Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 25, 2011
Cash provided by operations:
Net income attributable to OfficeMax and noncontrolling interest	$ 18,242	$ 11,132
Non-cash items in net income:
Dividend income from investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	(4,137)	(3,815)
Depreciation and amortization	37,266	42,555
Pension and other postretirement benefits expense	351	3,638
Other	30,995	9,358
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables	40,309	6,864
Inventories	48,129	68,337
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(47,668)	(87,788)
Current and deferred income taxes	(354)	(2,911)
Other	(40,995)	(20,719)
Cash provided by operations	82,138	26,651
Cash used for investment:
Expenditures for property and equipment	(32,572)	(28,192)
Proceeds from sales of assets, net	1,586	138
Cash used for investment	(30,986)	(28,054)
Cash used for financing:
Cash dividends paid-preferred stock	(1,046)	(1,142)
Borrowings of short-term debt, net	6,898	1,643
Payments of long-term debt	(36,994)	(3,662)
Purchase of preferred stock	(187)	(1,536)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	196	1,949
Payments related to other share-based compensation	(1,125)	(4,404)
Other	2	12
Cash used for financing	(32,256)	(7,140)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(1,503)	4,509
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	17,393	(4,034)
Balance at beginning of the period	427,111	462,326
Balance at end of the period	$ 444,504	$ 458,292