REASONS TO BUY
Fast
Powerful
Relatively quiet
REASONS TO AVOID
Very large
Amazon Basics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Review
A powerful model for those that need to shred 100+ pages a day
Credit: Amazon
RELATED: Best Paper Shredder of 2023
Our Verdict
The Amazon Basics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut is an exceptional paper shredder that offers great all-around performance, earning it a spot at the top of our awards podium. This model boasts impressive power that can eat through thick envelopes, credit cards, and CDs with ease. Its high capacity capabilities, fast shredding speed, and easy to empty bin make it a perfect companion for any home or small office. In fact, the only negative thing we have to say about this model is that it might actually be a bit overkill for most homes.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Amazon Basics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $198 List $158.51 at Amazon | $127 List $105.00 at Amazon | Check Price at Amazon | $45 List $41.42 at Amazon | $45 List $41.20 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Fast, powerful, relatively quiet | Micro-cut, high-security, user-friendly interface | Speedy, compact, user-friendly interface, budget-friendly | Inexpensive, reliable, fast | Small and compact, inexpensive |
| Cons | Very large | Trash bin sticks, credit card shredder just slices in half | Difficult to empty, heavy lid, medium security | Loud, bin could be easier to empty | Slow, not particularly powerful |
| Bottom Line | A powerful model for those that need to shred 100+ pages a day | A high-end paper shredder with micro-cutting capabilities, a low hum, and an intuitive interface | A speedy, compact, and intuitive paper shredder, perfect for household use at a price you just can't beat | This shredder is perfectly sized, powered, and priced for home office use | A great space saver if you only need to shred documents occasionally |
| 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 |
| Bin Capacity | 7 gallons | 5.7 gallons | 5.2 gallons | 4.1 gallons | 1.32 gallons |
| Advertised Sheet Capacity | 24 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
| Measured Sheet Capacity | 26 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 4 |
| 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 |
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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
While it may be overkill for some homes, we love using the Basics 24-sheet shredder.
Credit: Laura Casner
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 shredder is both thorough and powerful.
Credit: Laura Casner
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.
We appreciate the simple, straightforward controls and indicator lights.
Credit: Laura Casner
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.
Unlike many of its competitors, while still somewhat loud, the AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut does not emit an offensive sound.
Credit: Laura Casner
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.
This device is great for the active shredder, but may be overkill for the casual user.
Credit: Laura Casner
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.
—
Max Mutter and Steven Tata
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