Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information
Ownership interest in Guarantor Subsidiaries (as a percent)	100.00%								100.00%
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Net sales	$ 192.6	$ 206.3	$ 211.7	$ 198.2	$ 165.5	$ 174.9	$ 182.9	$ 172.7	$ 808.8	$ 696.0	$ 657.7
Cost of products sold									649.7	570.6	537.7
Gross profit	37.7	35.7	43.8	41.9	31.3	27.4	33.5	33.2	159.1	125.4	120.0
Selling, general and administrative expenses									77.4	68.2	69.3
Acquisition integration costs									5.8
SERP settlement charge				3.5					3.5
Loss on retirement of bonds								2.4	0.6	2.4
Gain on sale of the Ripon Mill											(3.4)
Other expense - net									1.4	(1.8)	(1.0)
Operating income	15.9	16.3	22.0	16.2	13.6	12.5	15.7	14.8	70.4	56.6	55.1
Interest expense-net									13.4	15.3	20.3
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									57.0	41.3	34.8
Provision for income taxes									17.1	12.0	9.8
Income from continuing operations	9.1	9.2	12.7	8.9	7.7	6.8	7.8	7.0	39.9	29.3	25.0
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit									4.4	(0.2)	134.1
Net income									44.3	29.1	159.1
Neenah Paper, Inc.
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Net sales									403.3	272.7	269.4
Cost of products sold									312.9	207.6	204.9
Gross profit									90.4	65.1	64.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses									48.9	42.3	44.2
Acquisition integration costs									5.8
SERP settlement charge									3.5
Loss on retirement of bonds									0.6	2.4
Other expense - net										(0.6)	(0.4)
Operating income									31.6	21.0	20.7
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(33.3)	(27.3)	(157.5)
Interest expense-net									12.8	14.1	19.0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									52.1	34.2	159.2
Provision for income taxes									7.8	5.1	0.1
Income from continuing operations									44.3	29.1	159.1
Net income									44.3	29.1	159.1
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Net sales									140.0	143.4	144.2
Cost of products sold									111.4	116.6	117.1
Gross profit									28.6	26.8	27.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses									10.4	10.1	10.7
Gain on sale of the Ripon Mill											(3.4)
Other expense - net									1.1	0.4	0.6
Operating income									17.1	16.3	19.2
Interest expense-net										0.1	0.3
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									17.1	16.2	18.9
Provision for income taxes									2.5	5.5	7.9
Income from continuing operations									14.6	10.7	11.0
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit									4.4	(0.2)	134.1
Net income									19.0	10.5	145.1
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Net sales									265.5	279.9	244.1
Cost of products sold									225.4	246.4	215.7
Gross profit									40.1	33.5	28.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses									18.1	15.8	14.4
Other expense - net									0.3	(1.6)	(1.2)
Operating income									21.7	19.3	15.2
Interest expense-net									0.6	1.1	1.0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									21.1	18.2	14.2
Provision for income taxes									6.8	1.4	1.8
Income from continuing operations									14.3	16.8	12.4
Net income									14.3	16.8	12.4
Consolidating Adjustments
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									33.3	27.3	157.5
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(33.3)	(27.3)	(157.5)
Income from continuing operations									(33.3)	(27.3)	(157.5)
Net income									$ (33.3)	$ (27.3)	$ (157.5)