Amount of difference between fair value and book value of debt.

No definition available.

Name:	rrd_AmountOfDifferenceBetweenFairValueAndBookValue
Namespace Prefix:	rrd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares exchanged for the original debt being converted in a noncash transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rrd_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesExchanged
Namespace Prefix:	rrd_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Restrictions on the entity's ability to pay dividends as required by the terms of the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rrd_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumAnnualDividendPaymentRestrictions
Namespace Prefix:	rrd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82897076&loc=d3e27357-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the debt instrument was repurchased, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchaseDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 50
-Section 40
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170532&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before accretion (amortization) of purchase discount (premium) of interest income on nonoperating securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=rrd_DonnelleyFinancialSolutionsIncorporationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=rrd_ThirdPartyPurchaseNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rrd_DebenturesSixPointSixTwoFivePercentDueAprilFifteenTwoThousandTwentyNineMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rrd_SeniorNotesSixPointFiveZeroPercentDueNovemberFifteenTwoThousandTwentyThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rrd_SeniorNotesSixPointZeroZeroPercentDueAprilOneTwoThousandTwentyFourMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rrd_SixPointSixTwoFiveDebenturesSixPointFiveZeroAndSixPointZeroZeroSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=rrd_SeniorNotesSevenPointSixTwoFivePercentDueJuneFifteenTwoThousandTwentyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=rrd_CancellationOfThirdPartyPurchaseNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=rrd_CreditAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt - Narrative (Detail) - USD ($)			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Debt - Narrative (Detail) - USD ($)	Jun. 21, 2017	Jun. 07, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of difference between fair value and book value			$ 93,100,000	$ 93,100,000		$ 93,100,000		$ 4,300,000
Weighted average interest rate on borrowings						3.80%	2.30%
Debt instrument, repurchase date						Jun. 07, 2017
Gain on repurchase of debt instrument				(13,600,000)		$ (13,600,000)
Non-cash debt-for-equity exchange, shares			6,143,208
Interest income from investments/other				600,000	$ 1,000,000	1,500,000	$ 1,900,000
Investment and Other (Expense ) Income, Net \| Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net realized gain from disposition of retained shares				$ 92,400,000		$ 92,400,000
Third Party Purchase Notes \| Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-cash debt-for-equity exchange, shares	6,143,208
6.625% Debentures Due April 15, 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, repurchase amount		$ 41,700,000
Interest rate		6.625%	6.625%	6.625%		6.625%
Maturity date		Apr. 15, 2029				Apr. 15, 2029
6.50% Senior Notes Due November 15, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, repurchase amount		$ 59,400,000
Interest rate			6.50%	6.50%		6.50%
Maturity date						Nov. 15, 2023
6.00% Senior Notes Due April 1, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, repurchase amount		101,700,000
Interest rate			6.00%	6.00%		6.00%
Maturity date						Apr. 01, 2024
6.625% Debentures , 6.50% and 6.00% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain on repurchase of debt instrument				$ 800,000		$ 800,000
7.625% Senior Notes Due June 15, 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			7.625%	7.625%		7.625%
Maturity date						Jun. 15, 2020
7.625% Senior Notes Due June 15, 2020 \| Third Party Purchase Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, repurchase amount		$ 111,600,000
7.625% Senior Notes Due June 15, 2020 \| Cancellation of Third Party Purchase Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain on repurchase of debt instrument				$ 14,400,000		$ 14,400,000
Credit Agreements
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior secured revolving credit facility amount			$ 800,000,000	800,000,000		800,000,000
Allowable annual dividend payment under credit agreement			$ 60,000,000	$ 60,000,000		$ 60,000,000