Debt (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended					9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended							9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	May 31, 2013 2021 Senior Notes (5.25% fixed rate) due May 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 2021 Senior Notes (5.25% fixed rate) due May 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	May 31, 2013 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2012 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2012 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2004 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 2014 Senior Notes (7.375% fixed rate) retired June 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Revolving bank credit facility due November 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Term loan repaid June 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Term loan repaid June 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Term loan repaid June 2013 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2012 Term loan repaid June 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2006 Neenah Germany project financing EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2013 Neenah Germany project financing USD ($) installment	Sep. 30, 2013 Neenah Germany project financing EUR (€) installment	Dec. 31, 2012 Neenah Germany project financing USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Neenah Germany revolving lines of credit (variable rates) HypoVereinsbank USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Neenah Germany revolving lines of credit (variable rates) HypoVereinsbank EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2013 Neenah Germany revolving lines of credit (variable rates) Total Commerzbank borrowings USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Neenah Germany revolving lines of credit (variable rates) Total Commerzbank borrowings EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2013 Neenah Germany revolving lines of credit (variable rates) Minimum	Jun. 30, 2013 Revolving bank credit facility (variable rates), due 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2013 Revolving bank credit facility (variable rates), due 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Revolving bank credit facility (variable rates), due 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Revolving bank credit facility (variable rates), due 2017	Oct. 31, 2012 Revolving bank credit facility (variable rates), due 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Revolving bank credit facility (variable rates), due 2017 Maximum USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Second German Loan Agreement USD ($) installment	Sep. 30, 2013 Second German Loan Agreement EUR (€) installment	Jan. 31, 2013 Second German Loan Agreement EUR (€)
Principal Payments
Total debt	$ 193.1		$ 182.3		$ 175.0									$ 90.0	$ 55.7			$ 30.0			$ 5.9		$ 6.6												$ 12.2
Less: Debt payable within one year	1.7		4.7
Long-term debt	191.4		177.6
Fixed rate of interest (as a percent)					5.25%					7.375%	7.375%			7.375%							3.80%	3.80%	3.80%												2.50%	2.50%	2.45%
Number of equal semi-annual installments																					16	16
Number of equal quarterly installments																																			32	32
Total term of notes				8 years							10 years									10 years
Face amount				175
Total additional borrowings										225.0										10.0
Amount of debt redeemed or repaid				70.0		70.0	20.0	58.0	10.0			65.0	2.0			29.3														56.0
Pre-tax loss for the early extinguishment of debt	0.5	0.2														0.1
Maximum borrowing capacity that may be increased																													30
Percentage of principal amount at which debt may be redeemed									101.229%
Pre-tax loss, including the write-off of related unamortized debt issuance costs						0.3	0.1	0.4	0.2
Maximum borrowing capacity																			30.0						15.0		5.0		180.0				105.0				9.0
Dividend restriction																													25
Amount of the company's stock allowed to be repurchased on or before December 31, 2014																																		30
Maximum amount of the company's stock to be repurchased on or before December 31, 2013																													15
Current borrowing capacity																															105
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)																		4.00%														2.40%
Length of the year considered for interest calculation																																			360 days	360 days
Available credit																								20.3	15.0	6.7	5.0				104.3
Total outstanding											0						0				5.9	4.4		0		0					0				12.2	9.0
Borrowing availability for not achieving the fixed charge coverage ratio																															$ 20
Fixed charge coverage ratio required																															1.1
Period for maintaining a fixed charge coverage ratio																															12 months
Stockholder's equity to total assets ratio (as a percent)																												45.00%