<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.24.0.1</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>262</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>461</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>84</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>7</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000001 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/DocumentandEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000002 - Document - Audit Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/AuditInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Audit Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000003 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000004 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000005 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000006 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000007 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofComprehensiveIncomeParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000008 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000009 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000010 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquityConsolidatedStatementsofStockholdersEquityParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000011 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000012 - Disclosure - Recently Adopted and New Accounting Standards</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/RecentlyAdoptedandNewAccountingStandards</Role>
      <ShortName>Recently Adopted and New Accounting Standards</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000013 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000015 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000016 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000017 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/Debt</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000018 - Disclosure - Other Operating Charges, net</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/OtherOperatingChargesnet</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Operating Charges, net</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000019 - Disclosure - Non Operating Income and Expenses</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/NonOperatingIncomeandExpenses</Role>
      <ShortName>Non Operating Income and Expenses</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000020 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000021 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLoss</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000022 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/EarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000023 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/StockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000024 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/CommitmentsandContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000025 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0000026 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954471 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Policies</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954472 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/AccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954474 - Disclosure - Leases (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/LeasesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954475 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssets</ParentRole>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954476 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxes</ParentRole>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954477 - Disclosure - Debt (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/DebtTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/Debt</ParentRole>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954478 - Disclosure - Other Operating Charges, net (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/OtherOperatingChargesnetTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Operating Charges, net (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/OtherOperatingChargesnet</ParentRole>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954479 - Disclosure - Non Operating Income and Expenses (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/NonOperatingIncomeandExpensesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Non Operating Income and Expenses (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/NonOperatingIncomeandExpenses</ParentRole>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954480 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlans</ParentRole>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954481 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLoss</ParentRole>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954482 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/EarningsPerShare</ParentRole>
      <Position>36</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954483 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/StockholdersEquityTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/StockholdersEquity</ParentRole>
      <Position>37</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954485 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SegmentInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SegmentInformation</ParentRole>
      <Position>38</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954487 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Cash and Cash Equivalents) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesCashandCashEquivalentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Cash and Cash Equivalents) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>39</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954488 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Accounts Receivables) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesAccountsReceivablesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Accounts Receivables) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>40</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954489 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Inventories) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesInventoriesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Inventories) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>41</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954490 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (PP&amp;E) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPPEDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (PP&amp;E) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>42</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954491 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Accounts Receivables Arrangement - Factoring) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesAccountsReceivablesArrangementFactoringDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Accounts Receivables Arrangement - Factoring) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>43</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954492 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Environmental and ARO) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesEnvironmentalandARODetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Environmental and ARO) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>44</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954493 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>45</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954494 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Revenue Recog) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesRevenueRecogDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Revenue Recog) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>46</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954495 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesAccountsPayableandAccruedLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</ParentRole>
      <Position>47</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954497 - Disclosure - Leases (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/LeasesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Leases (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/LeasesTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>48</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954498 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Estimated Future Amortization Expense Related to Intangible Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsEstimatedFutureAmortizationExpenseRelatedtoIntangibleAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Estimated Future Amortization Expense Related to Intangible Assets (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>49</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954499 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Details (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/GoodwillandIntangibleAssetsDetailsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Details (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>50</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954500 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxesProvisionBenefitforIncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>51</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R52.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954501 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Income Tax Reconciliation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxesIncomeTaxReconciliationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Income Tax Reconciliation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>52</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R53.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954502 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Tax Effects of Significant Temporary Differences Creating Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxesTaxEffectsofSignificantTemporaryDifferencesCreatingDeferredTaxAssetsandLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Tax Effects of Significant Temporary Differences Creating Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>53</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R54.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954503 - Disclosure - - Net Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/NetDeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>- Net Deferred Tax Assets (Liabilities) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>54</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R55.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954505 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Tax Credits and Losses Subject to Expiration by Major Jurisdictions (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxesTaxCreditsandLossesSubjecttoExpirationbyMajorJurisdictionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Tax Credits and Losses Subject to Expiration by Major Jurisdictions (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>55</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R56.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954506 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxesAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>56</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R57.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954507 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Roll Forward of Unrecognized Tax Benefits and Associated Interest and Penalties Included in Balance Sheet (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/IncomeTaxesRollForwardofUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsandAssociatedInterestandPenaltiesIncludedinBalanceSheetDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Roll Forward of Unrecognized Tax Benefits and Associated Interest and Penalties Included in Balance Sheet (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>57</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R58.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954508 - Disclosure - Debt - Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/DebtAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt - Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>58</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R59.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954509 - Disclosure - Other Operating Charges, net (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/OtherOperatingChargesnetDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Operating Charges, net (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/OtherOperatingChargesnetTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>59</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R60.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954510 - Disclosure - Non Operating Income and Expenses (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/NonOperatingIncomeandExpensesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Non Operating Income and Expenses (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/NonOperatingIncomeandExpensesTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>60</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R61.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954511 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Changes in Benefit Obligation, Plan Assets and Funded Status for Company-Sponsored Benefit Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansChangesinBenefitObligationPlanAssetsandFundedStatusforCompanySponsoredBenefitPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Changes in Benefit Obligation, Plan Assets and Funded Status for Company-Sponsored Benefit Plans (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>61</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R62.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954512 - Disclosure - - Certain Pension Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/CertainPensionPlanswithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsinExcessofPlanAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>- Certain Pension Plans with Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>62</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R63.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954513 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Pre-tax Components of Net Periodic Cost (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansPretaxComponentsofNetPeriodicCostDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Pre-tax Components of Net Periodic Cost (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>63</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R64.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954514 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedtoDetermineBenefitObligationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligation (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>64</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R65.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954515 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Cost (Benefit) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansWeightedAverageAssumptionsUsedtoDetermineNetPeriodicCostBenefitDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Cost (Benefit) (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>65</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R66.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954516 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Investments at Fair Value for Company Sponsored Pension Benefit Plans Within Fair Value Hierarchy (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansInvestmentsatFairValueforCompanySponsoredPensionBenefitPlansWithinFairValueHierarchyDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Investments at Fair Value for Company Sponsored Pension Benefit Plans Within Fair Value Hierarchy (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>66</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R67.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954517 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Long Term Asset Allocation Ranges (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansLongTermAssetAllocationRangesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Long Term Asset Allocation Ranges (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>67</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R68.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954518 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Estimated Future Benefit Payments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureBenefitPaymentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Estimated Future Benefit Payments (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>68</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R69.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954519 - Disclosure - Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SavingsPensionandOtherPostretirementEmployeeBenefitPlansMultiemployerDefinedBenefitPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Savings, Pension and Other Postretirement Employee Benefit Plans - Multiemployer Defined Benefit Plans (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>69</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R70.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954520 - Disclosure - - Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/AdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>- Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>70</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R71.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954521 - Disclosure - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveLossTables</ParentRole>
      <Position>71</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R72.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954522 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share - Share Reconciliation of Number of Common Shares Used in Calculating Basic and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/EarningsPerShareShareReconciliationofNumberofCommonSharesUsedinCalculatingBasicandDilutedNetEarningsPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share - Share Reconciliation of Number of Common Shares Used in Calculating Basic and Diluted Net Earnings Per Share (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>72</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R73.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954523 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Employee Plans Equity Based Compensation Expense (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/StockholdersEquityEmployeePlansEquityBasedCompensationExpenseDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Employee Plans Equity Based Compensation Expense (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>73</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R74.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954524 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Summary of Status of Outstanding RSU Awards (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/StockholdersEquitySummaryofStatusofOutstandingRSUAwardsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Summary of Status of Outstanding RSU Awards (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>74</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R75.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954525 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Summary of Status of Outstanding Performance Share Awards (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/StockholdersEquitySummaryofStatusofOutstandingPerformanceShareAwardsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Summary of Status of Outstanding Performance Share Awards (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>75</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R76.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954526 - Disclosure - Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/StockholdersEquityAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>76</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R77.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954527 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Additional Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/CommitmentsandContingenciesCommitmentsandContingenciesAdditionalInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Additional Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>77</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R78.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954528 - Disclosure - Segment Information - Reportable Segments Information (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SegmentInformationReportableSegmentsInformationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information - Reportable Segments Information (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>78</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="clw-20231231.htm">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R79.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>9954529 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SubsequentEventsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.clearwaterpaper.com/role/SubsequentEvents</ParentRole>
      <Position>79</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File doctype="10-K" isDefinitelyFs="true" isUsgaap="true" original="clw-20231231.htm">clw-20231231.htm</File>
    <File>clw-20231231.xsd</File>
    <File>clw-20231231_cal.xml</File>
    <File>clw-20231231_def.xml</File>
    <File>clw-20231231_lab.xml</File>
    <File>clw-20231231_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles>
    <File>clw-20231231_g1.jpg</File>
    <File>clw-20231231_g2.jpg</File>
  </SupplementalFiles>
  <BaseTaxonomies>
    <BaseTaxonomy items="1271">http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2023</BaseTaxonomy>
    <BaseTaxonomy items="39">http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023</BaseTaxonomy>
  </BaseTaxonomies>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
