AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut Review
Pros: Fast, powerful, relatively quiet
Cons: Very large
Manufacturer: Amazon
Our Verdict
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 This Product
AmazonBasics 24-Sheet Cross-Cut | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $198 List $184.37 at Amazon | $114 List $116.85 at Amazon | $59 List | $41 List $35.49 at Amazon | $35 List $26.23 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 | AmazonBasics 24-She... | Amazon Basics 12 Sh... | Aurora AU1230XA Ant... | AmazonBasics 8-Shee... | Aurora AS420C Desktop |
| Shredding Quality (40%) | |||||
| Speed (35%) | |||||
| Ease Of Use (15%) | |||||
| Noise (10%) | |||||
| Specs | AmazonBasics 24-She... | Amazon Basics 12 Sh... | Aurora AU1230XA Ant... | AmazonBasics 8-Shee... | 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 |
| Type | Cross-Cut | Micro-Cut | Cross-Cut | Cross-Cut | Cross-Cut |
| 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 lb | 21.1 Ib | 13.1 Ib | 8.3 lb | 4.9 lb |
| 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" |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited | 1 Year Limited | 1 Year / 3 Year Cutter | 1 Year Limited | 3 Year Limited |
| Maximum Sheets per Minute | 114 | 133 | 171 | 96 | 24 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The AmazonBasics 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
The AmazonBasics is one of the most powerful models we tested. In fact, it even 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 AmazonBasics 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 AmazonBasics 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.
Value
The AmazonBasics 24-Sheet lists for a hefty, but not astronomical price. Considering the amount of power and performance you get, we think this shredder is a great value for people that shred a lot of paper, and by a lot, we mean hundreds of pages a week. 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.
Conclusion
The AmazonBasics 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.
— Max Mutter and Steven Tata
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