Understanding Shredder Cut Types
The cutting mechanism of your shredder directly impacts its security level, energy output, speed, and maintenance requirements. There are three main types to know about.
Strip-Cut Shredders
Strip-cut shredders shred documents into long ribbons of paper, typically 5.8mm–6mm wide. They are the most energy- and time-efficient option, but offer the lowest level of security compared to other cutting methods.
Cross-Cut Shredders
Cross-cut shredders use two sets of blades to cut documents both vertically and horizontally simultaneously, producing small confetti-like pieces. This makes it extremely difficult to reconstruct shredded documents. The trade-off is greater mechanical complexity, which means higher energy consumption and potentially more maintenance than strip-cut shredders.
Note: Confetti-cut is a variant of cross-cut shredding that produces similarly small, irregular pieces.
Micro-Cut Shredders
Micro-cut shredders work similarly to cross-cut shredders, but their blades typically cut diagonally, producing much smaller particles — a single sheet can be cut into more than 2,000 pieces, making reconstruction virtually impossible. Micro-cut shredders offer the highest level of security and are recommended for users with the most demanding data protection needs. As with cross-cut, they can require more maintenance and operate more slowly due to the complexity of the cutting mechanism.
What Is the Best Shredder for Home Use?
Data security at home can be greatly enhanced by using a personal paper shredder. Waste and recycling bins are frequent targets for identity thieves, and shredding documents before disposal is one of the best forms of protection.
For most home and personal use, a P-3 or P-4 security level cross-cut shredder is recommended. These strike a good balance between security and convenience:
P-3 shredders produce particles with a maximum area of 320mm²
P-4 shredders produce particles with a maximum area of 160mm²
If you handle particularly sensitive documents at home and feel P-3/P-4 isn't sufficient, consider a high-security shredder (P-5 or above).
What Documents Should You Shred at Home?
We recommend shredding any document containing valuable personal information, including:
Name and address, or phone number
Bank details or any correspondence with your bank
Bills and receipts
Employment documents
Medical records
Documents containing your PPS Number
Copies of your birth certificate or ID documents
Understanding Shredder Security Levels (DIN P-Level Classification)
Paper shredder security is standardised by the DIN P-Level classification, established by the German Institute for Standardisation. It rates shredders from P-1 (lowest) to P-7 (highest) based on the size of particles produced after shredding, and is grouped into three Protection Categories.
Protection Categories
Category | P-Levels | Suitable For |
Category 1 | P-1, P-2, P-3 | Low to normal security — general internal data |
Category 2 | P-3, P-4, P-5 | Sensitive and confidential data |
Category 3 | P-5, P-6, P-7 | Secret or highly sensitive data |
Particle Size by P-Level
P-Level | Protection Category | Particle Size After Shredding |
P-1 | 1 | Max 2,000mm², or strip width max 12.0mm |
P-2 | 1 | Max 800mm², or strip width max 6.0mm |
P-3 | 1 + 2 | Max 320mm², or strip width max 2.0mm |
P-4 | 2 | Max 160mm², and strip width max 6.0mm |
P-5 | 2 + 3 | Max 30mm², and strip width max 2.0mm |
P-6 | 3 | Max 10mm², and strip width max 1.0mm |
P-7 | 3 | Max 5mm², and strip width max 1.0mm (or reduced to ash) |
Particle Sizes by DIN P-Level
P-Level | Protection Category | Particle Size After Shredding |
P-1 | 1 | Max 2,000mm², or strip width max 12.0mm |
P-2 | 1 | Max 800mm², or strip width max 6.0mm |
P-3 | 1 + 2 | Max 320mm², or strip width max 2.0mm |
P-4 | 2 | Max 160mm², and strip width max 6.0mm |
P-5 | 2 + 3 | Max 30mm², and strip width max 2.0mm |
P-6 | 3 | Max 10mm², and strip width max 1.0mm |
P-7 | 3 | Max 5mm², and strip width max 1.0mm, or suspension with particle area max 5mm², or reduced to ash with particle area max 5mm² |
Which Level Is Right for Me?
General everyday use: P-3 or P-4 (Protection Category 1–2) is sufficient for most home and office needs.
Sensitive or confidential documents: P-5 or higher is recommended.
Highly sensitive or top-secret documents: P-7 offers the maximum available security, with no possibility of document reconstruction using current technology.