Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010
Changes in total shareholders' equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year			$ 1,021	$ 886
Comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income (loss)	19	20	34	15
Defined benefit plans			9	10
Foreign currency translation adjustment			5	3
Total Comprehensive Income			48	28
Dividends paid on common stock			(28)	(23)
Share-based compensation, net of distributions			15	9
Ending balance	1,056	900	1,056	900
Class Of Warrant Or Right [Abstract]
Number of preferred purchase rights declared as a dividend on each outstanding share of common stock (in shares)	1		1
Beneficial ownership threshold at which additional ownership is penalized (in hundredths)			0.10
Redemption price per Right (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Rights Plan Expiration Date	Jun. 07, 2016		Jun. 07, 2016
Temple-Inland Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]
Changes in total shareholders' equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year			929	794
Comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income (loss)			35	16
Defined benefit plans			9	10
Foreign currency translation adjustment			5	3
Total Comprehensive Income	26	24
Dividends paid on common stock			(28)	(23)
Share-based compensation, net of distributions			15	9
Ending balance	965	809	965	809
Common stock issued for equity-based awards (in shares)			698,187	390,808
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Changes in total shareholders' equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning of year			92	92
Comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income (loss)			(1)	(1)
Defined benefit plans	0			0
Foreign currency translation adjustment			0	0
Dividends paid on common stock			0	0
Share-based compensation, net of distributions			0	0
Ending balance	$ 91	$ 91	$ 91	$ 91