Cross-cut vs micro-cut: which shredder security do you need?
Cross-cut shredders cut paper in two directions into confetti-like particles and reach security level P-4 under the DIN 66399 standard. Micro-cut shredders cut the same sheet into far smaller particles — 2 × 12 mm on the HP OneShred MC models — reaching P-5. P-4 is the right level for everyday business paperwork: invoices, HR letters, contracts, bank statements. Step up to P-5 micro-cut when the documents would genuinely harm someone if reassembled: client data, medical records, payroll, legal files, board papers.
- P-4 cross-cut
- Standard confidential business documents. Faster, larger sheet capacity and a bin that fills more slowly for the same amount of paper.
- P-5 micro-cut
- High-confidentiality documents. Particles are roughly five times smaller, so reconstruction is not realistically possible — but the bin fills faster.









