Careers Cost > How Much Does a Shredding Service Cost?
Written by:Howmuchisit.org Staff
Shredding services are provided to companies and/or individuals who needtheir outdated documents and sensitive files destroyed. Since it could take hours or days to shred piles of paper with a household shredder, shredding services can bring in customized trucks or you can bring it to their location to shreds hundreds of papers within minutes on the spot.
How much does a shredding service cost?
The cost of a shredding service will depend on the amount of paper that needs to be shredded, the company performing the service, geographical location and if you’re on a recurring contract. On average, local franchised services can charge about $1 per poundor $40 to $100 per bin, often the size of a garbage can, if you were to use a commercialservice. We researched some of the most popular companies businesses use and provided the quotes we were given in the table below.
Angie’s List says the average cost for an on-site visit will be $100 to $150, but if you agree to a recurring visit, the costs can drop to $45 to $75 per visit.
| Company | Average Price |
|---|---|
| FedEx Kinkos | - $0.79 per pound |
| Iron Mountain | - $10 per box (on site with their own paper shredder, but there's a 300 pound minimum) - $99 per bin + $40 for each additional to bring to their premises. |
| Office Depot | - $1 per pound |
| ProShred | - $85 per bin + $40 per additional bin if they come on-site - $20 to $30 per 50 pounds if you bring to them. |
| Shred-It | - $150 per bin if on-site - $125 per bin if off-site - $10 per box if you bring to their location. |
| Staples | - $1 per pound |
| UPS | - $1 per pound |
Shredding service overview
As you can see in the table below, companies will often charge by the pound or by the “bin.” These bins are often the size of a garbage bin you would set on the side of the curb. For example, Iron Mountain’s bin measures 42 inches tall and 25 inches wide. Most companies that specialize in businesses will either bring the equipment to you, shredding the papers on site, or they can pick it up and take it back to their business center,
From our research, if you were to bring in your papers to a retailer such as Staples or Office Depot, it appears that they partner with Iron Mountain for pickups. This being said, your papers won’t be shredded on the spot, but rather, it will be placed in a secure box for a future pickup date.
What are the extra costs?
Some companies have hidden fees, on top of the estimates mentioned above. This can include administration fees, late fees, carton retrieval fees or even rush job fees. With this being said, it’s always best to read the fine print before signing any contract.
Tips to know
Some companies may have a minimum charge, so it’s best to know what this may be before committing.
How can I save money?
Bring the documents to the company instead of having them pick it up will always be the cheapest option to consider.
Considering looking at purchasing a shredder. This is a great option for those who only want to shred a few papers here and there. A good, quality shredder will start at $50 and go up from there.
There are some companies that offer paper recycling and actually pay you rather than charge you. These companies encourage recycling and they will put what looks like a dumpster on the grounds of your business. Papers can be put in this container, and when it is full, call the company for pickup. Although you will not make a large profit on this, it will help the environment by recycling as well as save you money on shredding services. However, this is not a suggestion forthose with papers that need to remain confidential.
Look for coupons before considering a local franchised chain. For example, at the time of this writing, Office Depot is offering five free pounds of document shredding if you print the coupon off their website.
Many communities often hold shred events for free for its residents. As long as you have a valid ID, this is a great way to take advantage of a free service. Check your local government website or search online to see if any events are coming up. You can also search for something along the lines of “free shredding plus your city name” to see if anything pops up.
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Average Reported Cost: $3
100 %
0 %
Less Expensive $1 $1.5K $3K $5K $6.5K More Expensive $8k
How much did you spend?
- Sharon Koss(Toledo, Ohio) paid $3 and said:
Office Max
Located in: North Towne Shopping Center
Address: 845 W Alexis Rd, Toledo, OH 43612
Hours: Open today · 8AM–9PM
Phone: (419) 476-8665Wants $2.50 per pound!
Was it worth it? Yes
