Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Aug. 07, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-13948
Entity Registrant Name	SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	62-1612879
Entity Address, Address Line One	100 North Point Center East,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 600
Entity Address, City or Town	Alpharetta,
Entity Address, State or Province	GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	30022
City Area Code	800
Local Phone Number	514-0186
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.10 par value
Trading Symbol	SWM
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		30,896,086
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Central Index Key	0001000623
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false