DIN 66399, simplified

DIN 66399 is the standard that tells you how securely different media types must be destroyed.

Each letter = media type. Each number = security level (higher number = smaller pieces = higher security).

What the letters mean

• P — Paper
  Office printouts, contracts, invoices, notebooks.
• F — Film
  X-ray film, microfilm, microfiche, photographic slides.
• O — Optical
  CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs.
• T — Magnetic tapes & cards
  LTO/DAT/DLT reels, cassette tapes, magnetic stripe cards, floppy disks (not HDDs).
• H — Hard drives (magnetic)
  3.5"/2.5" HDDs from PCs, servers, CCTV DVRs.
• E — Electronic / semiconductor media
  SSDs, USB sticks, SD cards, smartphones, tablets, circuit boards.

Quick chooser (what customers actually need)

• Everyday office paper: choose P-4
  (cross-cut; protects personal/business data)
• Sensitive/confidential paper: P-5 / P-6
  (micro-cut; legal, finance, HR)
• Top-secret paper: P-7
  (super micro-cut; highest security)
• Optical discs (CD/DVD/Blu-ray): O-5 to O-7
  (customer data, archives, backups)
• Magnetic tapes/cards: T-4 or higher
  (backup tapes, legacy media)
• Hard disk drives (HDDs): H-3 to H-5
  (punch/crush/shred or degauss + destroy)
• SSDs / phones / flash media: E-3 to E-5
  (chip-based media needs SSD-rated destroyers; do not rely on HDD tools)

Rule of thumb: when in doubt, go one level higher than you think you need.

How to shop by DIN 66399 on our store

• Paper shredders → look for the P-level in specs.
• CD/DVD destroyers → check the O-level.
• Tape destroyers / degaussers → check the T-level.
• HDD punchers/crushers/shredders → check the H-level.
• SSD / electronic media destroyers → check the E-level.

Although, the above information will definitely guide you on choosing the right machine for your needs, but if you still need some assistance in making the right decision, then we will recommend to get in touch with our sales team and we will be more than happy to assist you with your products need.

Just reach out to us via Live Chat, WhatsApp or via Phone Call and we will guide you through your purchase journey.