Information on Business Segments - Operating Income by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	[1]	$ 151.0	$ 112.4	$ 196.2
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		(19.0)	0.0	0.0
Interest expense		46.3	38.8	43.2
Interest income		(1.9)	(1.0)	(3.2)
Non-operating pension income		(7.9)	(5.6)	(5.5)
Other expense (income), net		3.1	1.6	(1.8)
Income before income tax		111.4	78.6	163.5
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income		215.2	150.2	238.1
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	[2]	(45.2)	(37.8)	(41.9)
Transaction costs		0.2	1.6	0.5
ACCO Brands North America | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income		121.9	83.0	131.0
ACCO Brands EMEA | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income		61.7	51.6	58.6
ACCO Brands International | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income		$ 31.6	$ 15.6	$ 48.5

[1] Operating income as presented in the segment table above is defined as i) net sales; ii) less cost of products sold; iii) less SG&A expenses; iv) less amortization of intangibles; v) less restructuring charges; and vi) less change in the fair value of contingent consideration.

[2] Corporate operating loss in 2021, 2020 and 2019 includes transaction costs of $0.2 million, $1.6 million and $0.5 million respectively, primarily for legal and due diligence expenditures associated with the PowerA, Foroni and GOBA acquisitions.