Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010	Dec. 26, 2009
Cash provided by operations:
Net income (loss) attributable to OfficeMax and noncontrolling interest	$ 38,120	$ 73,864	$ (1,575)
Non-cash items in net income (loss):
Dividend income from investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	(7,846)	(7,254)	(6,707)
Depreciation and amortization	84,218	100,936	116,417
Non-cash impairment charges	11,197	10,979	17,612
Non-cash deferred taxes on impairment charges	(4,355)	(4,271)	(6,484)
Pension and other postretirement benefits expense	8,328	4,965	11,537
Other	19,296	2,530	9,131
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(14,674)	6,678	26,334
Inventories	17,269	(27,606)	164,027
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(54,873)	(51,515)	(56,471)
Current and deferred income taxes	10,349	51,169	48,752
Borrowings (payments) of loans on company-owned life insurance policies		(44,442)	45,668
Other	(53,350)	(27,896)	(9,297)
Cash provided by operations	53,679	88,137	358,944
Cash provided by (used for) investment:
Expenditures for property and equipment	(69,632)	(93,511)	(38,277)
Distribution from escrow account			25,142
Withdrawal from company-owned life insurance policies			14,977
Proceeds from sales of assets, net	259	6,173	980
Cash provided by (used for) investment	(69,373)	(87,338)	2,822
Cash used for financing:
Cash dividends paid - preferred stock	(3,286)	(2,698)	(3,089)
Payments of short-term debt, net	20	(654)	(11,035)
Payments of long-term debt	(6,136)	(21,858)	(52,936)
Borrowings of long-term debt			6,255
Purchase of preferred stock	(2,125)	(5,233)	(6,079)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,949	1,961
Payments related to other share-based compensation	(4,854)		(990)
Other	(3,520)	13	7,316
Cash used for financing	(17,952)	(28,469)	(60,558)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(1,569)	3,426	14,583
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(35,215)	(24,244)	315,791
Balance at beginning of the year	462,326	486,570	170,779
Balance at end of the year	$ 427,111	$ 462,326	$ 486,570