Earnings per Share Attributable to RR Donnelley Common Shareholders (Earnings per Share Attributable to Parent) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net earnings per share attributable to RR Donnelley common shareholders:
Basic	$ 0.39	$ 0.84	$ 1.10	$ 1.03
Diluted	$ 0.39	$ 0.83	$ 1.09	$ 1.02
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.26	$ 0.26	$ 0.78	$ 0.78
Numerator:
Net earnings attributable to RR Donnelley common shareholders	$ 71.4	$ 158.0	$ 197.6	$ 204.1
Denominator:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	180.8	188.1	180.3	197.2
Dilutive options and awards	1.6	2.7	1.8	2.6
Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding	182.4	190.8	182.1	199.8
Weighted average number of anti-dilutive share-based awards:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	6.9	6.6	7.0	6.7
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Weighted average number of anti-dilutive share-based awards:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	2.0	2.8	2.2	3.0
Performance Shares [Member]
Weighted average number of anti-dilutive share-based awards:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	0.5	0.2	0.5	0.2
Stock Options [Member]
Weighted average number of anti-dilutive share-based awards:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	4.4	3.6	4.3	3.5