Schedule of Fair Value of Senior Notes (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 29, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Fair Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Timber notes receivables	$ 937	$ 933
Boise investment	20	47
Fair Value \| Recourse Debt \| 9.75% Senior Secured Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt, fair value	291	290
Fair Value \| Recourse Debt \| 7.35% debentures, due 2016
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt, fair value	19	19
Fair Value \| Recourse Debt \| Revenue bonds, due in varying amounts periodically through 2029
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt, fair value	186	186
Fair Value \| Recourse Debt \| American & Foreign Power Company, Inc. 5% debentures, due 2030
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt, fair value	13	13
Fair Value \| Non Recourse Debt
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt, fair value	852	851
Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Timber notes receivables	940	945
Boise investment	20	46
Carrying Value \| Recourse Debt \| 9.75% Senior Secured Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt	250	250
Carrying Value \| Recourse Debt \| 7.35% debentures, due 2016
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt	18	18
Carrying Value \| Recourse Debt \| Revenue bonds, due in varying amounts periodically through 2029
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt	186	186
Carrying Value \| Recourse Debt \| American & Foreign Power Company, Inc. 5% debentures, due 2030
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt	13	13
Carrying Value \| Non Recourse Debt
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long Term Debt	$ 854	$ 859

Fair value portion of investments accounted under the cost method.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 325

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638263&loc=d3e39828-111592

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Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fair value portion of an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the holder a definite sum of money at a future date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph b

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