Shredder security levels P-1 to P-7 explained

The seven levels

The levels come from the German standard DIN 66399, adopted internationally as ISO/IEC 21964. Each level sets a maximum particle area, and for strips a maximum width. The "P" is for paper; there are parallel scales for film, optical discs and hard drives.

Level	Particle size	Typical use
P-1	12 mm strips, or particles up to 2,000 mm²	General documents to be made unreadable
P-2	6 mm strips, or particles up to 800 mm²	Internal documents
P-3	2 mm strips, or particles up to 320 mm²	Sensitive documents; the minimum for personal data
P-4	Particles up to 160 mm², no wider than 6 mm	Personal, financial and HR records; the usual office choice
P-5	Particles up to 30 mm², no wider than 2 mm	Confidential records: medical, legal, trade secrets
P-6	Particles up to 10 mm², no wider than 1 mm	Highly confidential material
P-7	Particles up to 5 mm², no wider than 1 mm	Top secret; meets the NSA's 1 x 5 mm particle size

Strip-cut, cross-cut and micro-cut

Strip-cut shredders reach P-1 or P-2 at best. The long strips can be reassembled with patience, and they are not suitable for anything with a name, account number or signature on it. Cross-cut machines typically land at P-3 or P-4, and micro-cut at P-5 and above. The label on the machine, not the marketing word, is what counts.

What the law expects

No US law names a P-level. They require that records be destroyed so they cannot practicably be read or reconstructed, and leave the method to you:

The FTC Disposal Rule (16 CFR Part 682) requires any business that holds consumer report information (most employers that run background checks hold some) to take reasonable measures when disposing of it. Shredding is the example the rule gives.
HIPAA covered entities must safeguard protected health information through disposal. HHS guidance names shredding so that the information is unreadable and cannot be reconstructed.
Many states have their own data-disposal laws for records that contain personal information.

P-4 is the level most commonly recommended for personal and financial data in an office, and P-5 where the records are medical, legal or otherwise confidential. A shredding service that gives a certificate of destruction is the alternative for large volumes.

The specifications that matter after security

Continuous run time and cool-down. A small shredder may run for 5 minutes and then need 30 to cool. That limits what it can do in a day more than sheet capacity does.
Sheet capacity is measured with light paper. Feed a few sheets fewer than the rating.
Auto-feed. Load a stack and walk away. Worth it anywhere paper arrives in bulk.
Oil. Cross-cut and micro-cut cutters need oiling every few bin-fulls, or they slow down and jam.
Higher levels are slower. A P-5 machine takes fewer sheets at a time and fills its bin faster than a P-4 machine of the same size.

Cross-cut and micro-cut shredders for the office

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P-4 is the level most privacy guidance points to for personal and financial records. Check the continuous run time, not just the sheet capacity.

bonsaii

Bonsaii 12-Sheet Cross Cut Paper Shredder, 5.5 Gal Home Office Heavy Duty Shredder for Paper, Credit Card, Mail, Staples, with Transparent Window, High Security Level P-4 (C275-A)

$55.24

Amazon Basics

Amazon Basics 8-Sheet High Security Cross Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder with P-4 Security, Auto Shut-off, Black

$37.48

Amazon Basics

Amazon Basics 200-Sheet Auto Feed Cross-Cut Paper Shredder, High Security P-4, Anti-Jam, 8.5 Gallon Pullout Bin, Black

$209.85

BONSEN

BONSEN 20-Sheet Cross-Cut P-4 High Security Heavy Duty Paper Shredder

$189.99

Prices retrieved from Amazon on 2026-09-29 and may since have changed; the price on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. No manufacturer pays for a place in this list.

Micro-cut shredders (P-5 and above)

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Particles of 30 square millimeters or smaller. Slower and pricier to run, and the level to look at for medical, legal and HR files.

Aurora

Aurora AU830MA High-Security 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder/ 20 Minutes/Security Level P-5

$142.48

Aurora

Aurora AU1060MA Professional Grade 10-Sheet High Security Micro-Cut Paper and Credit Card Shredder/ 60 Minutes/Security Level P-5, White, AU1060MA 10-Sheet High Security Microcut

$178.37

Aurora

Aurora Professional Grade AU125MA 120-Sheet Auto Feed High-Security Micro-Cut Paper Shredder/60 Minutes/Security Level P-5

$199.77

Wingwise

Wingwise Ultra Low Noise 48dB Micro Cut Paper Shredder for Home Office

$119.99

Auto-feed shredders

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Load a stack, close the lid, walk away. Worth it anywhere staples and paper clips arrive in bulk.

bonsaii

Bonsaii 120-Sheet Autofeed Micro-Cut 30-Min Run Heavy Duty Paper Shredder

$143.99

Amazon Basics

Amazon Basics 200-Sheet Auto Feed Cross-Cut Paper Shredder, High Security P-4, Anti-Jam, 8.5 Gallon Pullout Bin, Black

$209.85

Locksworth

Locksworth 110-Sheet Micro Cut Shredder for Home Office, 6.9 Gallons Bin P-4 High Security Paper Shredder for Credit Card, Staple, Clip, Heavy Duty Commercial Shredders with Casters

$134.99

bonsaii

Bonsaii 12-Sheet Cross Cut Paper Shredder, 5.5 Gal Home Office Heavy Duty Shredder for Paper, Credit Card, Mail, Staples, with Transparent Window, High Security Level P-4 (C275-A)

$55.24