Equity - Schedule of the Company's Equity Activity (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Equity [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 620.4	$ 653.7
Net earnings (loss)	11.9	(33.2)
Other comprehensive loss	(20.4)	(8.1)
Share-based compensation	3.5	3.8
Issuances of common stock		300.7
Issuances of treasury stock		18.3
Issuance of share-based awards, net of withholdings and other	(4.1)	(4.4)
Cash dividends paid	(52.0)	(47.3)
Noncontrolling interests in acquired business		2.7
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(0.7)	(0.7)
Ending Balance	558.6	885.5
Total RR Donnelley's Shareholders' Equity
Equity [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	593.8	631.8
Net earnings (loss)	22.3	(29.0)
Other comprehensive loss	(20.6)	(8.0)
Share-based compensation	3.5	3.8
Issuances of common stock		300.7
Issuances of treasury stock		18.3
Issuance of share-based awards, net of withholdings and other	(4.1)	(4.4)
Cash dividends paid	(52.0)	(47.3)
Ending Balance	542.9	865.9
Noncontrolling Interest
Equity [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	26.6	21.9
Net earnings (loss)	(10.4)	(4.2)
Other comprehensive loss	0.2	(0.1)
Noncontrolling interests in acquired business		2.7
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(0.7)	(0.7)
Ending Balance	$ 15.7	$ 19.6