Comparing Top Small-Quantity Shredding Options

Small Quantity Paper Shredding Options

If you have a small quantity of documents to shred you have some options. Drop your papers off at nearby drop off shredding center and pay by the pound, have a mobile shred truck stop by your location, or shred your documents yourself.

Each shredding method has its own pros and cons. The video and transcript below give an overview of what to expect from each shredding service type so you can make an informed decision when you shred your documents.

Video Transcript

What Are the Small-Quantity Options?

There are different types of shredding to match the different sizes of shredding projects. For small-quantity shredding, there are 3 main methods:

Small Quantity Shredding Service Options

When Different Methods Are Recommended

Drop Off Shredding Icon SN Drop Off Shredding Services Personal Shredder

On Site

Drop Off Personal Shredder
Ideal for 1 – 10 boxes Best for 3 boxes or less

Several sheets at a time

Comparing Costs

Drop Off Shredding Icon SN Drop Off Shredding Services Personal Shredder

On Site

Drop Off Personal

$130 – $175 for up to 10 boxes

$1 – $1.50 per pound on average

$99 – $169 depending on equipment

Split the cost with others for as low as $10/box Boxes weigh 20-30 lbs, meaning $20-$30 per box

Besides shredder cost, also factor what your time is worth

How Long Does It Take to Shred?

Drop Off Shredding Icon SN Drop Off Shredding Services Personal Shredder

On Site

Drop Off Personal
15 – 20 minutes to shred 1 – 10 file boxes 30 – 35 minutes (estimated 15 minutes drive)

Potentially an all-day project—10 minutes to shred per several inches and 45 minutes to cool down

How Each Process Starts

On Site Shredding

On site starts with arranging for a mobile shred truck to come to your location on the scheduled date and time.

Drop Off Shredding

The first step for drop off shredding is finding a location near you—often found in UPS and other shipping stores.

Personal Shredding

Personal shredding starts with initial research and purchasing of a shredder. Equipment considerations need to include overheat frequency (8 min average), cooling time (45 min average), and sheets per minute (typically only a few sheets at a time).

Shred Day: What to Expect

On Site Shredding

When the truck arrives, the shredding technician counts your boxes and takes the containers to the truck where they’re lifted into the shredder. The process is complete in 15-20 minutes.

Drop Off Shredding

After arriving at a nearby drop off location, your boxes are weighed and then placed in a locked security bin. You also are able to store the contents personally for extra reassurance.

Personal Shredding

To protect delicate rotating shredder knives, sheets typically need to be fed into the shredder a few pages at a time. During the process shreds accumulate quickly—typically requiring the shred bag to be changed 3 times per file box.

Secondary Handling and Steps

On Site Shredding

None—you are presented with a certificate of destruction and the shreds are recycled.

Drop Off Shredding

The security bins are finally picked up and shredded by a mobile truck or taken to an off site shredding facility.

Personal Shredding

Bags filled with paper shreds need to be disposed. Because of their small size paper shreds need to be taken in to facilities to be recycled separately. To throw shreds in the trash instead risks them being stolen by dumpster divers who reassemble shreds.

Need Small-Quantity Shredding Services?

Shred Nations’ partners have over 5,000 locations across North America capable of handling small volume shredding projects. To find the drop off location nearest you or for free quotes on on site shredding services in your area, call us at (800) 747-3365 or fill out our form.

We look forward to helping you protect your private information.