Best Home Paper Shredder · Quiet

Best Quiet Paper Shredder for a Home Office

The quietest home shredders publish a decibel figure in the mid-50s: our top pick is the Fellowes Powershred 79Ci, which Fellowes rates at 54 dB. For scale, the CDC lists normal conversation at about 60 dB and a dishwasher at about 70 dB. Many brands publish no figure at all, so we lean on the ones that do.

Slim shredder beside a desk in a quiet home office at dusk

Our top 3

Top picks at a glance

Quietest brand-stated#1
Fellowes Powershred 79Ci shredder

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

Premium price range

54 dB brand-stated, 16-sheet P-4 cross-cut, SafeSense and a sleep mode.

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Quiet and bigger#2
Fellowes Powershred 99Ci shredder

Fellowes Powershred 99Ci

Premium price range

56 dB brand-stated, with 18 sheets, a 30-minute run time and a 9-gallon bin.

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Quiet at a mid price#3
Bonsaii EverShred C169-B shredder

Bonsaii EverShred C169-B

Mid-range price range

Bonsaii rates it at 60 dB, with 15 sheets and a 40-minute run time.

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In detail

Who each one suits

Specifications are each brand’s own; notes draw on manufacturers’ manuals and independent reviews. We have not tested or used these shredders ourselves.

Quietest brand-stated#1

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

The Powershred 79Ci is the long-running favorite of shredder roundups, including TechRadar’s best overall pick. Fellowes builds it around its “100% Jam Proof” system and SafeSense, and rates it at 54 dB, the lowest brand-stated figure among the shredders we cover.

Why it stands out

  • 16-sheet P-4 cross-cut that also takes CDs, cards, staples and small clips.
  • SafeSense stops the cutters when hands touch the paper opening; it is sold with Fellowes’ “100% Jam Proof” system.
  • Brand-stated 54 dB, and a sleep mode that shuts down after two minutes idle.
Cut & securityCross-cut, P-4 (4 x 38 mm)
Sheets per pass16 sheets
Run time20 min on, 30 min rest
Bin6 gal
ShredsPaper, cards, CDs, staples, small clips

Good fit if

  • Noise matters: you shred near a sleeping baby or during calls.
  • You want a well-known machine with long-standing editorial support.
  • Children or pets share the room and you want a touch sensor at the slot.

Skip it if

  • Price matters most — it sits in the Premium tier.
  • You want micro-cut: TechRadar notes it stops at P-4.
  • You often feed full stacks: TechGearLab managed 14 sheets, not the rated 16.

Fellowes’ warranty terms for the 79Ci differ between documents and regions, so check the warranty listed on the product page you buy from.

Quiet and bigger#2

Fellowes Powershred 99Ci

The bigger sibling of the 79Ci: 18 sheets, a 30-minute run time and a 9-gallon bin, with the same jam-proof system and SafeSense. Fellowes rates it at 56 dB and for shared use by one to three people.

Why it stands out

  • 18-sheet P-4 cross-cut that also takes CDs, cards, staples and clips.
  • 30-minute run time and a 9-gallon bin for fewer stops and fewer bin trips.
  • Brand-stated 56 dB; separate entry for CDs and cards.
Cut & securityCross-cut, P-4 (4 x 38 mm)
Sheets per pass18 sheets
Run time30 min on, 40 min rest
Bin9 gal
ShredsPaper, cards, CDs, staples, clips

Good fit if

  • A home office that shreds every day, or a household with several people using one machine.
  • You want a big bin but still care about noise.

Skip it if

  • Price or weight matters: it is Premium-tier and about 36 lb.
  • You want micro-cut: TechGearLab notes it is cross-cut only.
Quiet at a mid price#3

Bonsaii EverShred C169-B

A value cross-cut machine for busy home offices: Bonsaii rates it for 15 sheets at a time and 40 minutes of running before a 40-minute rest, with a 5-gallon pull-out bin. It is the long-session choice at a Mid-range price if cross-cut is secure enough for you.

Why it stands out

  • 15-sheet cross-cut feed, rated P-4 by Bonsaii.
  • 40-minute run time, longer than most home shredders at this price.
  • Takes CDs, credit cards, staples and clips; brand-stated noise of 60 dB.
Cut & securityCross-cut, P-4 (5 x 25 mm)
Sheets per pass15 sheets
Run time40 min on, 40 min rest
Bin5 gal, pull-out
ShredsPaper, cards, CDs, staples, clips

Good fit if

  • You shred in long sessions and want fewer stops.
  • P-4 cross-cut is enough for your household paper.
  • You want a pull-out bin and casters at a mid price.

Skip it if

  • You want micro-cut particles — this is cross-cut.
  • You need a quick restart: after a full 40-minute session it needs a 40-minute rest.
  • You dislike vague controls: CNN Underscored noted one red light covers power, overload and overheat.

Bonsaii now sells this as the 15-sheet upgrade; some older reviews describe a 14-sheet version.

Shredding during calls or nap time?

Start with a machine that publishes its noise level, then keep stacks small so the motor isn’t straining.

What owners say ›

Tips

Three things that make the difference

01

Trust published numbers only

Words like “quiet” or “ultra-quiet” have no standard meaning. Fellowes, for example, labels its home LX models “Quiet Operation” without a decibel figure.

02

Compare figures loosely

Brands measure in different ways and at different distances. Consumer Reports measured at the ear of a seated user, while Bob Vila measured from two feet away.

03

Keep the stack light

An overloaded shredder labors and is louder. Feeding below the rated maximum keeps the motor in its comfortable range.

Honest note

Quiet shredders are rarely cheap: the two quietest brand-stated figures here belong to Premium-tier Fellowes machines. And independent measurements can differ from brand figures: Bob Vila measured the 79Ci at 59.7 dB, against Fellowes’ 54 dB.

FAQ

Questions people ask

How loud is a typical paper shredder?

Brand-stated figures for quiet models sit around 55 to 60 dB; HSM says its quiet machines typically run in that range. Licensee figures for HP’s US models are 68 dB, and Bob Vila measured one micro-cut model at about 77 dB from two feet.

Is 60 dB loud?

No. The CDC lists normal conversation at 60 dB and says that level typically doesn’t cause hearing damage. It lists a washing machine or dishwasher at 70 dB, a level that may feel annoying.

Will a shredder wake a sleeping baby?

It might; we found no data on shredder noise and infant sleep. A brand-stated 54 to 56 dB machine in another room, short bursts and small stacks are the gentlest approach. Avoid shredding right outside the nursery door.

What is SilentShred?

It is Fellowes’ name for the quieter operation on some of its shredders, including the 79Ci and 99Ci. Fellowes does not publish a single decibel figure for SilentShred itself, but it rates the 79Ci at 54 dB and the 99Ci at 56 dB.

Are micro-cut shredders louder than cross-cut?

There is no simple rule. Fellowes rates its LX micro-cut models at 65 dB and its 79Ci cross-cut at 54 dB, but that reflects the machines, not the cut type alone. Compare published figures model by model.

How can I make my shredder quieter?

Feed fewer sheets, keep the cutters oiled as the manual says, and keep it on a stable, level surface so the bin doesn’t rattle. If it suddenly gets much louder, a jam or worn cutters may be the cause.

Shred without stopping the conversation

Want the full picture? See our best paper shredder for home use, compared by use, and the FAQ on security levels, oiling and jams.