Verdict
All guidesResearchOpen dataMethodologyAboutContact
Head-to-head · Best Paper Shredders

Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder vs Fellowes Powershred 99Ci

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 narrow margin (4.8 vs 4.7). The gap is mostly about busy office users needing high-volume micro-cut shredding — read the strengths below before deciding.

Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Paper Shredders
Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder
2 sources$168as of Jul 31

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
  • — High security micro-cut shredding provides P-4 security level
  • — Quiet operation measuring 65 dB at a foot and a half away
Watch-outs
  • — Cannot shred CDs
  • — Does not shred credit cards in automatic mode
$168 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Fellowes Powershred 99Ci
Ranked #2 in Best Paper Shredders
Fellowes Powershred 99Ci
3 sources$300.01as of Aug 20

The Powershred 99Ci is a shared-office cross-cut shredder rated for 18 sheets a pass and 30 minutes of continuous running. PCMag made it an Editors' Choice in 2017, reporting no jams and unusually low noise, and TechGearLab ranked it 3rd of 15 shredders it tested. Forbes Vetted named it the best paper shredder overall in 2026. It is cross-cut rather than micro-cut, so PCMag advises against it for genuinely secret documents, and at $299.99 and 36 pounds it is a lot of machine for a single desk.

Strengths
  • — Rated for 18 sheets per pass with a 30-minute continuous run time before a 40-minute cooldown — PCMag called that "impressively long" in its 2017 test
  • — PCMag reported no jams at all in testing, and shredded plastic cards, staples, CDs and DVDs alongside paper
  • — Unusually quiet for its class: PCMag noted most shredders are "loud enough to be disruptive to nearby workers, but not the 99Ci"
Watch-outs
  • — Cross-cut, not micro-cut: PCMag was explicit that it is "not secure enough for secret documents"
  • — Large and heavy — 36.4 lb and roughly the footprint of a large kitchen wastebasket, per TechGearLab
  • — Expensive at $299.99, and PCMag measured 13.1 ft/min — good, but slower than its Editors' Choice pick at the time
$300.01 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

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

The Aurora AU120MA boasts the highest capacity with 120 sheets auto-feed, far exceeding the 15-sheet capacity of the Wolverine SD9520 and 12-sheet capacity of the Fellowes LX85 and Bonsaii C206-H. It also provides micro-cut P-4 security, which is more secure than the Fellowes 40C's cross-cut. However, it cannot shred CDs or credit cards, unlike the Staples ST62153, and lacks the speed of the Fellowes 40C, making it ideal for high-volume office use but not for users needing versatile media shredding.

Fellowes Powershred 99Ci

The 99Ci is the heavy-duty option in this category: more sheets per pass and far more continuous run time than the desk-side models, at roughly five times the price and three times the weight.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper ShredderFellowes Powershred 99Ci
Security LevelP-4P-4
Cut TypemicrocutCross-cut, 5/32" x 1-1/2"
Sheet Capacity12018 sheets per pass
Bin Capacity5 gallon9 gallons (approx. 550 sheets), pull-out bin
Run Time30 minutes30 minutes continuous, 40-minute cooldown
Shred Speed5.90 feet per minute—
Noise Level65 dB—
Also Shreds—Staples, paper clips, credit cards, CDs and DVDs, junk mail
Dimensions—25.19" H x 11.44" W x 17.31" D
Weight—36.4 lb
Warranty—2-year machine, lifetime cutters
← See the full ranking of best paper shredders