Income Taxes - Reconciliation From Federal Statutory Tax Rate to Effective Tax Rate (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations Tax Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]
Federal statutory tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Change in valuation allowances	2.80%	(7.10%)	(225.50%)
Venezuelan devaluation and sale	0.00%	0.00%	(122.80%)
State and local income taxes, net of U.S. federal income tax benefit	(2.90%)	0.00%	36.00%
Impairment charges	6.60%	(32.30%)	(57.80%)
Foreign tax	4.20%	(1.20%)	(19.80%)
Adjustment of uncertain tax positions and interest	(3.20%)	0.50%	45.90%
Reorganization	0.00%	3.90%	0.00%
Foreign tax rate differential	(21.20%)	3.00%	169.70%
Impact of the Tax Act	146.20%	0.00%	0.00%
Tax impact of net gain on sale of Donnelley Financial and LSC shares	(21.60%)	0.00%	0.00%
Other	(1.90%)	0.70%	(57.00%)
Effective income tax rate	144.00%	2.50%	(196.30%)