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. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 29, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share [Line Items]
Net income (loss) available to OfficeMax common shareholders	$ (10,033)	$ 10,719		$ 46,302		$ 15,578
Average shares-basic	87,049	86,576		86,976		86,459
Net income (loss) available to OfficeMax common shareholders per common share:
Basic	$ (0.12)	$ 0.12		$ 0.53		$ 0.18
Restricted stock, stock options, preferred share conversion and other		885	[1],[2],[3]	1,582	[1],[2],[3]	934	[1],[2],[3]
Average shares-diluted	87,049	87,461		88,558		87,393
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to OfficeMax per common share:
Diluted	$ (0.12)	$ 0.12		$ 0.52		$ 0.18

[1] Options to purchase 5.3 million and 4.3 million shares of common stock were outstanding during the second quarter and first six months of 2012, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted income (loss) per common share because the impact would have been anti-dilutive as such options' exercise prices were higher than the average market price during those periods.

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

[3] Options to purchase 5.1 million shares of common stock and restricted stock units ("RSUs") for 2.1 million shares of common stock were outstanding during the second quarter of 2013 but were not included in the computation of diluted income (loss) per common share for the second quarter of 2013, because the impact would have been anti-dilutive due to the loss reported for the second quarter of 2013. Options to purchase 2.3 million shares of common stock were outstanding during the first six months of 2013 but were not included in the computation of diluted income (loss) per common share because the impact would have been anti-dilutive as such options' exercise prices were higher than the average market price during that period.