Staples 12-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder (ST62153)
Wirecutter's top home pick that Popular Mechanics verified over-performs its rating, and thermal headroom from over-capacity performance is what keeps motors alive. Slightly behind the LX220 only because its support network is retail-store rather than a shredder specialist.
Consolidated from 5 cited sources across 4 outlets
Where the cited sources landed, as we read them
- 2 positive sources
- 1 mixed source
- 1 unconvinced source
1 of 9 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.
Unnecessary capacity and louder than alternatives.
Flagged 27 July 2026
Pros & cons
- ✓ Named the best home paper shredder by Wirecutter for documents, junk mail, and CDs
- ✓ Consistently handled its rated 12-sheet capacity and chewed through 15-sheet stacks
- ✓ Micro-cut security to roughly 4.3mm x 12mm pieces
- ✓ Overload protection
- ✓ Wirecutter's current top pick for home shredding
- ✗ Support network is retail-store based rather than a shredder specialist
- ✗ Shorter long-term track record than the Fellowes flagships
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found. 1 outlet wouldn't let us check its link. We quote no words from these sources, so each row shows only where we placed it.
2 positive sources
1 mixed source
1 unconvinced source
1 stance not read source
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #2 of 18 on our paper shredders tier list, in S tier. That placement draws on 5 cited sources across 4 outlets.
1 of the 4 sources with a clear view is critical of it: Popular Mechanics. Support network is retail-store based rather than a shredder specialist. Shorter long-term track record than the Fellowes flagships.
Ranked nearby in Paper Shredders
S tier #1 Fellowes Powershred 99Ci
A tier #3 Fellowes Powershred LX220
B tier #4 1 of 10 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Aurora AU120MA
B tier #5 1 of 10 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Aurora AU1230XA
B tier #6 Amazon Basics 8-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder
C tier #7 Fellowes Powershred LX22M
D tier #15 Bonsaii C234-A 6-Sheet Micro-Cut Shredder
F tier #16 3 of 9 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Royal 14MC
F tier #17 3 of 5 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Bonsaii C261-C 6-Sheet Cross-Cut Shredder
F tier #18 3 of 7 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.