Amazon Basics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Amazon Basics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut | |||||
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Awards | Best for High-Security Shredding | Best Bang for the Buck | Best on a Tight Budget | Best Desktop Style Model | |
Price | $227 List $169.10 at Amazon | $127 List | $77 List $72.62 at Amazon | $56 List $36.48 at Amazon | $45 List $34.81 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | A great and fast model, but if you're looking for speed there are better options in the same price range | A relatively quiet, intuitive paper shredder with high-end micro-cutting capabilities | A great household paper shredder that is small, intuitive, fast and budget-friendly | For the majority of home offices, this model is both a great choice and a great value | Perfect if you only shred a few pages here and there, and don't have too much space to spare |
Rating Categories | Amazon Basics 24-Sh... | Amazon Basics 12 Sh... | Aurora AU1230XA Ant... | Amazon Basics 8-She... | Aurora AS420C Desktop |
Shredding Quality (40%) | |||||
Speed (35%) | |||||
Ease of Use (15%) | |||||
Noise (10%) | |||||
Specs | Amazon Basics 24-Sh... | Amazon Basics 12 Sh... | Aurora AU1230XA Ant... | Amazon Basics 8-She... | Aurora AS420C Desktop |
Advertised Sheet Capacity | 24 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
Measured Sheet Capacity | 26 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 4 |
Bin Capacity | 7 gallons | 5.7 gallons | 5.2 gallons | 4.1 gallons | 1.32 gallons |
Maximum Sheets per Minute | 114 | 133 | 168 | 96 | 24 |
Shred Type | Cross-Cut | Micro-Cut | Cross-Cut | Cross-Cut | Cross-Cut |
Shred Size | 7/32" x 1-27/32" | 5/32" x 15/32" | 3/16" x 1-9/16" | 3/16" x 1-27/32" | 1.5" x 1-17/20" |
Dimensions | 11.9" x 16.3" x 26.2" | 14.5" x 10.3" x 20.5" | 13.31" x 8.46" x 15.87 | 12.8" x 7.3" x 15.9" | 9.49" x 6.93" x 9.92" |
Weight | 36.5 lbs | 21.1 Ibs | 13.1 Ibs | 8.3 lbs | 4.9 lbs |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Amazon Basics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut is a great all-around shredder, providing near-perfect functionality for those that shred hundreds of pages per month.
Performance Comparison
Shredding Quality
This model is so powerful that it bested its own capacity claim in our tests, easily dispensing with a 26-sheet thick stack of paper without complaint. It ate through the thickest of junk mail envelopes with ease and readily shredded both credit cards and CDs.
This almost over-the-top power adds some peace of mind, as you never have to worry that something made it through the blades without being completely shredded (unless you try to really push the limits and shove 30 sheets into it at once).
Speed
The Amazon Basics 24-Sheet was also one of the fastest models we tested, hitting a maximum rate of 114 sheets per minute. This is an impressive figure and is likely fast enough for something like a legal office that has to dispose of a lot of documents. That being said, our fastest model topped out at an impressive 185 sheets per minute, so the Amazon Basics came in just a bit behind it.
Ease of Use
The Amazon Basics 24-Sheet has a design that leads to an overall friendly user experience. The controls are intuitive, there are warning lights indicating if there is a jam, if the bin is open, or if the machine is overheating. There is a lip guard that prevents any fingers from getting into the blades and any CD shards from flying out. The large seven-gallon bin is easy to remove and empty. The main drawback is that this shredder is quite large. It's too big to be hidden under a desk and will need its own space. Luckily the wheels make it fairly easy to move around.
Noise
If speed and shredding quality aren't enough then the noise factor, or lack-there-of, is sure to sell you on this 24-Sheet shredder. While no shredder sounds good, this one is one of the least offensive. It emits a low-pitched moan that isn't too grating and can even blend into the background on occasion. There weren't many competitors in our test suite that are this pleasant to run for extended periods of time.
Should You Buy the Amazon Basics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut?
The Amazon Basics 24-Sheet is a great shredder for those that regularly shred 100+ pages daily. No model that we've come across can match its combination of speed and power, making it perfect for people that both shred a lot, and tend to shred thick documents or stuffed envelopes. If you rarely or ever shred more than 20 pages at a time, this machine is definitely overkill, and thus likely not the best use of your funds.
What Other Paper Shredder Should You Consider?
If you are seeking heightened security from your shredder, consider the micro-cutting Amazon Basics 12 Sheet Micro-Cut machine. It costs less, and the tiny pieces of shredded paper proved to be considerably more difficult to re-assemble, boosting the protection this machine grants your sensitive information.