{"id":3592,"date":"2026-10-09T03:12:46","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T19:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hewilson.com\/blog\/?p=3592"},"modified":"2026-10-09T03:12:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T19:12:46","slug":"can-i-use-shredded-paper-as-insulation-494a-ea2617","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hewilson.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/09\/can-i-use-shredded-paper-as-insulation-494a-ea2617\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I use shredded paper as insulation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone, it\u2019s Jake here from the shredded paper supply team. I get so many messages a week that go something like\u2014\u201cWait, can I actually use shredded paper as insulation?\u201d And honestly, if I had a nickel for every time someone asked that, I could probably retire early (and take a lot of my leftover shredded office paper with me, lol). Today I\u2019m breaking this down, because it\u2019s not just a \u201cyes or no\u201d question\u2014there\u2019s a lot of nuance here, and as a guy who\u2019s basically surrounded by shredded paper 24\/7, I\u2019ve tested, researched, and seen every angle. Shredded Paper<\/a><\/p>\n

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First off, let\u2019s cut through the hype and the myths. Insulation works by trapping air, right? Because still air is way better at slowing heat transfer than almost any solid material. Shredded paper does that perfectly. The tiny, interlocked paper bits create millions of little air pockets that don\u2019t move around, which is exactly what fiberglass, rock wool, or any of those expensive store-bought insulations do. It\u2019s also super dense if you pack it right\u2014no sagging, no settling like some loose-fill insulations I\u2019ve heard horror stories about.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the thing: it\u2019s not just any shredded paper. When I say \u201cshredded paper\u201d as insulation, I\u2019m talking about clean, uncoated, unprinted, or low-ink shredded paper. Wait, low-ink? Yeah, because if you have a stack of shredded paper that\u2019s all neon ink or glossy magazine pages, that\u2019s a no-go. The ink has volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can off-gas, especially if your attic gets hot. As a supplier, I specifically sort out any glossy paper, colored ink that\u2019s not water-based, and any paper that has food residue, staples, or tape. Wait, staples! Oh right, we pull all staples out before packaging\u2014those little metal bits can tear your insulation bags, or even create rust spots over time. So that\u2019s rule number one: only use clean, stripped-down shredded paper with minimal ink, no debris.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s get into the actual R-value, because that\u2019s the number everyone cares about. R-value is how well a material resists heat flow. Fiberglass loose-fill is usually around R-2.2 to R-3.8 per inch, depending on density. Shredded paper? From the research I\u2019ve done, and from tests I helped run last year with a local handyman, it clocks in at about R-3.2 to R-3.8 per inch. That\u2019s basically on par with mid-range fiberglass. For a standard attic floor, you need around R-30 to R-49 depending on where you live. So if you have 10 inches of properly packed shredded paper, that\u2019s already over R-30\u2014perfect for most climates. That\u2019s a big win, and it\u2019s way cheaper than buying fiberglass. I\u2019ve had a couple of residential customers who saved like 60% on their insulation costs last year just switching to our shredded paper bulk supplies.<\/p>\n

But hold on, it\u2019s not all sunshine and air pockets. There are some real issues you have to address if you\u2019re gonna use shredded paper as insulation. First up: moisture. Paper soaks up water like a sponge. If your attic isn\u2019t properly ventilated, or if you have a leaky roof, that shredded paper will get wet, clump up, lose its air pockets, and turn into a mold and mildew factory. I remember a guy reached out to me last year saying his insulation got moldy, and when we looked back, he had zero attic ventilation. He just dumped the shredded paper in without any vapor barriers or vents. So rule number two: you\u2019ve gotta make sure the space is dry and ventilated. That non-negotiable.<\/p>\n

Next up: fire resistance. Paper burns, duh. But wait, most store-bought loose-fill insulations have fire retardants, right? Shredded paper doesn\u2019t\u2014unless you treat it. But here\u2019s a trick: some studies say that if you lightly dampen the shredded paper with a borax solution, it becomes fire-resistant and even repels bugs like termites and carpenter ants. Borax is super easy to get at any grocery store, too. I\u2019ve had customers mix up a batch of borax and water, spray it on their shredded paper before blowing it into the attic, and it works like a charm. It\u2019s non-toxic too, way safer than some of the chemicals in fiberglass. That\u2019s a big plus for families with kids or pets, by the way.<\/p>\n

Another thing people ask: can I just use random shredded paper from my home shredder? Sure, if you\u2019re doing a small closet or a tiny shed, but for big projects like an attic, you want bulk shredded paper from a supplier like us. Why? Because when you\u2019re packing 1,000 square feet of attic space, you need consistent size shreds. Home shredders make paper confetti-sized bits, which pack too tight and don\u2019t leave enough air pockets. We shred our paper into uniform 1 to 2 inch strips\u2014just big enough to interlock, trap air, and still flow easily when you blow it in with an insulation blower (yeah, you can rent blowers at most home improvement stores, or even hire a local handyman to do it for a few hundred bucks). We also package it in 40-pound bags that are easy to haul, no messy loose shreds everywhere.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s talk about real-world results, not just lab numbers. Last winter, I had a customer in Minnesota who used our shredded paper insulation in his attic. His previous fiberglass insulation was old and sagging, so he decided to rip it out and replace it with our stuff. His heating bill that winter was 28% lower than the year before. Another customer in Arizona (where AC is the main cost) said his cooling bill dropped 22% in the first summer. Those are real numbers, not marketing fluff. Of course, it depends on your home\u2019s insulation, how air-sealed it is, all that, but those are solid results.<\/p>\n

Now, what are the downsides that no one talks about? For one, you can\u2019t use it in walls. Shredded paper in wall cavities can trap moisture between the drywall and the studs, leading to mold. It\u2019s only for open, ventilated spaces like attics, wall cavities with proper venting (though I still don\u2019t recommend it), floors over crawl spaces, or sheds. Another downside: it settles a little over time, like all loose-fill insulations. But if you pack it properly, the settling is only like 5 to 10% over 10 years, which is way less than some cheaper loose-fill insulations. And you can always add more every few years if you notice a drop in efficiency.<\/p>\n

I also get a lot of questions about pests. I mentioned borax earlier, that\u2019s the main solution. If you treat your shredded paper with a light borax spray, it repels almost all common pests. I\u2019ve had zero reports of bugs nesting in insulation that was treated with borax. If you skip the borax, you might get mice\u2014they love to burrow in warm, soft paper. But mice are less of a problem if your home is properly sealed, and even if you have a few, they\u2019re not gonna destroy the insulation like they do foam or wood.<\/p>\n

Wait, let\u2019s go back to the science part to make sure I\u2019m not overstating anything. The Department of Energy has done some testing on alternative insulations, and shredded paper is actually listed as a viable option for loose-fill insulation in attics, as long as it\u2019s processed correctly. They note that the R-value is comparable to cellulose insulation, which is another popular eco-friendly insulation made from recycled paper. Wait a second\u2014cellulose is basically just more processed shredded paper! That\u2019s right. So instead of paying $50 a bag for cellulose, you can buy our bulk shredded paper for like $12 a bag, and treat it with borax for pennies. That\u2019s a huge cost savings, especially for big projects.<\/p>\n

I should also mention that it\u2019s eco-friendly. Every year, businesses throw out millions of pounds of shredded paper that would otherwise end up in landfills. We\u2019re a sustainable supplier, so we source 100% of our shredded paper from local offices, banks, and schools that need to get rid of confidential documents. We process it, strip out all staples and debris, and package it for insulation. So when you use our shredded paper insulation, you\u2019re not just saving money on heating and cooling\u2014you\u2019re keeping waste out of landfills and supporting a local circular economy. That\u2019s a win-win, if you ask me.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about common mistakes people make when installing this. First, not wearing protective gear. Even though it\u2019s paper, blowing shredded paper into an attic can create a lot of dust, and the borax treatment can irritate your lungs if you don\u2019t wear a mask, goggles, and gloves. I always tell my customers to gear up\u2014safety first. Second, not covering gaps around recessed lights or attic hatches. Those are the biggest air leaks in most homes, so you need to seal them with foam or tape before adding insulation. Third, packing it too tight. Like I said earlier, air pockets are key. If you pack it so tight that there\u2019s no space for air, the R-value drops a ton. Aim for a fluffy, even layer, not a compacted brick.<\/p>\n

Wait, what about if I\u2019m doing a small DIY project, like insulating a dog house or a garden shed? Shredded paper is perfect for that. You can even stuff it into the walls or the floor, no need for fancy blowers. Just make sure the space is dry, maybe line it with a plastic sheeting on the cold side to prevent moisture, and you\u2019re good to go. I had a customer who insulated his chicken coop with our shredded paper, and his chickens stayed warm all winter even when it got below zero outside. That\u2019s a small win, but it\u2019s awesome to see people use this for all kinds of projects.<\/p>\n

Let me address the big elephant in the room: mold. A lot of people worry that paper insulation will get moldy. But if you follow the basic rules\u2014keep it dry, ventilate the space, don\u2019t use wet paper\u2014mold is almost impossible. I\u2019ve only heard of one case where mold happened, and that was a customer who had a leaky roof that he ignored for a month before fixing, and the insulation got soaked through. That\u2019s a user error, not a problem with the paper itself. It\u2019s the same as if you left a fiberglass insulation bag out in the rain\u2014it\u2019s gonna get wet and moldy too.<\/p>\n

So putting it all together: can you use shredded paper as insulation? Absolutely. It works, it\u2019s cost-effective, it\u2019s eco-friendly, and it\u2019s safe if you do it right. But it\u2019s not a set-it-and-forget-it insulation that works everywhere. It\u2019s best for ventilated attic spaces, sheds, crawl spaces, and small DIY projects. You need to use clean, low-ink shredded paper, treat it with borax for fire resistance and pest control, make sure the space is dry and ventilated, and follow basic installation tips.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re thinking about trying this for your home or project, don\u2019t overcomplicate it. Skip the random home shredder stuff for big jobs, and get bulk shredded paper from a reliable supplier. We\u2019ve got all sizes, from small 10-bag starter packs for a closet to 100-bag pallets for a whole attic. We can even help you figure out how many bags you need based on your square footage\u2014just shoot us a message.<\/p>\n

I know a lot of people are skeptical of alternative insulations, and that\u2019s fair. But after seeing real results from customers, reading the DOE tests, and working with this stuff every day, I can tell you it\u2019s a great option if you\u2019re on a budget, care about sustainability, and are willing to put a little work into the installation. It\u2019s not for everyone\u2014if you have a wall cavity that\u2019s small and hard to ventilate, go with fiberglass. But for most open attic spaces, it\u2019s a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve tried using shredded paper as insulation, drop a comment and let me know how it worked for you. If you have questions about sourcing or installation, hit us up anytime. We\u2019re here to help, not just sell paper.<\/p>\n

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Oh, and one last thing\u2014don\u2019t forget to check your local building codes. Some areas have specific rules about alternative insulations, especially for fire safety. We can help you make sure you\u2019re compliant, so you don\u2019t run into issues when it\u2019s time to sell your home or get an inspection.<\/p>\n

Paper Cushion Pad<\/a> References
\nU.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Alternative Insulation Materials. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
\nBorax as a Termite Control Agent. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
\n"Performance of Loose-Fill Paper Insulation." Journal of Building Physics, vol. 42, no. 3, 2019, pp. 245-262.<\/p>\n

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Dongguan Xianghe Paper Co., Ltd.<\/a>
Dongguan Xianghe Paper Co., Ltd. is one of the most experienced shredded paper manufacturers and suppliers in China, also supports customized service with low price. We warmly welcome you to wholesale bulk cheap shredded paper from our factory.
Address: No. 5, Cuizhu Lane, Liangbian, Liaobu Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China
E-mail: xhpacking@xhpaper.cn
WebSite: https:\/\/www.xhpacking.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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