Head-to-head · Best Paper Shredders

Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder vs Fellowes Powershred 40C

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

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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.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Paper Shredders

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

4.8

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 Amazon Full review →

Ranked #2 in Best Paper Shredders

Fellowes Powershred 40C

4.7

4 sources1 derived$59.99as of Aug 1

Speed is the Fellowes Powershred 40C's headline: up to 180 pages per minute, and it stays quiet doing it. PCMag and TechGearLab reviewers found it durable enough to chew through thick documents, staples, and paper clips. Its cross-cut security level doesn't match what micro-cut models offer, and the high cost is hard to justify if you shred occasionally. Offices with heavy shredding volume are where it belongs.

Strengths

— Fast shredding speed of over 180 pages per minute
— Quiet operation during shredding tasks
— Durable construction handling staples and paper clips without issues

Watch-outs

— Expensive price point
— Only cross-cut security level (not micro-cut)

$59.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

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 40C

The Fellowes 40C is unmatched in speed, shredding over 180 pages per minute, which is far faster than the Wolverine SD9520, Staples ST62153, and Aurora AU120MA. It also features a large 9-gallon bin, reducing the frequency of emptying compared to the Bonsaii C206-H and Fellowes LX85. However, it lacks micro-cut shredding and is more expensive than other models, making it less appealing for users who prioritize security over speed or budget.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Aurora AU120MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed Micro-Cut Paper Shredder	Fellowes Powershred 40C
Security Level	P-4	Cross-cut
Cut Type	microcut	Cross Cut
Sheet Capacity	120	18 sheets
Bin Capacity	5 gallon	9 gallons
Run Time	30 minutes	45 minutes
Shred Speed	5.90 feet per minute	180 pages per minute
Noise Level	65 dB	—

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