The Fellowes Powershred 79Ci gets more recommendations from users than any other paper shredder. Perfect for home use, this light-duty shredder can handle around 6 sheets of paper at a time, as well as shredding credit cards, data discs, junk mail, staples, and paper clips. It combines good safety features with quiet operation, a 6-gallon waste bin and jam-free performance.

This light-duty paper shredder from Walmart can’t do anything fancy, but it’s a good basic performer at a bargain-basement price. It can process up to 6 sheets of paper — definitely no more than that, according to reviews — or a single credit card, and it won’t jam as long as you don’t overfeed it. The large shred size could be an issue if you are disposing of sensitive documents, but it should be fine for typical home use.

The Fellowes Powershred 99Ci is the best paper shredder for small- to medium-sized offices. Both experts and users say it shreds credit cards, staples, paper clips, data discs, and unopened junk mail into .156 by 1.5-inch pieces without jamming. This console shredder has a 9-gallon pull-out bin for easy emptying, runs quietly, and comes with a two-year warranty.

The Staples SPL-TXC24A is a good choice for offices with high-volume shredding needs. It can take up to 24 pages at once (though 18 to 20 is safer), and it can handle credit cards, discs, paper clips, and junk mail as well. Reviews indicate it’s pretty quiet and almost impossible to jam. However, the bin and the on/off switch can be a little fiddly.

The GoEcoLife GMC205Pi is pricey, but it’s top-notch in terms of security. While other paper shredders produce 1.5-inch strips, this one reduces documents to 0.12-by-0.35-inch fragments. It can handle 20 sheets at a time, as well as bulky material such as credit cards, data discs, unopened junk mail, and file folders, without jamming.