Whether you’re a business or an individual, one of the biggest reasons to shred documents is to ensure the information they contain doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. But how do you know your documents are destroyed well enough that the information isn’t recoverable?
This is where document shredding security levels come in. Each security level indicates the size of the resulting paper shreds. When choosing how to shred your documents, you will want to consider the security level offered by your chosen destruction method. As we mentioned, the size of the paper shreds affects information security (and maybe even the cost of your service).
Each security level indicates the size of the resulting paper shreds.
Read on or watch the video at the end of this post for more in-depth information on the different shredding sizes available and what to expect when you shred your documents according to these security levels.
The Different Shredding Security Levels
The different shredding security classifications are laid out by ISO/IEC 21964 (previously known as DIN 66399). These standards detail the maximum area and width of shred particles, along with guidance on the best shredding security level for different types of sensitive information.
As of 2025, there are seven different shredder security levels. These are known as levels P-1 through P-7. The “P” stands for paper-based materials, and each “P” level corresponds with a different size of paper shred.
- Level P-1: strips: ≤ 12 mm (½”) wide
- Level P-2: strips: ≤ 6 mm (¼”) wide
- Level P-3: strips: ≤ 2 mm wide
- Level P-4: cross-cut: ≤ 160 mm² particles with width ≤ 6 mm
- Level P-5: cross-cut: ≤ 30 mm² particles with width ≤ 2 mm
- Level P-6: cross-cut: ≤10 mm² particles with width ≤ 1 mm
- Level P-7: cross-cut: ≤ 5 mm² particles with width ≤ 1 mm
Shredder Level P-1: Starting From the Top
As a strip-cutter, a P-1 shredder produces paper strips that are ≤ ½” in width, and because of their large size, the throughput is high. While they’re fast, the paper shreds from a P-1 shredder can be easily reconstructed, making them better geared for less sensitive information.
Level P-2: Slightly Thinner Strips
With P-2 shredders, the strips are required to be ≤ ¼” wide. This is the primary difference between P-1 and P-2 shredders. While the smaller size gives a minor leg up on security, a P-2 shredder can carry risks because of the shred sizes and the amount of potentially sensitive information that could still be legible on a single strip.
Shredder Level P-3: Stepping Things Up
P-3 paper strips are only ≤ 2 mm wide. Because of the speed of strip-cut shredders, level P-3 is often favored for its balance between the ability to shred in high volume while still staying secure enough to meet legal requirements.
Shredder Level P-4: Cross-Cut for Double Protection
Crossing the boundary from P-3 to P-4 is more than just a security boost — it’s a shift towards an entirely different approach for how to shred documents.
Instead of basic strips, level P-4 includes cross-cut shredders that cut papers twice to produce much smaller shreds (only ≤ 160 mm² particles with a width ≤ 6mm). Because of the small size, reconstructing cross-cut shreds is difficult if not impossible This makes P-4 shredders ideal for shredding sensitive information like PII.
Shredder Level P-5: A Smaller Cross-Cut
Level P-5 sits as an in-between. It provides more security with cross-cut shreds that are only ≤ 30 mm² particles with width ≤ 2 mm, but they’re not small enough to meet NSA requirements for destroying classified information.
Because shredders get slower as the paper shreds get smaller, a P-5 shredder is ideal for someone who prefers extra security over the speed of a P-4 shredder.
Shredder Level P-6: More Secure But Less Common
Level P-6 cross-cut shreds are only ≤ 10 mm² particles with width ≤ 1 mm, but like a P-5 shredder a P-6 is still not enough to meet NSA guidelines. As a result, P-6 shredders fall in the same in-between category as a P-5. While they’re ideal for security-conscious organizations, a P-6 shredder is slow and will struggle with high volumes.
Shredder Level P-7: The Pinnacle of Protection
Level P-7 is the most secure shredder type available, with shreds of just ≤ 5 mm² particles with width ≤ 1 mm so that a maximum of only 4 characters can be seen on a single shred. A P-7 shredder is the only type of shredder that meets the NSA requirements for shredding classified and confidential information.
P-7 shredders are the slowest, with an average of only being able to handle 10 sheets per pass.
Although level P-7 provides maximum security, it is important to note that P-7 shredders are the slowest, with an average of only being able to handle 10 sheets per pass.
Destroy Documents Securely With Shred Nations
Keeping your information safe should be as important to your provider as it is to you. With Shred Nations, the safety and security of your information is a priority. We have a nationwide network of certified shredding providers who adhere to the strictest security protocols, including using the appropriate shredding equipment.
Whether you’re in Seattle or Philadelphia, we’ll connect you with experts in your area who can provide on-site mobile shredding, off-site destruction, one-time purges, and scheduled shredding solutions with the highest level of security needed
To get your free, no-obligation quote, give us a call at (800) 747-3365, fill out our form, or contact us directly using our live chat.
