n.b. This article was updated on 28th July 2017
Modern shredders come with a variety of handy features - and if noise level (or reduction of!) is high on your list of priorities then you may well want to consider a shredder that offers quieter operation or noise reduction technology.
A lot of paper shredders don't have specific information as to how many decibels they run at whilst in use, but machines are sometimes marketed as 'whisper quiet', 'silent shredder' or 'quiet shredder'. Fellowes for example have their 'SilentShred' shredders - and Rexel have the 'Whisper' models or 'ultra-quiet operation' shredders.
Of course, all shredders make some noise, but the aim of these shredders is to minimise this noise and the disruption it can cause, whether at home or in the office.
One of the quietest shredders we've come across so far is the Swordfish 800XXC Micro-Cut Shredder, which comes in at only 55 dBA, but there are lots of others to choose from. So below is our list of shredders that aim to reduce the decibels. And for ease of reference here is the decibel level for each (if provided by the manufacturer):
| Shredder Model |
Decibels |
| Fellowes Powershred 79Ci Cross-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as SilentShred |
| Rexel Auto+ 100X Cross-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as ultra quiet operation |
| Swordfish 800XXC Micro-Cut Shredder |
55 dBA |
| Ativa AT-18XN Cross-Cut Shredder |
58 dBA |
| Rexel Prostyle+ 5 Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder |
Less than 73 dBA |
| Fellowes Powershred 99Ci Cross-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as SilentShred |
| Rexel REM820 Micro-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as ultra quiet operation |
| Rexel Promax V60WS Strip-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as quiet operation |
| Rexel Mercury RES1223 Strip-Cut Shredder |
Less than 55 dBA |
| Fellowes Powershred 225i Strip-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as SilentShred |
| Rexel Mercury RLS32 Strip-Cut Office Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as quiet operation |
| Rexel Mercury RDX1850 Cross-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as having a quiet operation induction motor |
| Fellowes Powershred 225Ci Cross-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as SilentShred |
| Rexel Mercury RDM1150 Micro-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as having a quiet operation induction motor |
| Fellowes Powershred 225Mi Micro-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but marketed as SilentShred |
| Swordfish 2000XCD Cross-Cut Shredder |
58 dBA |
| Rexel Whisper V35WS Cross-Cut Shredder |
58 dBA |
| Rexel Whisper V30WS Strip-Cut Shredder |
Not provided but designed to be up to 50% quieter than normal shredders |
| HSM Securio B24 Cross-Cut Shredder (4.5 x 30mm) |
56 dBA |
- Cross-cut
- 4 x 38mm
- P-4 (for shredding highly confidential documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 14 sheets of 70gsm paper
£236.99
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- Cross-cut
- 4 x 50mm
- P-3 (for shredding confidential documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples
- 100 sheets of paper
Unavailable
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- Micro-cut
- 2 x 12mm
- P-5 (for shredding secret documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, small staples
- 8 sheets of 80gsm paper
£175.35
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- Cross-cut
- 4 x 35mm
- P-3, T-3, 0-3, E-3 (for shredding confidential documents)
- Paper, credit cards, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 18 sheets of 70gsm paper
Unavailable
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- Cross-cut
- 4 x 40mm
- P-4 (for shredding highly confidential documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples
- 5 sheets of 80gsm paper or 6 sheets of 70gsm
£54.49
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- Cross-cut
- 4 x 38mm
- P-4 (for shredding highly confidential documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 17 sheets of 70gsm paper
£299.86
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- Micro-cut
- 1.9 x 15mm
- P-5 (for shredding secret documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 7 sheets of 80gsm paper or 8 sheets of 70gsm
£162.39
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- Strip-cut
- 5.8mm wide strips
- P-2 (for shredding everyday documents)
- Paper, staples
- 7 sheets of paper
Unavailable
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- Strip-cut
- 5.8mm wide strips
- P-2 (for shredding everyday documents)
- Paper, credit cards
- 12 sheets of 80gsm paper or 13 sheets of 70gsm
Unavailable
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- Strip-cut
- 5.8mm wide strips
- P-2 (for shredding everyday documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 20 sheets of 75gsm paper
£479.34
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- Strip-cut
- 5.8mm wide strips
- P-2 (for shredding everyday documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 32 sheets of 80gsm paper or 34 sheets of 70gsm
£822.24
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- Cross-cut
- 4 x 45mm
- P-3 (for shredding confidential documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 18 sheets of 80gsm paper or 19 sheets of 70gsm
£469.89
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- Cross-cut
- 4 x 38mm
- P-4 (for shredding highly confidential documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 20 sheets of 75gsm paper
£485.00
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- Micro-cut
- 1.9 x 15mm
- P-5 (for shredding secret documents)
- Paper only
- 11 sheets of 80gsm paper or 12 sheets of 70gsm
£725.00
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- Micro-cut
- 2 x 12mm
- P-5 (for shredding secret documents)
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 14 sheets of paper
£617.40
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- Cross-cut
- 4 x 35mm
- P-4 (for shredding highly confidential documents), O-3
- Paper, credit cards, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 20 sheets of 80gsm paper
Unavailable
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- Cross-cut
- 4 x 45mm
- P-3 (for shredding confidential documents)
- Paper, paper clips, staples
- 5 sheets of 80gsm paper or 6 sheets of 70gsm
Unavailable
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- Strip-cut
- 5.8mm wide strips
- P-2 (for shredding everyday documents)
- Paper, paper clips, staples
- 7 sheets of paper
Unavailable
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- Cross-cut
- 4.5 x 30mm
- P-4 (for shredding highly confidential documents), O-3, T-4, E-3
- Paper, credit cards, paper clips, staples, CDs/DVDs
- 14-16 sheets of 80gsm paper or 17-19 sheets of 70gsm
£428.40
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