Do You Need Paper Shredder Bags?

Use a bag when it saves you a messy transfer from the wastebasket to another container. Skip it if your manual prohibits liners or your disposal method works better with loose paper.

Frequent bin changes make bags more useful, especially when the disposal area is far from your desk. Closing the bag at the shredder reduces the number of times you handle loose shreds.

A small basket that you empty beside an approved collection container may need no liner at all. Check the disposal rules first so you don't buy bags that you'll have to remove before collection.

If you're also choosing a machine, our paper shredder buying guide explains the features that affect daily use. Bags solve the waste-handling part of that routine.

How do you choose paper shredder bags that fit?

Start with the manual, then check the basket opening, depth, and shape. A compatible model number is stronger evidence of fit than a matching gallon figure.

Switch off and unplug the shredder before removing its basket or measuring it. Record the opening's width and depth, plus the distance from the rim to the bottom.

A bag must reach the bottom without hanging under tension from the rim. It also needs enough spare material for any fold-over placement the manual requires and for closing after removal.

What should you check before using paper shredder bags?

Check whether the dimensions describe a flat bag or an opened bag. A flat width is not the same measurement as the width of a rectangular basket.

For a simple flat bag without expanding sides, its width needs to accommodate roughly half the basket opening's perimeter, plus room for fitting. Bags with gussets open differently, so use the bag maker's sizing guidance rather than applying that rule to every style.

Gallons describe volume, not opening shape. A tall, narrow bin and a short, wide one can hold similar amounts while needing different liners.

Does bag thickness or pack size matter more?

Choose fit first, then thickness and how quickly you'll use the supply. A thicker bag may suit repeated handling, but thickness cannot compensate for a tight opening or poor placement.

A mil is one-thousandth of an inch, not a millimeter. Thickness helps compare plastic films, but it doesn't establish a tear limit or tell you how a bag will behave when overfilled.

Estimate pack size from bin changes rather than sheets shredded. A large box makes sense for frequent emptying, while a smaller pack leaves less unused stock if your needs change.

Which paper shredder bags suit common needs?

Choose the model-specific Fellowes or Aurora option for a named compatible machine. Consider Tru Red or Highmark when you need a larger liner and can confirm the fit.

Is the Fellowes 36053 a fit for your shredder?

Choose Fellowes 36053 for the 90S, 99Ci, 99Ms, AutoMax 200C, or AutoMax 130C. These bags have a 9-gallon capacity.

This option suits offices that empty a compatible shredder often and want bags and closures stored together. The included ties give you a way to close each bag before carrying it away.

Skip this pack if you're choosing solely because your shredder has a Fellowes logo. Confirm the exact model, and consider whether you'll use a large supply before changing machines or collection methods.

Keep the dispenser near your replacement supplies so a fresh bag is ready when the full one comes out.

Who should consider Tru Red 15.8-Gallon Shredder Bags?

Choose Tru Red when its larger dimensions match your basket and your manual permits this liner style. These clear plastic bags are 0.5 mil thick.

This is worth considering for a larger bin when a named model-specific bag isn't required. Check how the stated width relates to the opened bag before comparing it with a rectangular basket.

Skip it for a small bin if the extra plastic would bunch around the rim or interfere with closing the drawer. Extra capacity offers little benefit when your machine's fill limit requires earlier emptying.

Support the bottom during removal rather than treating the wide opening as a carrying handle.

When do Aurora SB50 bags make sense?

Choose Aurora SB50 for the AU200MA or AU220MB auto-feed shredder. Each bag holds up to 8.5 gallons and measures 24.8 inches high by 14.17 inches long by 14.17 inches wide.

This is the straightforward option for owners of either named model who want a liner designed around its wastebasket. The roll format keeps replacements together.

Skip it if you have another Aurora model unless you confirm compatibility. The brand name and auto-feed feature alone don't establish a match.

Before starting a large batch, check the basket's remaining space. The feed tray's paper capacity and the wastebasket's available room are separate limits.

Are Highmark 15-Gallon bags worth considering?

Choose Highmark if you want a smaller pack of thicker bags and can confirm the dimensions. Its 1 mil film is twice the stated thickness of the Tru Red option, though that doesn't establish twice the strength.

The smaller pack suits someone who empties less often or wants fewer replacements to store. Highmark describes these bags as fitting most shredders, so check your basket rather than treating that as universal compatibility.

Skip them if you can't confirm the bag measurements or need a liner approved for a specific machine. Heavier film won't solve a poor fit, and it isn't a reason to press more shreds into the bag.

How do you install and remove a shredder bag?

Switch off and unplug the shredder, then fit the liner according to the manual. Start with an empty basket so trapped shreds don't interfere with placement.

Open the bag fully and settle its bottom into the basket. Smooth excess material against the sides, keeping plastic clear of the cutting head, sensors, latches, and drawer tracks.

Fold the edge over the rim only if the instructions allow it. Refit the basket gently; if it needs force, remove it and check for caught plastic.

Empty at the machine's fill limit while leaving room to close the bag. Don't shake or press the contents down to stretch the time between changes.

Lift slowly with support underneath, then close the bag before carrying it. If it catches on the basket, stop and free it rather than pulling harder.

Which mistakes cause spills or interfere with shredding?

Overfilling, poor fit, and loose plastic cause avoidable problems. A bag should collect shreds without changing how the basket closes or the machine operates.

Buying by gallons alone: check opening size and depth as well.
Leaving excess plastic loose: refit it as directed or choose another size.
Pulling only on the rim: support the filled bag from below.
Reusing a damaged liner: replace bags with holes, split seams, or stretched edges.
Adding tape near the cutting head: use only the retention method your manual permits.

A liner doesn't prevent jams. If paper stops feeding, follow our guide to how to clear a paper shredder jam rather than reaching toward the cutters.

For recurring trouble, review why a paper shredder keeps jamming. Feeding limits and maintenance still matter with a correctly fitted bag.

How should you dispose of shredded paper?

Follow your city or waste hauler's rules for both the shreds and their container. A recyclable plastic bag isn't automatically accepted in curbside collection.

Check whether shredded paper is accepted and whether it must arrive loose or in a particular container. Our guide to what to do with shredded paper covers disposal and reuse choices.

Keep paper shreds separate from other waste where your collection method requires it. Follow your machine's accepted-material rules before shredding anything besides paper.

How can you keep the shredder working well?

Use the machine within its feed limits and follow its care schedule. Replacing a liner handles waste collection, while cleaning and any required oiling serve other parts of the machine.

Remove loose shreds from accessible basket surfaces while the shredder is unplugged. Follow the manual for cleaning around sensors and never reach into the cutters.

If oiling is required, see how to oil a paper shredder and our comparison of shredder oil and lubricant sheets. Use the method your machine permits.

Which paper shredder bags should you choose?

Choose by compatibility first, then handling needs and pack size. Fellowes and Aurora suit their named machines; Tru Red suits a confirmed larger-bin fit, while Highmark offers thicker film in a smaller pack.

Skip paper shredder bags if your manual prohibits them or direct emptying fits your routine. Before ordering, check what to do with shredded paper so the bag you choose supports your disposal method.

Frequently asked questions

Do paper shredder bags fit every shredder?

No, paper shredder bags are not universal. Start with your shredder's manual and any named compatible bags, then check the basket's shape and measurements.

Capacity alone cannot confirm fit, because bins with the same volume can have different openings, and some machines have specific rules about liner placement.

Can I use a regular trash bag in a paper shredder?

A regular trash bag can work if your manual allows liners and it fits the basket correctly. It must reach the bottom without stretching across the opening or leaving loose plastic near moving parts.

Follow any instructions for securing the rim, and use a specified bag when the manual requires one.

How full should a shredder bag be?

Stop at your machine's fill limit and leave enough empty bag to close it easily. Don't press shreds down to create more space or wait until they reach the cutting area.

Switch off and unplug the shredder before removal, then support the bag from below instead of lifting only by its edges.

Can shredded paper go in recycling?

Shredded paper can go in recycling only where your local program accepts it. Check the required collection method, since paper shreds and plastic bags may have separate rules.

Our guide to what to do with shredded paper explains disposal and reuse options to consider before choosing your collection supplies.

Do You Need Paper Shredder Bags?