General (Policies)	6 Months Ended
General (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
General	General Nature of Business Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., or SWM or the Company, is a multinational diversified producer of premium specialty papers and filtration media headquartered in the United States of America. The Company manufactures and sells paper and reconstituted tobacco products to the tobacco industry as well as specialized paper and filtration products for use in other industry applications. We manufacture lightweight specialty papers used in manufacturing ventilated cigarettes, banded papers used in the production of lower ignition propensity, or LIP, cigarettes and resin-based plastic netting through an extrusion process, as well as certain meltblown products and machined plastic core tubes. We are also the leading independent producer of reconstituted tobacco used in producing blended cigarettes. The primary products we sell to the tobacco industry include cigarette, plug wrap and base tipping papers, or Cigarette Papers, which are used to wrap various parts of a cigarette, and reconstituted tobacco leaf, or RTL, which is used as a blend with virgin tobacco in cigarettes, reconstituted tobacco wrappers and binders for cigars. We sell these products directly to tobacco companies or their designated converters in the Americas, Europe, Asia and elsewhere. We also sell a diverse mix of products to non-tobacco industries, including low volume, high-value engineered papers and commodity paper grades produced, among other reasons, to maximize our machine utilization. In December 2013, we acquired DelStar, Inc., or DelStar, a manufacturer of plastic netting and other resin-based products mainly focused on the filtration and medical market segments. The acquisition of DelStar diversifies SWM's global presence in advanced materials, particularly in filtration. In December 2014, we acquired in two separate transactions certain assets from Pronamic Industries, Inc. and Smith & Nephew's Advanced Wound Management Division which we expect to complement the DelStar acquisition and which have been incorporated into our Filtration operating segment. We conduct business in over 90 countries and operate 17 production locations worldwide, with locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Russia, Brazil, China and Poland. We also have a 50% equity interest in two joint ventures in China: China Tobacco Mauduit (Jiangmen) Paper Industry Ltd., or CTM, which produces cigarette and porous plug wrap papers, and China Tobacco Schweitzer (Yunnan) Reconstituted Tobacco Co. Ltd., or CTS, which produces RTL. Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with the instructions of Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. However, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods including the results of a business reclassified as a discontinued operation which is more fully described in Note 4. Discontinued Operations. The results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2015. Principles of Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and wholly-owned, majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. The Company’s share of the net income of its 50% owned joint ventures in China is included in the condensed consolidated statements of income as income from equity affiliates. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, inventory valuation, useful lives of tangible and intangible assets, fair values, sales returns, receivables valuation, pension, postretirement and other benefits, restructuring and impairment, taxes and contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606). The new guidance specifies how and when an entity will recognize revenue arising from contracts with customers and requires entities to disclose information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In July 2015, FASB deferred the effective date for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (including interim reporting periods within those periods). Early adoption is permitted to the original effective date of December 15, 2016 (including interim reporting periods within those periods). The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on the consolidated financial statements. In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share is More Akin to Debt or to Equity." The update requires an entity to determine the nature of the host contract by considering all stated and implied substantive terms and features of the hybrid financial instrument, weighing each term and feature on the basis of the relevant facts and circumstances (commonly referred to as the whole-instrument approach). This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis." This standard modifies existing consolidation guidance for reporting organizations that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. This update is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2015, and requires either a retrospective approach to adoption or a modified retrospective approach, by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on the consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." This new standard requires that debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of debt liabilities, consistent with treatment of debt discounts or premiums. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs would not be affected by the amendments in this Update. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on the consolidated financial statements. In May 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-07, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)." Currently, investments valued using the practical expedient are categorized within the fair value hierarchy. There is diversity in how certain investments measured at net asset value with future redemption dates should be categorized within the fair value hierarchy which this update addresses. If an investment has its fair value measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) using the practical expedient, it should not be categorized in the fair value hierarchy. Removing these types of investments from the fair value hierarchy chart eliminates the diversity in classification of these investments and ensures that all investments categorized in the fair value hierarchy are classified consistently. Investments that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent) without the use of the practical expedient will continue to be included in the fair value hierarchy. For public business entities, the amendments will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on the consolidated financial statements.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with the instructions of Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. However, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods including the results of a business reclassified as a discontinued operation which is more fully described in Note 4. Discontinued Operations. The results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC on February 27, 2015.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and wholly-owned, majority-owned and controlled subsidiaries. The Company’s share of the net income of its 50% owned joint ventures in China is included in the condensed consolidated statements of income as income from equity affiliates. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Estimates are used for, but not limited to, inventory valuation, useful lives of tangible and intangible assets, fair values, sales returns, receivables valuation, pension, postretirement and other benefits, restructuring and impairment, taxes and contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606). The new guidance specifies how and when an entity will recognize revenue arising from contracts with customers and requires entities to disclose information about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In July 2015, FASB deferred the effective date for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (including interim reporting periods within those periods). Early adoption is permitted to the original effective date of December 15, 2016 (including interim reporting periods within those periods). The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on the consolidated financial statements. In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Determining Whether the Host Contract in a Hybrid Financial Instrument Issued in the Form of a Share is More Akin to Debt or to Equity." The update requires an entity to determine the nature of the host contract by considering all stated and implied substantive terms and features of the hybrid financial instrument, weighing each term and feature on the basis of the relevant facts and circumstances (commonly referred to as the whole-instrument approach). This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact the adoption will have on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis." This standard modifies existing consolidation guidance for reporting organizations that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate certain legal entities. This update is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2015, and requires either a retrospective approach to adoption or a modified retrospective approach, by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on the consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." This new standard requires that debt issuance costs be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of debt liabilities, consistent with treatment of debt discounts or premiums. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs would not be affected by the amendments in this Update. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those years. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on the consolidated financial statements. In May 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-07, "Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent)." Currently, investments valued using the practical expedient are categorized within the fair value hierarchy. There is diversity in how certain investments measured at net asset value with future redemption dates should be categorized within the fair value hierarchy which this update addresses. If an investment has its fair value measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) using the practical expedient, it should not be categorized in the fair value hierarchy. Removing these types of investments from the fair value hierarchy chart eliminates the diversity in classification of these investments and ensures that all investments categorized in the fair value hierarchy are classified consistently. Investments that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent) without the use of the practical expedient will continue to be included in the fair value hierarchy. For public business entities, the amendments will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption on the consolidated financial statements.