Staples Shredding Cost Comparison + UPS & Blue-Pencil [from $20/box]

Looking for a secure and cost-effective alternative to Staples or UPS shredding? The cost of shredding documents can vary significantly depending on where you take them and how much paper you have.

Staples currently charges $1.49 per pound for in-store shredding in Canada, while UPS Store shredding prices vary by location. Blue-Pencil offers drop-off shredding for $20 per standard banker’s box, regardless of the weight of the paper inside.

For a full banker’s box weighing approximately 25–35 lbs, the difference can add up quickly.

Paper Shredding Costs Compared

Here is a quick comparison of the cost and process for shredding documents through Staples, The UPS Store and Blue-Pencil.

Pricing checked August 2026 and is subject to change. UPS Store locations are independently operated and shredding prices can vary by location. The UPS range shown above is based on advertised pricing at Ontario locations reviewed when this article was updated.

For someone with a 30 lb box of documents, Staples would currently cost approximately $44.70, compared with $20 for drop-off shredding at Blue-Pencil.

The right choice, however, isn’t necessarily based on price alone. Convenience, chain of custody, time to destruction and the amount of paper you need to shred are also worth considering.

Pros and cons of Shredding at a business centre

Dropping documents off at a nearby Staples or UPS location can be convenient, particularly if you only have a small amount of paper to destroy.

However, there are some differences between using a retail drop-off location and taking documents directly to a professional shredding company.

Here are a few questions to consider before choosing a shredding service.

1. Am I comfortable adding another handoff point to my document disposal process?

When you use a retail shredding service, the retailer typically isn’t the company that ultimately destroys your documents.

For example, Staples uses Iron Mountain for its secure shredding service. Customers place documents into locked bins at the Staples location, and the documents are then handled through Iron Mountain’s secure destruction process.

This can be a perfectly suitable option for many people, but it adds another organization and step to the chain of custody.

When comparing shredding services, consider asking:

• Who actually destroys my documents?
• Are the documents shredded at this location or transported elsewhere?
• Where are documents stored while awaiting destruction?
• How frequently are documents collected?
• Can I receive a Certificate of Destruction?

Understanding the entire process allows you to choose the level of security and convenience that works for you.

2. Is convenience more important to me than cost?

Staples charges for shredding by the pound, while individual UPS Store locations establish their own shredding rates.

This pricing model can work well when you only have a small quantity of paper. However, the cost can increase quickly when you’re shredding an entire box or multiple boxes.

A standard banker’s box filled with paper generally weighs approximately 25–35 lbs.

At Staples’ current price of $1.49/lb:

• A 25 lb box would cost approximately $37.25
• A 30 lb box would cost approximately $44.70
• A 35 lb box would cost approximately $52.15

Blue-Pencil’s Drop-Off Shredding service is $20 per standard box, regardless of whether that box weighs 25 lbs or 35 lbs.

That means a dedicated shredding provider can become considerably more cost-effective once you have a full box or more of documents to destroy.

3. How long will my documents be stored before they are destroyed?

When documents are dropped off at a retail location, they may be securely stored until they are collected for destruction.

The exact collection and destruction process can differ between providers and locations, so it’s worth asking how your documents will be handled.

Questions to ask include:

• How often are shredding bins collected?
• How quickly are documents destroyed after collection?
• Where are the documents transported?
• Who has access to the documents during the process?
• Is there a documented chain of custody?

With Blue-Pencil’s Oakville drop-off shredding service, documents are placed into a locked security bin and shredded at the end of each day.

Paper Shredding Costs Compared

Staples Shredding Cost

As of August 2026, Staples Canada charges $1.49 per pound for in-store shredding services.

Customers drop their documents into locked shredding bins located inside Staples stores across Canada. Staples works with Iron Mountain to securely destroy the documents.

Staples accepts many common office documents and materials for shredding, including:

• Paper of different colours and thicknesses
• Envelopes
• File folders
• Paper containing staples
• Paper clips
• Rubber bands

For people with only a few pounds of documents, Staples can be a convenient option because of its large number of retail locations.

For larger quantities, however, paying by weight can make the service considerably more expensive.

UPS Shredding Cost

The UPS Store also offers secure document shredding at participating locations. Unlike Staples, UPS shredding prices vary by location, as individual UPS Store locations are independently owned and operated.

When we reviewed advertised shredding prices at several Ontario UPS Store locations in August 2026, we found rates ranging from approximately $0.99 to $2.50 per pound.

Based on those rates, shredding a 30 lb banker’s box could cost approximately:

• $29.70 at $0.99/lb
• $44.70 at $1.49/lb
• $60.00 at $2.00/lb
• $75.00 at $2.50/lb

This means the cost of shredding a full box at The UPS Store can vary considerably depending on the location you choose.

Documents are generally dropped off at the store and placed into a secure shredding container before being collected for destruction.

If you’re considering UPS, contact your local store to confirm its current shredding rate and ask about how your documents are handled after drop-off.

For larger quantities of paper, it’s also worth comparing the total cost with a professional shredding company’s flat-rate drop-off or mobile shredding service.

“Our company has utilized Blue-Pencil for the past 6 years for their secure shredding service. They are efficient, reliable, and their teams from head office along with the service technicians are highly professional & a pleasure to communicate with. We would, without hesitation, recommend their services, they will not disappoint. ”
– Caroline

Blue-Pencil Drop-Off Shredding Cost

Cost: $20 per standard banker’s box

Blue-Pencil offers secure drop-off shredding for individuals, home offices and businesses that have documents they no longer need.

Rather than charging by the pound, Blue-Pencil charges $20 per standard box, making the cost predictable regardless of how much the paper inside the box weighs.

Documents dropped off at our Oakville location are placed into a locked security bin and shredded at the end of each day.

Customers can also receive a Certificate of Destruction confirming their documents have been securely destroyed.

Which Shredding Option Is Best for You?

The best shredding service depends largely on how much paper you have, how quickly you want it destroyed and whether convenience or cost is your biggest priority.

A few documents

If you only have a small stack of documents, a nearby retail location such as Staples or UPS may be the easiest option. Because you’re paying by weight, a very small quantity may not cost very much.

1–9 boxes

For several boxes of documents, a professional drop-off shredding service can be significantly more economical.

Blue-Pencil offers drop-off shredding for $20 per standard box, making it particularly well suited to smaller residential and business cleanouts.

10+ boxes

If you have 10 or more boxes, consider an on-site mobile shredding service.

Instead of loading boxes into your vehicle and transporting them to a shredding location, a mobile shredding truck comes to your home or business and securely destroys the documents on-site.

For larger quantities, this can be both simpler and more cost-effective.

Ongoing business shredding

Businesses that regularly generate confidential documents may be better served by a scheduled shredding service.

Secure shredding containers can be placed throughout your workplace and serviced according to a regular schedule, helping employees dispose of confidential documents consistently rather than allowing paperwork to accumulate.

Cost Isn’t the Only Consideration: How Secure Is the Shredding Process?

Price and convenience matter, but confidential documents can contain information that shouldn’t end up in regular recycling or garbage.

When comparing shredding companies, consider the security process from the moment you hand over your documents until they are destroyed.

Chain of custody

Find out who will handle your documents and whether another company or facility becomes involved before destruction.

Secure storage

Documents awaiting destruction should be stored in locked, secure containers rather than open boxes or general storage areas.

Time to destruction

Ask how frequently documents are collected or destroyed. The shorter the time between drop-off and destruction, the less time your confidential information spends awaiting disposal.

Certificate of Destruction

A Certificate of Destruction provides documentation that your confidential material has been securely destroyed.

This can be particularly important for businesses that need records demonstrating that confidential information has been disposed of appropriately.

Professional certification

Businesses should also consider whether their shredding provider follows recognized information destruction standards.

Blue-Pencil is NAID AAA Certified, which requires ongoing compliance with stringent security procedures for the handling and destruction of confidential information.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Shred a Box of Documents?

For a full banker’s box, a flat-rate shredding service can be considerably less expensive than paying by the pound.

For example, based on current August 2026 pricing:

30 lb box at Staples: approximately $44.70
30 lb box at The UPS Store: approximately $29.70–$75.00 based on Ontario locations reviewed
30 lb box at Blue-Pencil: $20.00

That’s a difference of approximately $24.70 per box.

With multiple boxes, the difference becomes even greater.

The comparison changes if you only have a few pounds of paper, however. For a very small quantity, a nearby retail shredding location may still be the most convenient option.

Take documents to a Secure Shredding Facility or Schedule a Mobile Shredding Service

Cost: $20/box when you drop-off at the Blue-Pencil shredding office

Professional shredding companies offer a safe and convenient way for residents of Toronto and the GTA a way to manage their personal information.  Most, including Blue-Pencil have a convienient drop-off service.

Pros:

• Convenient and flexible, if you are in the Oakville area, you can drop your boxes at the Blue-Pencil office fore shredding.  Alternatively, you can arrange for the shredding service to come to you.
• Depending on the amount of paper you have, it can be substantially cheaper to bring your documents to a shredding service provide vs to a retail location that offers shredding.
• All information security professionals are regularly background checked for security and any criminal activity before being allowed to service residents
• Certificate of destruction may be provided, meaning residents get peace of mind that their information is destroyed.

Cons:

• Shredding facility may not be as close or as numerous as Staples or UPS locations.

If you have 10+ boxes, an on-site service where a shredding truck will arrive at your location to shred your documents would be the best choice both from a financial and a simplicity perspective.

Your choices have an impact on how well your personal information is managed.  Residents of Toronto and the GTA are advised to review all their options to make a thorough and informed decision.

Comparison Infographic

Frequently Asked Questions About Shredding Costs

How much does Staples charge for shredding?

As of August 2026, Staples Canada advertises in-store shredding for $1.49 per pound. Pricing is subject to change, so check with Staples before visiting.

How much does UPS charge for shredding?

UPS shredding prices vary by location because individual UPS Store locations can establish their own rates. Contact your nearest UPS Store to confirm its current shredding price.

Is shredding charged by the pound or by the box?

It depends on the provider. Staples charges by the pound, while Blue-Pencil’s drop-off shredding service charges a flat $20 per standard banker’s box.

How much does a full banker’s box of paper weigh?

A standard banker’s box filled with documents typically weighs approximately 25–35 lbs, depending on how tightly it is packed and what types of documents it contains.

Is it cheaper to use a shredding company than Staples or UPS?

It can be, particularly when you have one or more full boxes of documents.

At $1.49/lb, shredding a 30 lb box at Staples would cost approximately $44.70. Blue-Pencil charges $20 for a standard box through its drop-off shredding service.

For larger volumes, mobile shredding may offer an even more convenient option because the documents can be collected and destroyed at your location.

Secure Document Shredding in Toronto and the GTA

Blue-Pencil provides secure document shredding for residents and businesses throughout Toronto and the GTA.

Depending on how much material you have, you can choose from:

• Drop-off shredding for smaller quantities
• Mobile shredding that comes directly to your home or business
• One-time shredding for cleanouts and large projects
• Scheduled shredding for businesses that regularly dispose of confidential documents

Blue-Pencil maintains high standards for information destruction and is NAID AAA Certified and Privacy+ Certified.

Whether you’re clearing out old personal files, cleaning out an office or establishing an ongoing document destruction program, we’ll help you choose the shredding option that makes the most sense for the amount of material you have.

Have documents ready to shred?

Find your nearest Blue-Pencil drop-off location or contact us to arrange secure mobile shredding throughout Toronto and the GTA.

Shredding prices referenced in this article were reviewed in August 2026 and are provided for comparison purposes only. Retail pricing and services are subject to change. Check directly with the individual provider or location for current pricing.