Cross-cut paper shredders cut in two directions, turning documents into small particles that cannot be pieced back together the way strip-cut output can. For most offices destroying confidential, HIPAA, or financial records, a cross-cut machine at security level P-3, P-4, or P-5 is the right call. Mid-State Litho carries cross-cut shredders from two production-grade lines, Formax and MBM Destroyit (Krug & Priester), from deskside units up to industrial floor machines.
The Formax FD-8000 series runs from the deskside FD 8206CC through high-volume office models like the FD 8602CC, FD 8704CC, and the 90-sheet FD 8806CC, plus high-security P-7 models for classified-grade destruction. The MBM Destroyit line spans the deskside 2265 up to the industrial 5009, with most families offered in several DIN security levels (P-2 through P-7) so capacity and particle size can be matched independently.
Cross-cut sits between strip-cut (long strips, lowest security) and micro-cut (the finest particles, P-6 and P-7). Picking a machine comes down to three things: how many sheets per pass you need, what security level your documents require, and whether it is a deskside, office, or continuous-duty industrial placement. The buyer's guide below walks those tiers.
Mid-State Litho is a Michigan-based dealer serving the Great Lakes region since 1984. We service Formax and MBM Destroyit shredders in-house and stock bags, oil, and parts, with financing on the larger units.
Formax FD-8000 cross-cut shredders
- FD 8206CC deskside, P-4, ~17 sheets
- FD 8402CC onsite office, P-4, ~24-26 sheets
- FD 8502CC / 8502AF office, P-4, ~22-25 sheets
- FD 8602CC office, P-4, ~33-35 sheets
- FD 8652CC auto-oiler office, P-4, ~32 sheets
- FD 8704CC multimedia office, P-4, ~40-45 sheets
- FD 8806CC high-volume, P-3, ~90 sheets
- High-security P-7 siblings (FD 8300HS, 8400HS-1, 8500HS, 8650HS, 8732HS) for classified-grade work
MBM Destroyit cross-cut shredders
- Destroyit 2265 deskside, P-4, ~5-6 sheets
- Destroyit 2503 / 2604 office, P-4 and P-5 variants, ~8-16 sheets
- Destroyit 3104 / 3105 office, P-4 and P-5, ~14-39 sheets
- Destroyit 4001 / 4003 / 4005 mid-volume, P-4 / P-5 / P-7 variants
- Destroyit 4606 / 4108 high-volume, P-3 and P-5, ~32-82 sheets
- Destroyit 5009 industrial, P-2 and P-3, ~300-700 sheets
Each MBM Destroyit family is sold at several DIN security levels, so the buyer chooses capacity and particle size separately.
How to choose a cross-cut shredder
- Security level (DIN 66399 P-rating). P-3 and P-4 cross-cut suit general office and HIPAA; P-5 is confidential; P-6 and P-7 micro-cut are highly confidential or classified.
- Sheet capacity. Deskside 5-17, office 20-45, high-volume 65-90, industrial 300-plus.
- Placement and duty cycle. Deskside vs office vs continuous-duty industrial, with auto-oil on the 8652CC for longer run time.
- Media. Some models take staples, cards, and optical media (the 8704CC multimedia and 8732HS paper / optical models).
Frequently asked questions
What is a cross-cut paper shredder?
A cross-cut shredder cuts paper in two directions, producing small confetti-like particles instead of long strips. That makes the output far harder to reassemble than a strip-cut shredder and is the standard for offices handling confidential documents.
What security level (P-rating) do I need?
DIN 66399 rates shredders P-2 through P-7. P-3 and P-4 cross-cut suit most general office and HIPAA document destruction, and most offices destroying confidential, HIPAA, or financial records use P-3, P-4, or P-5. P-5, P-6, and P-7 produce progressively smaller micro-cut particles for highly confidential or classified material. Mid-State Litho carries cross-cut models from P-2 up to P-7 across the Formax and MBM Destroyit lines.
How many sheets can these cross-cut shredders handle?
Capacity ranges from about 5-6 sheets on a deskside unit like the MBM Destroyit 2265, or about 17 on the Formax FD 8206CC, up to 300-400 sheets on an industrial machine like the Destroyit 5009. Office models such as the Formax FD 8602CC and 8704CC fall in the 30-45 sheet range, with the 90-sheet FD 8806CC above them.
What is the difference between cross-cut, strip-cut, and micro-cut?
Strip-cut shreds paper into long vertical strips (lowest security). Cross-cut shreds in two directions into small particles (P-3 to P-5, the common office choice). Micro-cut is a finer cross-cut producing very small particles for P-6 and P-7 high-security needs. We stock all three; this page lists the cross-cut models.
Does Mid-State Litho service shredders and supply bags and oil?
Yes. Mid-State Litho is an authorized Michigan-based dealer serving the Great Lakes region since 1984. We service both the Formax and MBM Destroyit lines in-house and stock shredder bags, oil, and replacement parts.
Can I finance a shredder?
Financing is available on the larger units. See financing and leasing or contact us for details.
Related collections and resources
Cross-cut is the middle ground: small particles at DIN P-3 to P-5, a step up from strip-cut and below micro-cut. If you need finer particles or a specific compliance level, compare the related categories below.
- Paper shredders
- High-security shredders for P-6 and P-7 NSA-grade destruction
- Micro-cut shredders for the finest particle sizes
- Industrial paper shredders
- Formax
- MBM (Triumph)
- MBM Destroyit 2604
- Formax FD 8502 series
- Service and support
- Financing and leasing
- Contact a shredder specialist