Earnings per Share Attributable to RR Donnelley Common Shareholders (Additional Information) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Cash payment for share repurchase under ASR program	$ 500.0

Amount of cash payment to or cash receipt from the bank; or the stock issuance to or stock received from the bank in the settlement of the accelerated share repurchase agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)

-Number 99-7

-Paragraph 1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesSettlementPaymentOrReceipt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant