Investment in Boise Cascade Holdings LLC - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	Jun. 29, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	Jun. 29, 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. Boise Cascade Company	Jul. 30, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Subsequent Event Boise Cascade Company	Feb. 28, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Voting Equity Securities	Jun. 29, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Voting Equity Securities	Apr. 30, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Voting Equity Securities Cash Distribution	Jul. 30, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Voting Equity Securities Subsequent Event	Feb. 28, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Nonvoting Equity Securities	Jun. 30, 2012 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Nonvoting Equity Securities	Jun. 29, 2013 Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C. Nonvoting Equity Securities	Jun. 30, 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.	$ 87,305,000	$ 175,000,000					$ 175,000,000
Initial public offering, stock issued								29.7
Common units of Boise Cascade Holdings, LLC			29.7
Ownership interest in Boise cascade holding LLC, units				5.9	5.9
Ownership interest in Boise cascade holding LLC, percentage				20.01%	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.															2,100,000	1,000,000	4,100,000
Distribution received related to voting equity securities										17,300,000		4,400,000	71,800,000
Deferred gain on sale of investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.	89,678,000	179,757,000				179,800,000					89,700,000
Deferred gain recognized on sale of investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.				4,500,000	90,100,000
Deferred gain recognized on sale of investment in Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C., net of fees	$ 89,853,000			$ 4,500,000	$ 89,900,000
Sale of common stock of Boise Cascade Company by Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.									13.9
Common shares of Boise Cascade Company sold through secondary public offering by Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.									10.0
Repurchase of common stock shares by Boise Cascade Company									3.9
Remaining number of common shares of Boise Cascade Company owned by Boise Cascade Holdings, L.L.C.									15.8