Head-to-head · Best Paper Shredders

Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder vs Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder comes out ahead by a clear margin (5.0 vs 3.9). Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder is best for: busy office users needing high-volume micro-cut shredding. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Paper Shredders

Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder

5.0

1 source$169.8as of Oct 11

The Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder sits at the top of the office shredder class on both capacity and security. TechGearLab credited its ability to shred up to 120 pages automatically while still cutting to micro-cut security. Bob Vila's review pointed to the powerful performance and quiet operation. TechGearLab flagged one limit — "The Aurora has one slight drawback: it doesn't shred CDs" — while reporting that credit cards do go into the paper slot and "come out in bits." Busy offices destroying documents in volume are the audience; anyone who needs to shred discs isn't.

Strengths

— Ultra high capacity with 120-sheet automatic shredding capability
— Quiet operation measuring 65 dB at a foot and a half away
— Automatic start and stop with jam prevention auto reverse feature

Watch-outs

— Cannot shred CDs

$169.8 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #3 in Best Paper Shredders

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

3.9

2 sources$269.99as of Oct 11

The Fellowes Powershred 79Ci is a 16-sheet cross-cut shredder built for volume. TechGearLab measured it at 140 sheets a minute, about double most shredders it tested, and ranked it first in its group for ease of use and noise; PCMag calls it a well-rounded, dependable personal office shredder. Both outlets jammed it at or above its rated capacity despite the jam-proof billing, and TechGearLab considers it expensive unless you shred in bulk.

Strengths

— 140 sheets per minute in TechGearLab's test, nearly double most models it tested
— Ranked first for ease of use by TechGearLab: bin-full light, pull-out bin, finger-touch safety sensor
— Lowest-pitched, most consistent noise in TechGearLab's test group

Watch-outs

— Not as jam-proof as promised, per PCMag; TechGearLab found the real capacity was 14 sheets, not 16
— Casters are hard to attach and the lid is unusually heavy, per PCMag
— Expensive and "not a great value" for general shredding, per TechGearLab

$269.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder

The Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder auto-feeds 120 sheets, where the Bonsaii C206-H takes 12 sheets per pass and the Fellowes Powershred 99Ci takes 18. It is micro-cut, where those two and the Fellowes Powershred 79Ci are cross-cut. Its 30-minute run time matches the 99Ci's and doubles the Bonsaii's 15 minutes. It cannot shred CDs, which both Fellowes models can.

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci

The 79Ci is rated for 16 sheets per pass with a 6-gallon bin, between the 12-sheet, 4-gallon Bonsaii C206-H and the 18-sheet, 9-gallon Fellowes Powershred 99Ci. It is fed by hand, unlike the 120-sheet auto-feed Aurora AU120MA, and it is cross-cut where the Aurora is micro-cut.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder	Fellowes Powershred 79Ci
Security Level	P-4	Cross-cut, about 0.16 x 1.3 in shreds (PCMag measurement)
Cut Type	microcut	Cross-cut
Sheet Capacity	120	16 rated (14 in TechGearLab's test)
Bin Capacity	5 gallon	6 gallons
Run Time	30 minutes	20 minutes, 30-minute cool-down
Shred Speed	5.90 feet per minute	10 feet per minute
Noise Level	65 dB	—
Dimensions	—	21.3 x 15.4 x 10.4 in (HWD)
Weight	—	33.3 lb

← See the full ranking of best paper shredders