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What does archive destruction cost? Rates and pricing

26 June 2026 · 9 min read · DeSnipperaar

The most common question about archive destruction is also the simplest: what does it cost? The honest answer is that the price mainly depends on your volume, but with a few rules of thumb you can know fairly precisely where you stand in advance. This article gives the current rates per box and per roll container, what the cost depends on and how to save.

The rates in a table

For a one-off collection you pay a fixed price in advance. No subscription, no after-the-fact billing.

Your volume	Per box	Per roll container	Cheapest choice
1 box	€ 30	n/a	Per box
3 boxes	€ 80	€ 120 (1 container)	Per box
6 boxes	€ 155	€ 165 (2 containers)	Per box
7 boxes	€ 180	€ 165	Per container
12 boxes	€ 305	€ 210 (3 containers)	Per container

Amounts shown exclude 21% VAT. An archive box holds about 15 kg of paper, a roll container about 200 litres.

What does the cost depend on?

1. The volume

The main factor. The more you have collected at once, the lower the price per box. Not sure how much you have? Our rules of thumb in how much paper is in a filing cabinet help you make a reliable estimate.

2. Box or roll container

Up to about six boxes, per box is cheapest. From seven boxes a roll container is worthwhile, because it has a fixed price regardless of how full it is.

3. Data carriers

Hard drives, SSDs and USB sticks are priced separately per unit, with serial-number registration. See data destruction for the approach. You can hand them over in the same collection.

4. Location

Within 20 km of Amsterdam we charge no call-out fee. Further away a surcharge may apply, unless you join a regional group deal and share the travel cost.

Worked examples

• Small office, 4 boxes: per box is cheapest, around 105 euro.
• Practice, 10 boxes: a roll container is cheaper than loose per box.
• Move, 3 roll containers: around 210 euro, certificate included.

One-off or recurring?

For a single clear-out a one-off collection is cheapest, see one-off archive destruction. If you produce paper structurally, a fixed frequency can save planning and cost, see recurring versus one-off destruction. Unsure whether to do it yourself or outsource? That cost trade-off is in outsource or do it yourself.

How do you save on archive destruction?

• Bundle your volume into one collection instead of separate small ones.
• Choose a roll container as soon as you have seven boxes or more.
• First clear out what may legally go, so you do not pay for needless volume.
• Join a regional group deal to share the travel cost.

Frequently asked questions

What does archive destruction cost on average?

For a one-off collection you pay from 30 euro for the first box. For larger volumes a roll container becomes cheaper, from around 165 euro. The exact price depends on the number of boxes and any data carriers.

Do I pay a call-out charge?

Within 20 km of Amsterdam we charge no call-out fee. Further away a surcharge may apply, or you bundle with a group deal to share the cost.

Is per box or per roll container cheaper?

Up to about six boxes, per box is cheapest. From seven boxes a roll container becomes cheaper per unit.

Are there extra costs?

The price is fixed in advance, with no after-the-fact billing. Data carriers such as hard drives are priced separately per unit. There is no contract or minimum for a one-off job.

How can I save on archive destruction?

Bundle your volume into one collection, choose a roll container for larger quantities and first clear out what may legally go. With regional bundling via a group deal you share the travel cost.

Conclusion

Archive destruction need not be an expensive surprise. The price is fixed in advance and depends mainly on your volume. Up to six boxes you pay per box, above that a roll container is worthwhile. Within 20 km of Amsterdam you pay no call-out charge and every job comes with a certificate. So you know exactly what you pay and what for.

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Curious about your price? Request a quote via desnipperaar.nl or see how to have paper shredded. Within 5 minutes you have a fixed price.