Computation of Basic and Diluted Income Loss Per Share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 25, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 25, 2011
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share [Line Items]
Net income (loss) available to OfficeMax common shareholders	$ 10,719		$ (3,021)		$ 15,578		$ 8,345
Average shares-basic	86,576	[1]	85,978	[1]	86,459	[1]	85,673	[1]
Restricted stock, stock options and other	885	[2],[3]			934	[2],[3]	1,101	[2],[3]
Average shares-diluted	87,461		85,978		87,393		86,774
Basic	$ 0.12		$ (0.04)		$ 0.18		$ 0.10
Diluted	$ 0.12		$ (0.04)		$ 0.18		$ 0.10

[1] The assumed conversion of outstanding preferred stock was anti-dilutive in all periods presented, and therefore no adjustment was required to determine diluted income from continuing operations or average shares-diluted.

[2] Outstanding options to purchase 5.3 million and 4.3 million shares of common stock were excluded from the computations of diluted income (loss) per common share for the second quarter and first six months of 2012, respectively, because the impact would have been anti-dilutive as such options' exercise prices were higher than the average market price during those periods.

[3] Outstanding options to purchase 4.8 million shares of common stock and restricted stock units ("RSU") for 1.1 million shares of common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted income (loss) per common share for the second quarter of 2011, because the impact would have been anti-dilutive due to the loss reported for the second quarter of 2011. Outstanding options to purchase 3.4 million shares of common stock for the first six months of 2011 were excluded from the computation of diluted income (loss) per common share for the first six months of 2011, because the impact would have been anti-dilutive as such options' exercise prices were higher than the average market price during those periods.