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Debt - Narrative (Detail) shares in Millions						3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Debt - Narrative (Detail) shares in Millions	Feb. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Oct. 15, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 04, 2017 USD ($) shares	Jun. 07, 2017 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of difference between fair value and book value						$ (14,400,000)	$ 29,300,000	$ (14,400,000)
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment							(800,000)	(32,400,000)	$ (20,100,000)
Debt instrument, repurchase date					Jun. 07, 2017
Interest paid							$ 158,600,000	$ 173,000,000	$ 180,100,000
Third Party Purchase Notes \| Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-cash debt-for-equity exchange, shares \| shares					6.1
ABL Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date		Sep. 29, 2022
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity			$ 800,000,000								$ 800,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Base Capacity			$ 200,000,000
Line of credit borrowing capacity description							The amount available to be borrowed under the ABL Credit Facility is equal to the lesser of (a) $800.0 million and (b) a borrowing base formula based on the amount of accounts receivable, inventory, machinery, equipment and, if we were to so elect in the future subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, fee-owned real estate of ours and our material domestic subsidiaries, subject to certain eligibility criteria and advance rates (collectively, the “Borrowing Base”). The aggregate amount of real estate, machinery and equipment that can be included in the Borrowing Base formula cannot exceed $200.0 million.
Borrowing capacity available under credit facility							$ 633,700,000
Weighted average interest rate on borrowings							3.70%	3.50%	3.50%
Percentage of collateralize equity interest on first-tier foreign subsidiaries			65.00%
Credit facility current borrowing capacity							$ 137,000,000
Borrowings under the credit facility						$ 59,000,000	$ 42,000,000	$ 59,000,000
ABL Credit Facility \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fixed charge coverage ratio			1.0
ABL Credit Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused line fee			0.25%
ABL Credit Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unused line fee			0.375%
ABL Credit Facility \| Base Rate \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate margin on borrowings			0.25%
ABL Credit Facility \| Base Rate \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate margin on borrowings			0.50%
ABL Credit Facility \| Eurocurrency
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity			$ 800,000,000
ABL Credit Facility \| Eurocurrency \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate margin on borrowings			1.25%
ABL Credit Facility \| Eurocurrency \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate margin on borrowings			1.50%
Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate						7.51%	6.80%	7.51%
Maturity date		Jan. 15, 2024					Jan. 15, 2024	Jan. 15, 2024
Principal payments		$ 1,400,000
Principal payments term							quarterly
Borrowings under the credit facility						$ 544,700,000	$ 540,300,000	$ 544,700,000
Term Loan \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate margin on borrowings		5.00%
Term Loan \| Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate margin on borrowings		4.00%
Other Facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility current borrowing capacity							87,600,000
Other Facilities \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility current borrowing capacity							39,100,000
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount repurchased		$ 257,400,000					$ 23,400,000
Debt instrument, interest rate		7.875%					7.875%
Maturity date		Mar. 15, 2021					Mar. 15, 2021
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2021 \| Net Investment and Other Income \| Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net realized gain from disposition of retained shares									$ 1,600,000
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2021 \| Third Party Purchase Notes \| Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Non-cash debt-for-equity exchange, shares \| shares				0.1
Extinguishment of indebtedness				$ 1,900,000
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2021 \| Cancellation of Third Party Purchase Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment									(300,000)
8.875% Debentures Due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount repurchased							$ 20,700,000
Debt instrument, interest rate							8.875%
Maturity date							Apr. 15, 2021
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2021 and 8.875% Debentures Due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment							$ (800,000)
11.25% Senior Notes Due February 1, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate						11.25%		11.25%
Maturity date								Feb. 01, 2019
11.25% Senior Notes Due February 1, 2019 \| ABL Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	11.25%
Senior notes retired amount	$ 172,200,000
Senior Secured Term Loan B \| ABL Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payment made for senior notes, transaction fees and borrowings		$ 5,500,000
Senior Secured Term Loan B \| Term Loan Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount		550,000,000
7.625% Senior Notes Due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount repurchased		$ 172,600,000
Debt instrument, interest rate		7.625%
Maturity date		Jun. 15, 2020
7.625% Senior Notes Due 2020 \| Net Investment and Other Income \| Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net realized gain from disposition of retained shares									92,400,000
7.625% Senior Notes Due 2020 \| Third Party Purchase Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount repurchased					$ 111,600,000
7.625% Senior Notes Due 2020 \| Cancellation of Third Party Purchase Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment									(14,400,000)
7.625% Senior Notes Due 2020 and 7.875% Senior Notes Due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment						$ (32,300,000)
Tender premiums paid on repurchase of bonds						29,000,000
Write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs on repurchase of bonds						1,500,000
Fees and expenses on repurchase of bonds						$ 1,800,000
6.625% Debentures Due April 15, 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount repurchased					$ 41,700,000
Debt instrument, interest rate					6.625%
Maturity date							Apr. 15, 2029
6.50% Senior Notes Due November 15, 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount repurchased					$ 59,400,000
Debt instrument, interest rate					6.50%
Maturity date					Nov. 15, 2023
6.00% Senior Notes Due April 1, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount repurchased					$ 101,700,000
Debt instrument, interest rate										6.00%
Maturity date							Apr. 01, 2024
6.625% Debentures , 6.50% and 6.00% Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment									$ 800,000