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Guide · Real Group team
Paper Shredder Security Levels P-1 to P-7 Explained
Quick answer: Shredder security levels come from the DIN 66399 standard. P-1 and P-2 cut large strips for general paper, P-3 suits internal documents, P-4 suits sensitive business records and P-5 suits confidential data. P-6 and P-7 are high-security levels for classified material.
What the P-levels mean
DIN 66399 grades paper shredders by the maximum size of the particles they produce. The smaller the particles, the harder it is to piece a document back together.
| Level | Maximum particle size | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| P-1 | Up to 2,000 mm² (or strips up to 12 mm wide) | General documents |
| P-2 | Up to 800 mm² (or strips up to 6 mm wide) | Internal documents |
| P-3 | Up to 320 mm² (or strips up to 2 mm wide) | Sensitive and internal documents |
| P-4 | Up to 160 mm², and width up to 6 mm | Highly sensitive business records |
| P-5 | Up to 30 mm², and width up to 2 mm | Confidential data |
| P-6 | Up to 10 mm², and width up to 1 mm | Very confidential data |
| P-7 | Up to 5 mm², and width up to 1 mm | Top secret material |
Strip-cut, cross-cut and micro-cut
Strip-cut shredders cut long strips and are the least secure. Cross-cut shredders cut paper into short pieces, typically reaching P-3 or P-4. Micro-cut shredders produce tiny particles and reach P-5.
Which level does your office need?
- P-3: everyday internal paperwork, drafts and memos
- P-4: invoices, contracts, bank statements and sensitive business records
- P-5: personal data such as HR files, customer records, patient records and accounts
Under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, businesses must take reasonable security safeguards to protect personal data. Shredding paper records that contain personal data at a suitable level is a simple part of that.
Our shredders by level
| Model | Cut and level | Sheets | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 512 | Cross-cut, P-3 | 15 | ₹12,900 |
| 412 | Cross-cut, P-4, auto-feed | 300 auto | ₹49,900 |
| 0820 | Micro-cut, P-5 | 8 | ₹19,900 |
| 1020 | Micro-cut, P-5, jam-proof | 10 | ₹34,900 |
Also check sheet capacity and duty cycle
Sheet capacity is how many sheets the shredder takes at once. The duty cycle is how long it runs before it must cool down. For long sessions, choose a model with a long run time, such as the Model 1020 (2 hours).
Machines mentioned in this guide
Cross-cut office shredder that takes 15 sheets at once, with staples and paper clips.
₹12,900
High-security micro-cut shredder (P-5) that turns paper into 2 × 10 mm particles, with a CD and card slot.
₹19,900
Quiet, jam-proof micro-cut shredder (P-5) that can run for 2 hours continuously.
₹34,900
FAQs
Questions about this topic
Is cross-cut secure enough?
Cross-cut (P-3 or P-4) is fine for most business documents. For personal data and confidential files, choose micro-cut P-5.
Can shredders destroy credit cards and CDs?
Many can. Models 0803, 512, 0820 and 412 shred credit cards, and 0803, 0820 and 412 also shred CDs.
Not sure which machine fits your business?
Tell us what you count or shred every day and we will recommend the right model and price.