10 Best CD Shredders 2025 in the United States

The Amazon Basics 24 Sheet Cross Cut Shredder is a versatile office tool designed to handle a range of materials including paper, CDs, DVDs, and credit cards. It uses a cross-cut mechanism, producing confetti-like pieces that measure 5/32 by 1-1/2 inches, meeting the P-4 security level standards, making it suitable for disposing of sensitive documents. This shredder can handle up to 24 sheets of paper simultaneously, making it efficient for high-volume shredding tasks. CDs and credit cards should be shredded one at a time through a dedicated slot.

The shredder operates for 40 minutes before needing a 50-minute cooldown period to prevent motor overheating, which might be limiting for continuous heavy use. The 7-gallon pullout bin is convenient and easy to empty, reducing the frequency of maintenance. Features like auto start, anti-jam auto reverse, and LED indicators for various statuses enhance usability and safety.

Quality testing ensures reliability, although potential users should be cautious about not using aerosol products around it or shredding metallic cards. With its combination of features, this shredder is well-suited for home offices or small businesses requiring a robust and reliable shredding solution. The cooldown period could be a drawback for some.

The Fellowes Powershred 225Ci is a commercial-grade shredder designed for heavy-duty use in office environments. One of its standout features is its ability to shred up to 22 sheets of paper at once, along with staples, credit cards, paper clips, CDs/DVDs, and junk mail, making it highly versatile. The cross-cut shredding mechanism ensures documents are shredded into tiny 5/32” x 1-1/2” particles, providing a high level of security (Level P-4), ideal for confidential documents.

Safety is also a priority with the SafeSense Technology, which automatically stops shredding when it detects hands near the paper entry, reducing the risk of accidents. Additionally, the shredder boasts a continuous duty motor, allowing for non-stop shredding without overheating, which is essential for busy workplaces. The 16-gallon bin is quite large, meaning fewer interruptions for emptying, and the LED bin-full indicator is a useful feature. Despite its powerful performance, the 225Ci operates quietly, making it suitable for shared workspaces.

It is worth noting that the shredder is quite heavy (82.7 pounds), which may be a consideration for some users. Additionally, while it optimizes energy usage, it is an older model (first available in 2009) and has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Despite this, it remains well-regarded for its durability and comprehensive warranty, including a lifetime warranty on the cutters. The Fellowes Powershred 225Ci is an excellent choice for those needing a robust and reliable shredder for extensive office use, with the added capability to shred CDs and DVDs securely.

The Amazon Basics 12 Sheet Micro Cut Shredder is designed to securely destroy sensitive documents, credit cards, and CDs/DVDs, making it a solid choice for home or small office use. Its micro-cut shredding turns paper into tiny pieces (about 0.16 x 0.5 inches), meeting a high security level (P-4), which is great if you want to protect personal or confidential information. It can shred up to 12 sheets at once, including staples and small clips, which is convenient for handling typical office paperwork. The shredder also manages to destroy CDs, DVDs, and credit cards one at a time through a separate slot, or you can use the main paper slot for credit cards if you want extra security.

The shredding speed and capacity are adequate for moderate use, although it has a 20-minute maximum continuous run time before it needs to cool down for 20 minutes. This is a common safety feature to prevent overheating but could interrupt longer shredding sessions. Noise levels aren't specifically listed, but micro-cut shredders tend to be quieter than cross-cut ones, making it suitable for quieter environments. The 6-gallon bin is reasonably sized, so you won't need to empty it too often, and the pull-out design with wheels makes it easy to move around and maintain. Safety features like auto shut-off when overheating, overload, or the bin is full provide peace of mind during operation.

On the downside, shredding CDs and credit cards one at a time might feel slow if you have many to destroy. Also, after 30 minutes of inactivity, it enters sleep mode, which saves power but might delay startup slightly. The shredder is fairly heavy at around 22 pounds, which adds to its solid feel but reduces portability. This shredder suits users needing reliable, secure shredding of paper and occasional CD or card destruction, especially in small office or home settings. Its strengths lie in security, ease of use, and safety, while its run-time limits and one-at-a-time media shredding might be less ideal for heavy shredding demands.