Guarantor Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services net sales $ 598.6 $ 628.6 $ 638.2
Products net sales 384.9 420.9 441.9
Total net sales 983.5 1,049.5 1,080.1
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 297.1 291.9 301.2
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 226.2 230.9 236.3
Total cost of sales 619.0 631.5 653.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 209.8 199.2 290.5
Restructuring, impairment and other charges-net 5.4 4.4 4.8
Depreciation and amortization 43.3 41.7 40.7
Income from operations 106.0 172.7 90.8
Interest expense-net 11.7 1.1 1.5
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries 94.3 171.7 92.4
Income tax (benefit) expense 35.2 67.4 35.0
Earnings (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries 59.1 104.3 57.4
Investment and other income-net 0.0 (0.1) (3.1)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries 0.0 0.0 0.0
Net earnings 59.1 104.3 57.4
Comprehensive income (loss) 66.1 124.3 (115.4)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries 94.3 171.7 92.4
Eliminations      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services net sales (7.7) (8.2) (7.7)
Products net sales (4.3) (5.4) (5.1)
Total net sales (12.0) (13.6) (12.8)
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) (7.1) (7.2) (6.9)
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) (4.9) (6.4) (5.9)
Total cost of sales (12.0) (13.6) (12.8)
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Restructuring, impairment and other charges-net 0.0 0.0 0.0
Depreciation and amortization 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income from operations 0.0 0.0 0.0
Interest expense-net 0.0 0.0 0.0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income tax (benefit) expense 0.0 0.0 0.0
Earnings (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries 0.0 0.0 0.0
Investment and other income-net   0.0 0.0
Equity in net income of subsidiaries (75.0) (116.2) (71.0)
Net earnings (75.0) (116.2) (71.0)
Comprehensive income (loss) (82.1) (128.7) 104.7
Earnings before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries 0.0 0.0 0.0
RR Donnelley Affiliates      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 37.8 40.4 39.3
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 57.9 68.3 76.5
RR Donnelley Affiliates | Eliminations      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Parent      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services net sales 0.0 0.0 0.0
Products net sales 0.0 0.0 0.0
Total net sales 0.0 0.0 0.0
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Total cost of sales 0.0 0.0 0.0
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Restructuring, impairment and other charges-net 0.0 0.0 0.0
Depreciation and amortization 0.0 0.0 0.0
Income from operations 0.0 0.0 0.0
Interest expense-net 11.7 0.0 0.0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries (11.7) 0.0 0.0
Income tax (benefit) expense (4.3) 0.0 0.0
Earnings (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries (7.4) 0.0 0.0
Investment and other income-net   0.0 0.0
Equity in net income of subsidiaries 66.5 104.3 57.4
Net earnings 59.1 104.3 57.4
Comprehensive income (loss) 66.1 124.3 (115.4)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries (11.7) 0.0 0.0
Parent | RR Donnelley Affiliates      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 0.0 0.0 0.0
Guarantor Subsidiaries      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services net sales 502.2 530.2 529.7
Products net sales 350.4 381.8 396.3
Total net sales 852.6 912.0 926.0
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 236.0 230.7 237.3
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 207.0 208.8 208.8
Total cost of sales 535.9 545.8 559.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 176.8 168.1 254.7
Restructuring, impairment and other charges-net 4.8 3.5 2.5
Depreciation and amortization 38.6 37.3 36.1
Income from operations 96.5 157.3 73.4
Interest expense-net 0.0 1.1 1.5
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries 96.5 156.2 74.9
Income tax (benefit) expense 38.5 63.8 31.1
Earnings (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries 58.0 92.4 43.8
Investment and other income-net   0.0 (3.0)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries 8.5 11.9 13.6
Net earnings 66.5 104.3 57.4
Comprehensive income (loss) 73.5 124.3 (115.4)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries 96.5 156.2 74.9
Guarantor Subsidiaries | RR Donnelley Affiliates      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 35.6 38.1 36.9
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 57.3 68.2 76.3
Non-guarantor Subsidiaries      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services net sales 104.1 106.6 116.2
Products net sales 38.8 44.5 50.7
Total net sales 142.9 151.1 166.9
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 68.2 68.4 70.8
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 24.1 28.5 33.4
Total cost of sales 95.1 99.3 106.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 33.0 31.1 35.8
Restructuring, impairment and other charges-net 0.6 0.9 2.3
Depreciation and amortization 4.7 4.4 4.6
Income from operations 9.5 15.4 17.4
Interest expense-net 0.0 0.0 0.0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries 9.5 15.5 17.5
Income tax (benefit) expense 1.0 3.6 3.9
Earnings (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries 8.5 11.9 13.6
Investment and other income-net   (0.1) (0.1)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries 0.0 0.0 0.0
Net earnings 8.5 11.9 13.6
Comprehensive income (loss) 8.6 4.4 10.7
Earnings before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries 9.5 15.5 17.5
Non-guarantor Subsidiaries | RR Donnelley Affiliates      
Condensed Income Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Services cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 2.2 2.3 2.4
Products cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) $ 0.6 $ 0.1 $ 0.2