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Shredder finder · 2 minutes

Find the right shredder

Answer a few everyday questions. No technical knowledge needed. We’ll match you with the models that fit.

What do you need to get rid of? Pick everything that applies.
How private is the information on your papers? Think about the most sensitive thing you’ll shred.
Who will be using it? More people means more paper and more trips to empty it.
How much paper do you shred on a typical day? A ream is one pack of printer paper, about 500 sheets.
Would you like to load a stack and walk away? Some shredders take a whole stack and shred it on their own.
Where will the shredder go? This helps us pick the right size.
What’s your budget? We’ll stay within it where we can.

How we pick

Seven questions, one shortlist

Each answer narrows the Kobra range by something you can measure on the spec sheet. The machine that fits best is the Best match; a cheaper one that still fits is the Best value; one that takes more sheets per pass is Room to grow.

  1. 01

    How private

    Sets the minimum DIN 66399 security level, from P-3 for everyday paper to P-7 for classified material.

  2. 02

    Paper per day

    Sets the sheets per pass: 6 for a handful, 10 for a ream, 16 for several reams, 24 for boxes of files.

  3. 03

    Users and location

    Set the bin size: at least 4 to 25 gallons depending on how many people share it, and no more than 12 gallons under a desk.

  4. 04

    Load and walk away

    Picks auto-feed models that take a whole stack.

  5. 05

    Budget

    Keeps the picks within your price where possible, and says so when nothing fits.

  6. 06

    Other items

    Hard drives, phones, SSDs and cardboard bring in the HDD shredder, degausser, SSD disintegrator and FlexPack.

Shredder questions, answered

What security level do I need for medical records?

Medical records hold personal and health details. DIN 66399 positions P-4 (particles up to 160 mm²) for confidential and personal data and P-5 (up to 30 mm²) for highly confidential data, so most practices choose P-4 or P-5. Check the rules that apply to your organisation.

How many sheets per pass do I need for a 10-person office?

For a shared office of about 6 to 20 people shredding up to a ream a day, look for at least 10 sheets per pass and a bin of 15 gallons or more, so the machine keeps up and does not need emptying constantly. The finder applies the same rule.

What is an auto-feed shredder?

An auto-feed shredder takes a whole stack of paper in a hopper and feeds it through on its own, so you can load it and walk away. Kobra auto-feed models take stacks of up to 500 sheets.

Do I need a P-7 shredder for classified documents?

P-7 is the strictest paper level in DIN 66399, with particles no larger than 5 mm². US government classified paper must be destroyed on equipment listed on the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List; Kobra models on that list say "NSA EPL listed" on their product pages.

Can a shredder destroy hard drives?

A paper shredder cannot. Hard drives need a hard drive shredder such as the Kobra HDD, or a degausser such as the Kobra Degausser, which erases magnetic media. SSDs, phones and USB sticks need a disintegrator such as the Kobra SSD.

Do I have to remove staples and paper clips?

Kobra office and high-security shredders use carbon hardened steel knives that are not affected by staples and small paper clips, so most documents can go in as they are.