Investment in Boise Cascade Holdings LLC - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	Mar. 30, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	Dec. 29, 2012 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	Dec. 31, 2004 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	Feb. 28, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Voting Equity Securities	Mar. 30, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Voting Equity Securities	Apr. 30, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Voting Equity Securities Cash Distribution	Feb. 28, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Nonvoting Equity Securities	Mar. 30, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Nonvoting Equity Securities	Mar. 31, 2012 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Nonvoting Equity Securities
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	$ 91,693,000	$ 175,000,000				$ 175,000,000
Initial public offering, stock issued			29.7
Series B and Series C common units of Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. converted to common units of Boise Cascade Company			29.7
Ownership interest in Boise cascade holding LLC, units				5.9
Ownership interest in Boise cascade holding LLC, percentage				20.01%
Dividend accrual rate on investments in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.				8.00%
Redemption of equity securities, original investment										66,000,000
Redemption of equity securities, accumulated dividend receivable										46,100,000
Dividend income from investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.											1,000,000	2,100,000
Distribution received related to voting equity securities							17,300,000		4,400,000
Deferred gain on sale of investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	94,185,000	179,757,000			179,757,000			94,185,000
Deferred gain on sale of investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	85,572,000		85,572,000
Deferred gain recognized on sale of investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C., net of fees			$ 85,400,000