Segment Information (Segment Sales To External Customers By Product Line) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 24, 2011	Jun. 25, 2011		Mar. 26, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010		Sep. 25, 2010	Jun. 26, 2010		Mar. 27, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010	Dec. 26, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers	$ 1,835,800	[1]	$ 1,774,800	$ 1,647,600	[2]	$ 1,863,000	$ 1,766,200	[3]	$ 1,813,400	$ 1,653,200	[4]	$ 1,911,700	[5]	$ 7,121,167	$ 7,150,007	$ 7,212,050
Office Supplies And Paper [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														3,565,814	3,555,274	3,585,483
Technology Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														2,935,451	3,020,092	3,046,493
Office Furniture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														619,902	574,641	580,074
Contract [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														3,624,077	3,634,244	3,656,685
Contract [Member] | Office Supplies And Paper [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														2,076,014	2,086,628	2,138,549
Contract [Member] | Technology Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														1,142,196	1,185,462	1,173,956
Contract [Member] | Office Furniture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														405,867	362,154	344,180
Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														3,497,090	3,515,763	3,555,365
Retail [Member] | Office Supplies And Paper [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														1,489,800	1,468,646	1,446,934
Retail [Member] | Technology Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														1,793,255	1,834,630	1,872,537
Retail [Member] | Office Furniture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment sales to external customers														$ 214,035	$ 212,487	$ 235,894

[1] Includes an $11.2 million non-cash pre-tax charge to impair fixed assets associated with our Retail stores in the U.S. and $6.6 million of pre-tax charges for severance primarily related to Contract and Retail reorganizations.

[2] Includes a $5.6 million pre-tax charge related to Retail store closures in the U.S., and $8.3 million of pre-tax charges for severance related to Contract and Retail reorganizations.

[3] Includes an $11.0 million non-cash pre-tax charge to impair fixed assets associated with our Retail stores in the U.S., $2.8 million of pre-tax income related to the adjustment of previously established reserves for severance and store closures and a $5.5 million of pre-tax income related to the adjustment of a reserve associated with our legacy building materials manufacturing facility near Elma, Washington.

[4] Includes a $1.1 million pre-tax charge related to Retail store closures in the U.S., and a $3.9 million of pre-tax income related to the adjustment of a reserve associated with our legacy building materials manufacturing facility near Elma, Washington.

[5] Includes a $13.4 million pre-tax charge related to Retail store closures in the U.S., and a $0.8 million pre-tax charge for severance related to Contract reorganizations.