Equity - Schedule of the Company's Equity Activity (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Equity [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			$ 653.7	$ 68.7
Net earnings (loss)	64.8	18.0	97.2	109.8
Other comprehensive loss	(14.0)	4.7	(11.9)	(10.0)
Share-based compensation			13.8	15.6
Issuances of common stock			300.7
Issuances of treasury stock			18.3
Issuance of share-based awards, net of withholdings and other			(4.3)	(5.3)
Cash dividends paid			(151.1)	(141.3)
Noncontrolling interests in acquired business			2.7
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(0.7)	(1.1)
Ending Balance	918.4	36.4	918.4	36.4
Total RR Donnelley's Shareholders' Equity
Equity [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			631.8	52.8
Net earnings (loss)			97.9	107.2
Other comprehensive loss			(11.7)	(10.1)
Share-based compensation			13.8	15.6
Issuances of common stock			300.7
Issuances of treasury stock			18.3
Issuance of share-based awards, net of withholdings and other			(4.3)	(5.3)
Cash dividends paid			(151.1)	(141.3)
Ending Balance	895.4	18.9	895.4	18.9
Noncontrolling Interest
Equity [Line Items]
Beginning Balance			21.9	15.9
Net earnings (loss)			(0.7)	2.6
Other comprehensive loss			(0.2)	0.1
Noncontrolling interests in acquired business			2.7
Distributions to noncontrolling interests			(0.7)	(1.1)
Ending Balance	$ 23.0	$ 17.5	$ 23.0	$ 17.5