Shareholders' Equity (Common Stock Reserved) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Common stock - reserved	10,960,412
Series D ESOP Preferred Stock [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Common stock - reserved	524,521
2003 OfficeMax Incentive And Performance Plan [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Common stock - reserved	9,619,788
Key Executive Stock Option Plan [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Common stock - reserved	744,000
Director Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Common stock - reserved	7,475
Director Stock Option Plan [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Common stock - reserved	5,000
2001 Key Executive Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Common stock - reserved	2,441
2003 Director Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Disclosures [Line Items]
Common stock - reserved	57,187