3 best credit card shredders

Credit card shredders are specialized office equipment designed for the secure disposal of credit cards, identification cards, and other sensitive materials that contain personal or confidential information. They are a type of shredder commonly used in homes, offices, and businesses to prevent identity theft and maintain data security. Here are some key features and information about credit card shredders:

Purpose: Credit card shredders are specifically designed to shred plastic cards, such as credit cards, debit cards, driver's licenses, and identification badges, into small, unreadable pieces. This helps protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.
Cutting Mechanism: These shredders use a specialized cutting mechanism that is capable of handling the thickness and durability of plastic cards. The most common type of cut is cross-cut, which results in small, confetti-like pieces for added security.
Security Levels: Credit card shredders are available in various security levels, ranging from basic strip-cut to high-security cross-cut or micro-cut shredders. The higher the security level, the smaller and more difficult to reconstruct the shredded pieces will be.
Bin Capacity: Like other shredders, credit card shredders come with different bin capacities, which determine how much material you can shred before needing to empty the waste bin.This can range from small personal shredders to larger office models.
Jam Prevention: Many credit card shredders come equipped with features to prevent paper jams, such as sensors that detect potential jams and automatically reverse the shredding process.
Safety Features: Safety is important when using shredders. Credit card shredders often include safety features like auto shut-off when the bin is full or if the shredder overheats. They may also have safety locks to prevent unauthorized use.
Portability: Some credit card shredders are designed to be portable and can fit on a desktop or be easily moved around the office. Others are larger and more stationary for heavy-duty use.
Maintenance: Like all office equipment, credit card shredders require regular maintenance, such as oiling the cutting blades to ensure smooth operation and longevity.
Legal Compliance: In some industries, the secure disposal of certain cards and documents is required by law to protect sensitive information and maintain compliance with data protection regulations.

Credit card shredders are an essential tool for safeguarding personal and financial information, especially in today's world where identity theft and data breaches are significant concerns. Choosing the right credit card shredder depends on your specific needs, such as the volume of material you need to shred and the desired level of security.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best credit card shredders on the market

Amazon Basics 8-Sheet Capacity, Cross-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder, 4.1 Gallon

Based on 102 reviews Check latest price

Product description

An Amazon Brand

Cross-cut shred size: turns paper into small confetti-like pieces measuring 3/16 by 1-27/32 inches (5 by 47 mm); meets security level P-3 standards
Sheet capacity: shreds up to 8 sheets of 20-pound bond paper at a time (no need to remove staples or small paper clips); also destroys credit cards (one at a time)
Run time and thermal protection: 3 minutes on / 30 minutes off; if shredder runs continuously beyond the max run time, it will automatically shut off to protect the motor from overheating
User-friendly design: 3-mode control switch (auto, off, reverse); overheat LED indicator; 8.7-inch paper-entry width; easy-to-empty 4.1-gallon bin with see-through window
Support and warranty: please refer to user manual, troubleshooting guide, and instructional video before use; the user guide on this detail page covers issues related to the shredder turning on
Quality tested: as part of Amazon Basics quality inspections, we test every shredder before shipping it, which means you may see some paper shreds from the testing

User questions & answers

Question:	can you use a bag
Answer:	There is an interlock on the shredder that prevents it from operating unless it's sitting on the shredded paper receptacle - usually a switch in a slot on the head that is closed by a tab on the receptacle. If the bag doesn't interfere with that interlock, it should work. A very thin bag, or a bag cut out specifically to not interfere with the interlock, will likely work.
Question:	Is this a medium duty cycle for a small office
Answer:	It would be great for a small office. Just be careful not to put thicker sheets or folded sheets in too often or it will overheat the system and you have to wait 15 - 20 minutes for it to cool down. Stick to one or 2 sheets at a time. If you have a lot of paperwork, you may want to go up a size because the basket fills up pretty quickly. Overall, it is a good little machine.
Question:	What's the warranty on this shredder
Answer:	Great question... I checked the Instruction Manual to find that there is no mention of a warranty... It's a lazy Sunday afternoon (August 17th, 4:34 PM PDT) so I called Amazon Customer Service (1-800-216-1072)... The very nice lady who answered (Marya) tells me that while the warranty information does not appear anywhere on the Amazon website, there is a one-year warranty on ANY AmazonBasic product, including the 6-sheet cross-cut paper shredder (ASIN# B00HFJWKWK)... Good to know... We've had this unit a couple of months and love it... Only challenge is that we generate a whole heckuva lot more shreds than we imagined... Would be great if we could order a basket about three or four times as large...
Question:	Which shredder oil is recommended for this shredder
Answer:	The easiest oil to use are the shredder oil sheets. No mess, no fuss. https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-SP12A-Shredder-Sharpening-Lubricant/dp/B01H7M7BXM/

Product features

Cross-Cut Shredder

More secure than a strip-cut shredder, this cross-cut shredder slices diagonally in both directions to destroy paper, credit cards and more.

Easy Start

In Auto (on) mode, shredding begins once the machine detects something to be shredded, and then it stops automatically when shredding is complete.

Reverse Function

The reverse function makes it possible to retrieve un-shredded or partially shredded documents, plus helps prevent paper jams.

Thermal Protection for Safety

The shredder will automatically shut off to protect the motor if it runs beyond its maximum run time or begins to over-heat.

Aurora High Security JamFree AU1000MA 10-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper / CD / Credit Card Shredder with Pull-Out Wastebasket

Aurora

Based on 2 reviews Check latest price

Product description

10 sheet micro shred paper shredder with 5 gallon pullout basket. Advanced Jam Free Technology eliminates paper jams The jam free sensor detects over capacity and shredding will not start to prevent paper jams The shred size of 5/32" x 15/32" has a continues shred of 12 minutes on and 45 off. The small particles reduce the frequency of having to empty the basket less often. The shredder also features Shred Safe, a safety feature which turns the shredder off upon forced entry by a foreign object. Also capable of shredding CD's, Dad's(one at a time) individual credit cards ,staples and paper clips. LED indicators Standby(power)/ Overheat/Overload/Door Open/Jam Free.

10 sheet micro cut with 5 gallon pullout basket
Advanced Jam Free technology eliminates paper jams
Shred safe advanced safety feature auto power off to prevent accidents
Shreds CDs/DVDs, Credit cards, Small paper clipsm, StaplesOverload / Overheat protection.Paper Shred Size:5/32" x 15/32"
Auto start/stop/overload/overheat protection LED indicator lights Power/ Overheat/ Overload/ Misaligned status

User questions & answers

Question:	What size is motor power
Answer:	The Aurora AU1210MA requires 120V/60Hz/1-Phase power and will draw a maximum of 3 Amps.
Question:	How long is the warranty
Answer:	We warrant the cutting cylinders of the machine against defects of workmanship and material for a period of 5 years from the original purchase date to the original consumer, and all other parts of the machine against defects of workmanship and material for a period of 1 year from the original purchase date to the original consumer. "
Question:	How long is the recovery time on the Aurora 1210MA
Answer:	45 minutes
Question:	what security level is this machine
Answer:	Security level P-4 (5/32" x 15/32")

Product features

Aurora High Security JamFree AU1000MA 10-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder

High security micro-cut: Provides ultimate protection with particles 6 times smaller than typical cross-cut.

Shredsafe: Advanced safety feature automatically powers off upon forced entry to prevent mishaps and accidents.

Jamfree: Shredder will not operate when over capacity is detected, prevent paper jams.

Auto power-off: Automatically powers-off after 5 min not in use for energy saving and safety.

Bright LED status indicators

Micro-cuts paper for maximum security

Destroys CDs/ DVDs, credit cards, clips and staples

Casters for easy mobility

Advanced features:

JamFree Anti-Jam technology and Auto Power-Off for energy saving and safety

Aurora AU800SD Professional Strip Cut Paper Shredder/CD/Credit Card Shredder Without Wastebasket, 8-Sheet Strip-Cut No Basket

Aurora

Based on 4 reviews Check latest price

Product description

Designed to provide economical document security, this paper shredder is the perfect home device to help keep you safe from identity theft. The AU800SD accepts up to eight sheets of paper at a time and shreds them into 1/4-inch strips. Paper is shredded at a speedy 9.8 feet per minute. In addition to paper, the AU800SD shreds CDs and credit cards, keeping vital information from falling into the wrong hands. The throat of the shredder is 8.7 inches wide and the extendable arm fits over most wastebaskets. PRODUCT DETAILS: Sheet Capacity: 8 Cut Type: Strip cut Shred Size: 1/4" wide strips Security Level: Level P-1 (general internal documents) Shreds: Credit cards; Small staples Continuous Run Time: 2 minutes Shred Speed: 9.84 feet per minute Recommended Shredder Use: household or home office Throat Width: 8.7" Automatic Start/Stop: Yes Reverse Type: Manual Shreds Credit Cards: Yes Shreds CD/DVDs: Yes Overheat Protection: Yes Unit Size Dimensions: 13.00" W x 6.50" L x 2.95" H Warranty: 1-year machine; 1-year cutters

Shreds credit cards and CDs / DVDs
Auto start/ stop. Thermal protection / Overheat protection
Jam-Remover (forward) and Manual reverse for cleaning paper jams
Extendable arm to fit over most waste baskets (Max length is 15" or 38.1 cm)
Shred Paper Capacity: 8 sheets of 20 lb. bond paper

User questions & answers

Question:	How long will shredder run continuously before it overheats and shuts off
Answer:	About 10-13 minutes
Question:	How small an opening will it fit , I want to put in a 10" square bin? Thanks in advance
Answer:	The smallest opening it will fit is 12-13". I put it over a cardboard box and then put the entire box out for recycling. Or sometimes my recycling bin.
Question:	will it fit a round wastebasket? 12 inches
Answer:	No, does not fit a 12" wastebasket. I tried. I use mine on a larger rectangular wastebasket. I'm very pleased with this product. Have had it a while and use it almost daily to shred mail and such. One word of advice. DO NOT try to shred anything that has that glue found on mailers. That sticky stuff you have to rub off. THAT will jam the machine. ALL shredders, not just this one!
Question:	how large of a can will it fit
Answer:	It fits my wastebasket which is a stretch of 15 inches across the top. That is the maximum it will stretch to.