Tru Red Shredder Bags Review: 50-Pack Worth It for Your Office?
Quick Verdict
Pros
- Generous 15.8-gallon capacity fits most standard office shredders
- Durable plastic liner resists tears when emptying heavy loads
- Clean fit design keeps bins looking tidy between changes
- Bulk 50-pack reduces per-bag cost for high-volume offices
- Easy disposal design means fewer messes when you pull the bag
Cons
- Bags are slightly taller than some compact shredder models can accommodate
- No drawstring closure — disposal requires a bit more care
- Plastic material is not biodegradable for environmentally conscious offices
Quick Verdict
If you're tired of ripping bags every time you empty a heavy shredder load, the Tru Red shredder bags are a practical upgrade worth considering. The 15.8-gallon capacity handled our busiest weeks without splitting, and the 50-pack pricing makes the per-bag cost reasonable for daily-use offices. That said, the lack of a drawstring and a slightly taller profile mean these aren't universally perfect — measure your shredder bin before you buy. Rating: 4.2/5.
What Are the Tru Red Shredder Bags?
The Tru Red 424154 bags are standard-fit waste liners made for office shredders, sold under Staples' house brand. Each bag holds up to 15.8 gallons — roughly 60 liters — which is the sweet spot for most personal and small-to-medium office shredding bins. They come in a 50-pack, which at my office lasted us about eight weeks with a team of twelve people doing moderate daily shredding.
Right out of the packaging, you notice these are slightly stiffer than the generic no-name bags I had been using previously. That stiffness is the "durable plastic liner" the listing mentions, and honestly, it makes a real difference when you're hauling a full bag across the office to the trash.
Key Features
- 15.8 Gallon Capacity – Fits most standard office shredder bins comfortably
- Durable Plastic Liners – Thicker material resists tears from cross-cut paper particles
- Easy Disposal Design – Slides out of bins without snagging on edges
- Clean Fit Construction – Stays tucked inside the bin for a neater appearance
- Bulk 50-Pack – Economical option for offices with high shredding volume
Hands-On Review
I first got these bags after we upgraded to a Fellowes Powershred C-320 and realised the old generic bags we had been using were stretching and splitting under the weight of a full cross-cut load. Within the first week, I noticed the Tru Red bags held their shape better when full — the material has a bit more body to it, almost like a light-duty trash bag crossed with a tailored liner.
By week two, our office manager commented unprompted that the shredder area looked tidier. The clean fit design means the bag doesn't bunch up at the top the way cheaper alternatives do. On a Tuesday morning — which is when we do our weekly big clean-out — I pulled a full 15.8-gallon bag out of the bin with one hand. No tearing. That had never happened with the old bags.
Here's where I have to be honest though: I tried these in our smaller Amazon Basics personal shredder too, and the bag was about an inch too tall for the compact bin. It bunched at the top and kept the lid from closing fully. So if you have a smaller personal shredder rather than an office-grade machine, double-check your bin dimensions before ordering.
Another thing nobody mentions in the listings: the bags don't have a drawstring. If you're used to pulling a drawstring and just carrying the whole bag, you'll need to adapt. I end up gathering the top and twisting it slightly before carrying — it works fine, but it's an extra step. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing.
Who Should Buy It?
Small to medium offices with daily shredding needs — if your team goes through a full shredder bin multiple times a week, the 50-pack value and durable build make these a sensible choice.
Legal, HR, or financial offices handling sensitive documents — the thicker liner gives confidence that cross-cut particles won't escape during transport to the bin.
Anyone upgrading from budget generic bags — the difference in tear resistance is noticeable, especially when bags get heavy.
Skip these if you have a compact personal shredder with a small bin — the 15.8-gallon size may not fit. Also skip if you specifically need biodegradable or eco-friendly liner bags — these are standard plastic.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Fellowes 35250 Shreddability Bags — Fellowes makes a comparable 16-gallon bag with a drawstring closure. Choose these if you prefer the ease of a pull-and-carry design, though you'll typically pay a slightly higher per-bag price.
AmazonCommercial Heavy Duty Shredder Bags — A direct competitor at a similar price point. If you're already an AmazonBusiness customer, these may be more convenient to bundle with other supplies, but the performance difference is negligible.
Staples Brand Standard Shredder Bags — Staples also sells their own generic version. They're usually cheaper per bag but thinner, making them better for low-volume personal use rather than busy office environments.
FAQ
The 15.8-gallon capacity fits most standard office shredders, but it's worth measuring your bin first. Some compact or slim-profile shredders may have slightly different dimensions.
Final Verdict
After three weeks of daily use across two different shredders, the Tru Red 424154 bags earned a permanent spot in our office supply order. They're not flashy, but they're sturdy, the capacity is right for most office setups, and the bulk pricing makes sense for teams that shred consistently. The lack of a drawstring is the one genuine inconvenience, and the slightly tall fit is a gotcha for compact shredders — so measure before you order. For standard office shredding, though, these bags do exactly what they promise. Will I keep buying them? Yes, probably — with the caveat that I'll be checking bin dimensions first.