Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense, that vested immediately

No definition available.

Name:	abd_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpensethatvestedimmediately
Namespace Prefix:	abd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Percentage Awarded

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abd_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsPercentageAwarded
Namespace Prefix:	abd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Plans

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abd_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfPlans
Namespace Prefix:	abd_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares called for each stock unit vested.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abd_SharebasedCompensationEquityInstrumentsOtherthanOptionsSharesCalleduponVested
Namespace Prefix:	abd_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weight of ACCO Brands Volatility Used in Volatility Calculation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abd_WeightofACCOBrandsVolatilityUsedinVolatilityCalculation
Namespace Prefix:	abd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weight of Peer Company's Volatility Used in Weighted Average Volatility Calculation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	abd_WeightofPeerCompanysVolatilityUsedinWeightedAverageVolatilityCalculation
Namespace Prefix:	abd_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the compensation cost capitalized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, units, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate proceeds received by the entity during the annual period from exercises of stock or unit options and conversion of similar instruments granted under equity-based payment arrangements.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCashReceivedFromExerciseOfStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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

- Definition

Number of equity instruments other than options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of options vested. Excludes equity instruments other than options, for example, but not limited to, share units, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=abd_StockOptionsAndStockAppreciationRightsSarsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VestingAxis=abd_FullyVestedOnTheGrantDateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis=us-gaap_DirectorMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) plan $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of share-based compensation plans \| plan	1
Number of shares authorized \| shares	13,118,430
Capitalization of stock based compensation expense	$ 0.0
Fair value of options vested during the period	3.8	$ 3.2	$ 1.9
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Peer volatility rate			25.00%
Historic volatility		100.00%	75.00%
Proceeds from stock options exercised	0.7	$ 0.3
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised	0.7		$ 0.0
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 4.6
Weighted average years expense to be recognized over	1 year 6 months 18 days
Stock-settled stock appreciation rights
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 2.0	$ 3.6	$ 0.7
Stock Options and SSARs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
RSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 4.3
Weighted average years expense to be recognized over	1 year 8 months 11 days
Shares outstanding \| shares	2,007,117	2,430,683
Weighted average grant date fair value \| $ / shares	$ 7.58	$ 6.12	$ 7.14
Fair value of stock awards vested	$ 10.3	$ 3.2	$ 1.0
PSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 7.0
Weighted average years expense to be recognized over	1 year 8 months 6 days
Shares outstanding \| shares	3,197,735	2,837,162
Weighted average grant date fair value \| $ / shares	$ 7.52	$ 6.14	$ 7.59
Fair value of stock awards vested	$ 5.4	$ 4.4	$ 3.0
Share-based Compensation, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Shares Called upon Vested \| shares	1
Minimum \| RSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
Minimum \| PSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
Percentage awarded	0.00%
Maximum \| Stock Options and SSARs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Exercise period	7 years
Maximum \| RSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	4 years
Maximum \| PSUs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage awarded	150.00%
Fully Vested On The Grant Date \| RSUs \| Non-employee directors
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense, shares that vests on grant date	$ 0.8	$ 0.8	$ 0.9