Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings	$ (5.6)	$ (143.8)	$ 97.3
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0.0	195.1	0.0
Depreciation and amortization	115.6	101.9	105.0
Equity-based compensation expense	4.1	3.3	3.6
Deferred taxes	(0.3)	7.1	(40.6)
Pension and other post employment benefits	1.4	(0.6)	(5.1)
Debt retirement costs	2.7	0.0	0.0
Gain on divested assets, net	0.0	(25.5)	0.0
Disposal of plant and equipment, net	0.7	0.7	4.1
Adjustments, Noncash Items, to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	2.5	1.5	2.9
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable	(13.6)	(7.3)	5.6
(Increase) decrease in taxes receivable, net	(4.4)	14.0	(10.6)
Increase (Decrease) in Inventories	(21.2)	(8.1)	(14.8)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets	(0.8)	6.4	(0.3)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable	(28.5)	25.2	31.3
Other, net	3.0	(1.0)	0.3
Net cash flows from operating activities	55.6	168.9	178.7
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(140.1)	(295.7)	(199.7)
Net proceeds from divested assets	0.0	70.9	0.0
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	0.0	0.8	0.9
Net cash flows from investing activities	(140.1)	(224.0)	(198.8)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of treasury stock	0.0	0.0	(4.9)
Proceeds from Short-term Debt	549.3	630.8	298.3
Repayments of Short-term Debt	(657.7)	(565.0)	(278.3)
Proceeds from long-term debt, net	296.1	0.0	0.0
Repayment of long-term debt	(103.0)	0.0	0.0
Payments for debt issuance costs	(2.3)	(2.1)	(0.1)
Other, net	(0.4)	(0.4)	(1.2)
Net cash flows from financing activities	82.0	63.3	13.8
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(2.5)	8.2	(6.3)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	22.5	15.7
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	22.4	24.9	16.7
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	38.4	26.1	28.1
Cash paid for income taxes	3.6	3.7	2.7
Cash received from income tax refunds	$ 0.5	$ 14.3	$ 7.6

Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Write Off of Assets Divested

No definition available.

Name:	clw_DisposalGroupNotDiscontinuedOperationGainLossonWriteOffofAssetsDivested
Namespace Prefix:	clw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of adjustments to net income or loss necessary to remove the effects of all items whose cash effects are investing or financing cash flows. The aggregate amount also includes all noncash expenses and income items which reduce or increase net income and are thus added back or deducted when calculating cash provided by or used in operating activities.