Consolidated Statements Of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Total RR Donnelley's Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 303.7	$ 2,885.7	$ (1,194.0)	$ 903.8	$ (580.7)	$ 2,318.5	$ 23.4	$ 2,341.9
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008	243.0		(37.2)
Net earnings (loss)				(27.3)		(27.3)	5.9	(21.4)
Translation adjustments					99.1	99.1	0.1	99.2
Pension and other benefit liability adjustments					(65.7)	(65.7)		(65.7)
Change in fair value of derivatives and hedge reclassifications					2.3	2.3		2.3
Comprehensive income (loss)						8.4	6.0	14.4
Share-based compensation		20.5	2.8			23.3		23.3
Share-based compensation (in shares)			0.1
Withholdings for share-based awards and other			(2.6)			(2.6)		(2.6)
Withholdings for share-based awards and other (in shares)			(0.2)
Cash dividends paid				(213.6)		(213.6)		(213.6)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests							(2.4)	(2.4)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	303.7	2,906.2	(1,193.8)	662.9	(545.0)	2,134.0	27.0	2,161.0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009	243.0		(37.3)
Net earnings (loss)				221.7		221.7	(4.6)	217.1
Translation adjustments					12.3	12.3	0.3	12.6
Pension and other benefit liability adjustments					42.0	42.0		42.0
Change in fair value of derivatives and hedge reclassifications					0.3	0.3		0.3
Comprehensive income (loss)						276.3	(4.3)	272.0
Share-based compensation		0.8	36.3			37.1		37.1
Share-based compensation (in shares)			1.3
Withholdings for share-based awards and other			(8.7)			(8.7)		(8.7)
Withholdings for share-based awards and other (in shares)			(0.4)
Cash dividends paid				(214.4)		(214.4)		(214.4)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests							(1.6)	(1.6)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	303.7	2,907.0	(1,166.2)	670.2	(490.4)	2,224.3	21.1	2,245.4
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	243.0		(36.4)
Net earnings (loss)				(122.6)		(122.6)	1.5	(121.1)
Translation adjustments					(70.5)	(70.5)	0.4	(70.1)
Pension and other benefit liability adjustments					(303.1)	(303.1)		(303.1)
Change in fair value of derivatives and hedge reclassifications					0.7	0.7		0.7
Comprehensive income (loss)						(495.5)	1.9	(493.6)
Share-based compensation		28.3				28.3		28.3
Share-based compensation (in shares)			1.1
Issuance of share-based awards		(46.6)	37.4			(9.2)		(9.2)
Cash dividends paid				(205.2)		(205.2)		(205.2)
Acquisition of common stock			(500.0)			(500.0)		(500.0)
Acquisition of common stock (in shares)			(29.2)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests							(3.5)	(3.5)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 303.7	$ 2,888.7	$ (1,628.8)	$ 342.4	$ (863.3)	$ 1,042.7	$ 19.5	$ 1,062.2
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	243.0		(64.5)