Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule Of Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 24, 2011		Jun. 25, 2011		Mar. 26, 2011		Dec. 25, 2010		Sep. 25, 2010		Jun. 26, 2010		Mar. 27, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010	Dec. 26, 2009
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,969,695,000	[1]	$ 2,836,737,000	[2]	$ 2,710,141,000		$ 2,972,960,000		$ 2,961,932,000	[3]	$ 2,899,717,000	[4]	$ 2,699,475,000	[5]	$ 3,071,970,000		$ 11,489,533,000	$ 11,633,094,000	$ 12,144,467,000
Gross profit	899,186,000	[1]	855,020,000	[2]	794,052,000		878,188,000		847,535,000	[3]	829,183,000	[4]	766,688,000	[5]	913,731,000		3,426,446,000	3,357,137,000	3,392,184,000
Net earnings (loss)	20,348,000	[1]	100,849,000	[2]	(20,116,000)		(5,390,000)		(99,927,000)	[3]	40,622,000	[4]	(16,140,000)	[5]	29,240,000		95,691,000	(46,205,000)	(598,724,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Office Depot, Inc.	20,350,000	[1]	100,872,000	[2]	(20,114,000)		(5,414,000)		(99,411,000)	[3],[6]	41,254,000	[4],[6]	(15,934,000)	[5],[6]	29,468,000	[6]	95,694,000	(44,623,000)	(596,465,000)
Net earnings (loss) available to common shareholders	12,284,000	[1]	91,659,000	[2]	(29,327,000)		(14,627,000)		(108,626,000)	[3],[6]	32,044,000	[4],[6]	(25,147,000)	[5],[6]	19,993,000	[6]	59,989,000	(81,736,000)	(626,971,000)
Basic	$ 0.04	[1],[6]	$ 0.29	[2],[6]	$ (0.11)	[6]	$ (0.05)	[6]	$ (0.39)	[3],[6]	$ 0.12	[4],[6]	$ (0.09)	[5],[6]	$ 0.07	[6]	$ 0.22	$ (0.30)	$ (2.30)
Diluted	$ 0.04	[1],[6]	$ 0.28	[2],[6]	$ (0.11)	[6]	$ (0.05)	[6]	$ (0.39)	[3],[6]	$ 0.12	[4],[6]	$ (0.09)	[5],[6]	$ 0.07	[6]	$ 0.22	$ (0.30)	$ (2.30)
Tax and related interest benefits from reversal of uncertain tax positions			99,000,000
Benefits from uncertain tax positions and valuation allowances	24,000,000
Discrete tax benefits from release of valuation allowance and favorable settlement with taxing authorities													13,000,000
Discrete tax benefits from settlement of certain tax positions											32,000,000
Interest benefit related to settlement of certain tax positions											13,000,000
Pre-tax charges for severance and facility closures									12,000,000
Pre-tax loss on sale of operating subsidiaries																		11,000,000
Software written off									51,000,000									51,000,000
Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Severance and related costs									13,000,000									13,000,000
International Division [Member]
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net sales																	3,357,414,000	3,379,826,000	3,547,190,000
Pre-tax loss on sale of operating subsidiaries																		$ 11,000,000

[1] Fiscal year 2011 includes 53 weeks in accordance with our 52- week, 53-week retail calendar; accordingly, the fourth quarter includes 14 weeks. Additionally, the fourth quarter includes approximately $24 million of benefits from the reversal of uncertain tax positions and valuation allowances.

[2] Net earnings includes approximately $99 million of tax and related interest benefits from the reversal of uncertain tax positions.

[3] Net loss for the quarter includes approximately $12 million related to pre-tax charges for severance and facility closures, $11 million loss on the sale of operating entities, $51 million from software write off, and $13 million severance and related costs for departing executive officer.

[4] Net earnings for the quarter includes approximately $32 million of discrete tax benefits from the settlement of certain tax positions relating to open years as well as approximately $13 million of related interest benefits.

[5] Net loss for the quarter includes approximately $13 million discrete tax benefits from the release of a valuation allowance in Europe and a favorable settlement with certain taxing authorities.

[6] Due to rounding, the sum of the quarterly earnings per share amounts may not equal the reported earnings per share for the year.