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. 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 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.
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 a Michigan-based dealer serving the Great Lakes region since 1984. We service Formax and MBM Destroyit shredders in-house and stock shredder bags, oil, and replacement parts. Financing is available on the larger units.
Related collections and resources
Explore related categories and brands:
- Paper shredders
- Industrial paper shredders
- Formax
- MBM (Triumph)
- MBM Destroyit 2604
- Formax FD 8502 series
- Service and support
- Financing and leasing
- Contact a shredder specialist
Related shredder categories
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 - high-security shredders for P-6 and P-7 / NSA-grade destruction, micro-cut shredders for the finest particle sizes, or browse every model in paper shredders.
Cross-cut shredder FAQs
What security level do I need for cross-cut shredding?
Most offices destroying confidential, HIPAA, or financial records use P-3, P-4, or P-5. P-6 and P-7 (micro and super-micro) are for classified-grade destruction.
What is the difference between cross-cut and micro-cut?
Cross-cut sits between strip-cut (lowest security) and micro-cut (finest particles, P-6/P-7). Cross-cut produces small particles at P-3 to P-5.
How many sheets can these shred per pass?
From about 17 sheets on the deskside Formax FD 8206CC up to industrial floor machines like the MBM Destroyit 5009, with office models such as the FD 8602CC, FD 8704CC, and 90-sheet FD 8806CC in between.
Do you service Formax and MBM Destroyit shredders?
Yes. Mid-State Litho is an authorized dealer servicing both lines in-house from Michigan across the Great Lakes region, and stocks bags, oil, and parts.
Can I finance a shredder?
Financing is available on the larger units. Contact us for details.