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

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci 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

Fellowes Powershred 99Ci comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.7 vs 3.9). Fellowes Powershred 99Ci is best for: A shared office that shreds daily and does not need micro-cut security. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Fellowes Powershred 79Ci
Ranked #3 in Best Paper Shredders
Fellowes Powershred 79Ci
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 AmazonFull review →
Fellowes Powershred 99Ci
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Paper Shredders
Fellowes Powershred 99Ci
2 sources$299.99as of Oct 11

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
$299.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

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.

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

SpecFellowes Powershred 79CiFellowes Powershred 99Ci
Security LevelCross-cut, about 0.16 x 1.3 in shreds (PCMag measurement)P-4
Cut TypeCross-cutCross-cut, 5/32" x 1-1/2"
Sheet Capacity16 rated (14 in TechGearLab's test)18 sheets per pass
Bin Capacity6 gallons9 gallons (approx. 550 sheets), pull-out bin
Run Time20 minutes, 30-minute cool-down30 minutes continuous, 40-minute cooldown
Shred Speed10 feet per minute—
Dimensions21.3 x 15.4 x 10.4 in (HWD)25.19" H x 11.44" W x 17.31" D
Weight33.3 lb36.4 lb
Also Shreds—Staples, paper clips, credit cards, CDs and DVDs, junk mail
Warranty—2-year machine, lifetime cutters
← See the full ranking of best paper shredders