Shareholders' Equity And Noncontrolling Interest (Schedule Of Shareholders' Equity And Noncontrolling Interest) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010	Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010
Net income attributable to OfficeMax and noncontrolling interest	$ 23,459	$ 21,425	$ 34,591	$ 60,676
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(28,846)	16,494	(8,911)	10,117
Amortization of unrecognized retirement and benefit costs, net of tax	2,003	1,212	9,070	4,330
Unrealized hedge gain adjustment, net of tax	1,187		1,272
Comprehensive income attributable to OfficeMax and noncontrolling interest	(1,019)	1,114	3,166	2,649
Preferred stock dividends	(515)	(573)	(1,614)	(1,921)
Stock-based compensation	3,600	2,500	12,300	8,400
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at December 25, 2010			49,246
Net income attributable to OfficeMax and noncontrolling interest			3,113
Foreign currency translation adjustments			53
Comprehensive income attributable to OfficeMax and noncontrolling interest			3,166
Noncontrolling interest fair value adjustment			(17,763)
Other			(17)
Balance at September 24, 2011	34,632		34,632
Shareholders' Equity [Member]
Balance at December 25, 2010			600,765
Net income attributable to OfficeMax and noncontrolling interest			31,478
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(8,964)
Amortization of unrecognized retirement and benefit costs, net of tax			9,070
Unrealized hedge gain adjustment, net of tax			1,272
Comprehensive income attributable to OfficeMax and noncontrolling interest			32,856
Preferred stock dividends			(2,126)
Stock-based compensation			12,317
Noncontrolling interest fair value adjustment			17,763
Other			(3,939)
Balance at September 24, 2011	$ 657,636		$ 657,636