durable, solid-steel cutting shafts shred your confidential office documents into small P-4 paper particles. Besides your business papers, it can also shred CDs, DVDs, credit cards and of course staples and paper clips stand no chance.
- Security level: Cross-cut
- Run time: Continuous
- Sheet capacity: 24-26 pages
- Bin capacity: 44 gallons
- Noise level: – dB
#5 | Fellowes Powershred 225Mi
Quiet heavy duty paper shredder for small offices (3-5 users)
The Fellowes Powershred 225Mi is a heavy-duty paper shredder that is perfect for small businesses. With a sheet capacity of 16 documents per pass, and it does this at the high P-5 security level. This Fellowes shredder can also shred staples and paperclips and is 100% Jam Proof eliminating paper jams, and powers through tough jobs. For shredding credit cards and CDs/DVDs this shredder has a separate slot.
- Security level: Micro-cut
- Run time: Continuous
- Sheet capacity: 16 pages
- Bin capacity: 16 gallons
- Noise level: – dB
#6 | Fellowes AutoMax 350C Auto Feed
Walk-away auto-feed shredder for medium / large offices
The Fellowes AutoMax 350C Auto Feed is an auto-feed shredder for up to 5 users. With this automatic heavy-duty shredder you can quietly shred 350 sheets automatically or 12 sheets per pass manually. In approximately 8 minutes you shred 350 pages. The shredder shreds your sensitive documents in small cross-cut DIN P-4 particles, which is great for high security. You can also shred CDs and credit cards with this automatic shredder.
- Security level: Cross-cut
- Run time: 45 minutes
- Sheet capacity: 350 pages (or 12 manual)
- Bin capacity: 18 gallons
- Noise level: 60 dB
- Official product page
#7 | Fellowes Powershred 425Ci
Powerful TAA-compliant heavy duty shredder for 10+ users
The Fellowes Powershred 425Ci is a 100% jam-proof commercial shredder for large office use. It can shred sheets of paper continuously, about 30 sheets per pass. The high capacity shredder has a 12 inch throat and a large 30 gallon bin. You can move the large heavy-duty office shredder easily because of the wheels. You keep the cutters in great condition because of the auto oil system. Besides paper this shredder tears through junk-mail, CDs and credit cards.
- Security level: Cross-cut
- Run time: Continuous
- Sheet capacity: 28-30 pages
- Bin capacity: 30 gallons
- Noise level: 60 dB
- Official product page
#8 | Aurora AU1540MB
Particles 10 times smaller than standard cross-cut
The Aurora AU1540MB is an extremely secure micro-cut shredder that cuts your paper into particles that are 10 times smaller than your average cross-cut shredder. It can cut CDs, DVDs, and credit cards into small pieces as well and has a 60-minute runtime before it needs to cool down. It operates quietly and features an anti-jam function which will let the shredder reverse as soon as the tiniest obstruction is sensed.
- Security level: Micro-cut P-5
- Run time: 60 minutes
- Sheet capacity: 15 pages
- Bin capacity: 13 gallons
#9 | Fellowes Powershred 325Ci
Quiet cross-cut high volume commercial shredder for 6-10 users
The Fellowes Powershred 325Ci is a solidly built paper shredder for heavy use. The shredder shreds up to 22 sheets of paper per pass. Besides bulk shredding, you can also shred CDs, DVDs, and credit cards. The wide 9.5-inch throat contains a safety sensor and a sensor that prevents paper jams. The large commercial paper shredder runs silently, you can barely hear the motor while it is running.
- Security level: Cross-cut
- Run time: Continuous
- Sheet capacity: 22-24 pages
- Bin capacity: 22 gallons
- Noise level: 64 dB
#10 | Fellowes Powershred 485Ci
Safe, reliable and very heavy duty
The Fellowes Powershred 485Ci can shred 30 sheets of paper at a time. The heavy-duty motor can shred continuously without a break. The chain drive with steel gears allows the cutting knives to shred high volumes with low power consumption. The Fellowes comes with two separates sets of blades, one for shredding confidential documents and the other to shred CDs, DVDs, and credit cards.
- Security level: Cross-cut
- Run time: Continuous
- Sheet capacity: 30 pages
- Bin capacity: 35 gallons
- Noise level: 60 dB
Commercial paper shredders are perfect to use for centralized high-volume paper shredding at the office.
Top 10 Paper Shredders for Heavy-Duty Use
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More About High Volume Paper Shredders
Navigation:
- What is a heavy-duty shredder?
- Other high volume shredder options
- What are the differences between heavy-duty models?
- Why do you need a commercial heavy duty shredder?
- Requirements of a commercial shredder for heavy-duty shredding
- Tools for paper shredding
- Commercial shredder manufacturers
- Autofeed shredders – Shred while you walk away
What is a heavy-duty shredder?
A heavy-duty shredder machine is designed to be used at the office with multiple users because of its large bin capacity and high sheet capacity. This makes a heavy-duty shredder perfect for departmental shredding. You can also use high capacity paper shredders to assist you with your yearly cleanup of old tax records and other financial and sensitive documents.
However, heavy-duty is a relative term that can mean different things to different people. On this page, a shredder is considered heavy-duty if it can serve as a centralized shredder for the office. For you, it might mean a shredder that you can share with one or two colleagues or on that has a sheet capacity larger than 10.
More info? Read our Paper Shredder Buying Guide.
Other high volume shredder options
The commercial-grade heavy-duty shredders we’ve selected are targeted for (medium / large) office use. But maybe you are looking for a smaller continuous shredder for your home office, or maybe you want an industrial shredder for shredding large volumes of paper. These shredders have different specifications and different price points.
Find more shredders for your office environment. Check our top 5 personal shredders for home use and shredders you can use for small office. Collect your shredded documents in a blue commercial recycling bin with a recycle label or go for extra security with a lockable shred bin. A shred bin can also be used to store sensitive documents prior to paper shredding.
Industrial paper shredders for bulk shredding
When you want to frequently shred high volumes of confidential documents it is recommended to invest in an industrial-grade paper shredder. An industrial shredder is built for continuous shredding in bulk. Find out more about industrial paper shredders.
Shred without a shredder
Maybe a paper shredder isn’t the right solution for your paper shredding project. You can also opt for hiring a paper shredder, or hire a paper shredder company in your area. These companies can shred all your confidential documents.
What are the differences between heavy-duty models?
You may have noticed that a lot of the names of shredders in our top 10 list are similar to each other. For example, there are four Fellowes Powershreds. Now you may ask yourself how these models differ from one another, and which one is best for your needs.
Firstly, Fellowes is a very popular and reliable brand that you will run into a lot during your search for a shredder. All of the names of their models are very similar, and this also goes for other brands. The main difference between these models is the capacity of the machine. This means the machines differ in their maximum sheet-capacity, the bin capacity, and the recommended number of users. Therefore, if you have found two of more shredders from the same collection you should look at the capacity specifications to decide which one suits your needs.
Why do you need a commercial heavy duty shredder?
Some people don’t realize this, but most average shredders can only shred for a few minutes before they need to cool down. This cool-down period can take up to 45-60 minutes. These cheap shredders are limited because of the short duty cycle. Thereby the small bin fills up quickly with your shredded documents, which isn’t recommended for high capacity shredding in the office.
Imagine you want to shred large amounts of sensitive documents with a basic shredder that can only run for 10 minutes and needs to cool down for almost an hour. Therefore it is recommended to invest in a more expensive and larger heavy-duty shredder that is designed for heavy office use.
Shred large amounts of confidential and sensitive documents continuously in bulk.
Heavy-duty shredder v.s. Standard paper shredder
- Users: 5+ users
- Price range: $500+
- Sheet capacity: 14+ Sheets
- Bin capacity: 15+ Gallons
- Run-time: 30+ Minutes
- Users: 1-2 users
- Price range: $25 – $100
- Sheet capacity: 5 Sheets
- Bin capacity: 3 Gallons
- Run-time: 2 – 10 Minutes
See a Fellowes Powershred 225Ci in action
Besides the short run-time and limited bin capacity, an average home shredder for light usage isn’t built for heavy-duty work. When you use a small shredder like a workhorse all kinds of problems will occur, such as paper jams or even a defect in the cutters or motor. A paper shredder for light use is made for shredding a few documents at a time, not for eating through boxes full of documents and junk mail. For this kind of heavy-duty commercial shredding, you really need a large shredder that is made for this intensive task.
For who is a heavy-duty shredder?
Heavy-duty shredders are mostly used in the office. The shredders are used for shredding large volumes of documents. But also at home, you might have the need to shred more documents than your average home shredder. There are also heavy-duty shredders you can use at home, these shredders aren’t as large as the commercial office shredders. But they have some heavy-duty features, such as a longer run-time, higher sheet capacity, and a larger bin.
Requirements of a commercial shredder for heavy-duty shredding
- High sheet capacity – The sheet capacity tells you the number of standard documents you can shred at once. The larger the capacity, the faster you can shred your documents.
- High bin capacity – The amount of shredded paper the bin can hold, we recommend at least 15 gallons.
- Long run-time – The number of minutes the paper shredder can run before it needs to cool down. Expensive heavy duty paper shredders can run continuously without cooling down. A heavy-duty shredder is rated around 30 minutes or more.
Other things to take into consideration
- Jam-proof – One of the biggest annoyances with paper shredders is a paper jam. Luckily most commercial shredders have built-in technology which prevents a paper jam. A special sensor registers the amount of paper that is fed in the manual slot. When the stack is too large, the shredder will stop and reverse the cutters.
- Quiet and silent shredding – In some offices, it is desired to shred documents discretely. Look for a quiet heavy-duty shredding machine with a low noise level that produces less than 55 dB of sound while shredding.
- Oil the shredder – It is very important to lubricate the shredder often. Some office shredders will auto-oil the cutters, but some need manual assistance. Read more about shredder oil and lubricant sheets for shredders.
- Cross-cut or Micro-cut – Do you expect small particles or very small particles from your heavy-duty shredder? In short, a cross-cut shredder can shred more sheets of paper in one go and produces larger paper particles. If the safety of information is very important within your company, we recommend a micro-cut paper shredder. Read more about this in our paper shredder guide.
Tools for paper shredding
We recommend the following related paper shredding tools:
Commercial shredder manufacturers
What are well-known heavy-duty shredder manufactures and brands?
Autofeed shredders – Shred while you walk away
Some offices make use of automatic paper shredders, also known as auto feed shredders. These types of office shredders can also be used for heavy-duty jobs, for instance for the finance department. An automatic paper shredder is a unique machine because these shredders can shred documents automatically.
You just feed a stack of paper (it depends on the shredder how much it can handle) and the shredder takes care of the rest. An automatic shredder is also described as a ‘walk away shredder’. Because you can really fill up the shredder, press the button and walk away while the shredder shreds all your paper sheets while you continue working.
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Pls. let me know the price and the availability of heavy shredder with the Sheet capacity: 35-40 pages. Thanks
Dear Saghir, thank you for your question. Here you can find all heavy duty shredders with a sheet capacity of 40+ pages: https://amzn.to/2GHKszk
Need a Heavy duty Sheerer for dispose of old record files. Please send us your best quote with payment terms and delivery in fujairah
Dear Sahajwani. Here you can find all heavy duty shredders with a sheet capacity of 40+ pages: https://amzn.to/2GHKszk
We have requirement of Heavy Duty Paper Shredders machine at AB plant Vadodara. Kindly send the details of local authorized dealer in India ( Gujarat)
Thank you for your question. Maybe you can look at this firm: http://www.goyumshredder.com/.
This is helpful, thank you. However, what do u think about the Rexel auto office paper shredder
Dear Elijah, thank you. Rexel Auto+ shredders are also great shredders. For heavy duty use in the office we recommend the Rexel Auto+ 300x or the Rexel Auto+ 600x, it depends on the number of users. Rexel is also known as Swingline in America. Best regards, Pim.
We have requirement for HIGH CAPACITY SHREDDER
Shared Type/Size: Cross Cut/ 3.9X40 mm
Security Level: Minimum Level 3
Shareable Material: Paper, Stables, CD’s, Credit Cards.
Paper Capacity: Minimum 50-A4
Dear Yahia, thanks for your question. Please take a look at our page about industrial paper shredders for more info. I recommend looking at the Formax 8906CC.
Greetings from JJ Industries!!!
Please quote your best price for supply of ITEMS as per the Requisition
Below is the detailed RFQ and for your review
1.Description of Item: Heavy Duty Shredder
QTY: 4 EACH
SEE SPECIFICATIONS:
• Level 6 / P-7 Cross Cut
• Entry Width: 16″ (min)
• Shred Size:.8 x 5 mm (max)
• Sheet Capacity:Up to 16 sheets (approximate)
• Motor Peak:2.9 HP or better
• Waste Capacity:53 Gal (approximate)
• 1 Year manufacturer Warranty – if TAA Compliant, ensure it is on product description to validate.
Please include Manufacturer’s brand and correct P/N, certificate of compliance required with all shipment.
Please respond ASAP with shipping cost AUSTIN TX 78731-2210, freight and weight charges and also lead time
If any clarification please contact me
Thank you
Dear Joseph, one of our partners will contact you. Best regards.