Professional document shredding is an affordable, safe solution that allows you to ensure that your personal and sensitive business records are securely destroyed. Documents that aren’t securely destroyed are often at risk of compromised data and cause several issues for your business; for businesses looking to use secure document destruction services, both off-site and mobile shredding services can provide ways of shredding documents that prevent compromising documents or data throughout the process. However, there are some key differences between these two services, and the costs depend on the type of project you need and other factors to determine which will be cheapest for you.
What Are Drop-Off Shredding Services?
Typically, drop-off shredding is best used for projects 90 pounds or less and charged by the pound. The price will differ by location but can be as cheap as $1 per pound. Drop-off shredding can be a cost-effective option if you have low-volume or personal projects, do not require an appointment, and can easily locate any nearby drop-off site for document shredding.
When you arrive at a drop-off shredding location, the papers are weighed to determine your fee. Once weighed, the papers are stored in locked containers until it’s time for them to be shredded. A partner shredding company will pick up the locked containers at the drop-off location. Then, once they arrive at the offsite facility, the documents are shredded, and the shreds are baled and recycled.
The Benefits of Drop-Off Shredding
There are a number of benefits to choosing drop-off shredding services to handle your shredding:
| Benefit | Details |
| Convenient Locations | There are many locations for shredding services, with over 6,000 locations in UPS, and other private businesses throughout the U.S. |
| No Scheduling Required | Through this service, you can drop in on your schedule within as little as a five-minute stop. |
| Cost-efficient | When you don’t have much to shred, you won’t be paying much either. Drop-off services provide a cost-effective solution. |
| High Level of Security | While you are unable to witness the shredding process, you can place your papers in locked shred bins for security. |
What are Mobile Shredding Services?
Mobile shredding services are often used for higher paper volumes and recurring shredding needs. Because of the large bulk projects this service handles, it’s often offered at better-discounted rates due to the scope of work involved with the service. The average cost for mobile shredding service is around $130-$175 for a project of 1-10 boxes, but the pricing will vary based on your project size.
During the mobile shredding process, you are provided with locked shred bins to store your documents in before they’re shredded. Once placed, you contact your provider to schedule an appointment to shred the bins. During the scheduled time, a truck equipped with an industrial shredder will arrive, pick up the document bins, and then dump the papers into the shredder, allowing you to watch as your documents are destroyed. Once the process is completed, you are given a certificate of destruction, and the shredded papers are recycled.
Mobile Shredding Advantages
Mobile shredding services provide their own set of benefits, including:
| Benefit | Details |
| Providers Come to You | Instead of taking papers to a location yourself, shredding trucks come to shred the papers in front of you. |
| Ability to Witness Shredding | Mobile shredding is the most secure option because you’re able to personally witness the shredding process. |
| Costs That Don’t Scale | The costs of your shredding don’t scale, making mobile services effective for most projects. |
| High Level of Security | Because of the higher security, it’s better used for papers such as blank checks, certificates, and promissory notes. |
Comparing Drop-off Shredding and Mobile Shredding
Before you choose a type of service, you’ll need to know how much you’ve got to shred. If you’re planning to use a document shredding service, you’ll need to calculate the number of documents you have to shred to get a better picture of the size and costs of your project. Here’s how you can determine the number of papers you need to shred:
- Identify the Type of Containers: Know the containers you use.
- Assess the Container Size: Measure or note the size of these containers.
- Weigh the Paper: Calculate how much paper you have in pounds.
If this task poses some challenges, then the best way to estimate the total costs related to your project is to learn how much paper can fit your current file boxes. Below, you’ll find a quick reference chart for determining these factors:
| Container Type | Container Size | Amount of Paper |
| File Cabinets | Vertical File Cabinet 24” Drawer | 1 box (30 lbs) per drawer |
| File Cabinets | Horizontal File Cabinet 30” Drawer | 2 boxes (60 lbs) per drawer |
| Bags | Black Plastic Yard/Leaf Bag | 1 box (30 lbs) |
| Bags | Tall White Kitchen Bag | 1 box (30 lbs) |
| File Boxes | Letter/Legal Box (15” x 12” x 10”) | 30 lbs. |
| File Boxes | Large Letter Box (24” x 12” x 10”) | 60 lbs |
| File Boxes | Large Legal Box (24” x 15” x 10”) | 90 lbs |
| Pallets | 4 Rows High (4 ft) | 50 boxes (1,500 lbs) |
| Pallets | 5 Rows High (5 ft) | 60 boxes (1,800 lbs) |
| Pallets | 6 Rows High (6 ft) | 72 boxes (2,160 lbs) |
| Bins | 64 Gallon Bin | 7 boxes (210 lbs) |
| Bins | 95 Gallon Bin | 10 boxes (300 lbs) |
Understanding the volume of your documents is just as crucial as its quantity. When you need to dispose of documents, you must know the logistics and costs. The number of documents per inch in a shelf or filing cabinet will vary depending on how densely the papers are packed together.
Typically, you might find about 150–200 sheets per inch of shelf or cabinet space. This density affects how many boxes of documents you might need to destroy:
- Lightly Packed Documents: If your documents are not tightly packed and average about 150 sheets per inch, you will need one standard banker’s box for every 13–16 inches of storage space on your shelves.
- Tightly Packed Documents: If your shelf is packed to capacity, to the point that not even one more sheet could fit, you likely have about 200 sheets per inch. In this scenario, you would require one standard banker’s box for every 10–12 inches of shelving.
While these are estimates, they provide a more useful guideline for assessing the volume of documents you need to destroy. Knowing this volume, you can better estimate the total efforts and resources required for cheaper document destruction with your choice of professional shredding services.
Comparing the Cost of Drop-off Shredding and Mobile Shredding
Both drop-off and mobile shredding solutions can provide better costs and conveniences for your business. However, the right service depends on the quantity and volume of your documents:
- For Small Volumes: Drop-off shredding will likely be cheaper if you have a small amount of documents. Since this service requires you to transport them yourself, the per-pound costs at a drop-off facility will make more sense for the costs.
- For Large Volumes: Larger volumes of documents will benefit more from mobile shredding services despite the higher costs. This service becomes more cost-effective at larger scales when transporting larger document bulks becomes impractical for your business. This service allows businesses to shred massive amounts of documents quickly, and on-site shredding can help offset the higher costs.
If your shredding needs are minimal and sporadic, drop-off services will provide a cost-effective option. However, for businesses or large-scale cleanouts where security is paramount, mobile shredding can provide better value.
Find The Right Shredding Service with Shred Nations
At Shred Nations, we partner with trusted document destruction providers across the US. Furthermore, we can help you find the best solution for your shredding needs. Whether it’s a one-time purge or a regularly scheduled service, we can connect you with tailored services that fit your budget and logistical needs. Call us at (800) 747 3365, fill out the form for a free quote on shredding services, or find a nearby drop-off shredding location with our store locator to ensure that your information and sensitive data are securely destroyed.
