Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Total net sales	$ 705.8	$ 822.5
Total cost of sales	559.8	647.7
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses	80.5	99.6
Depreciation and amortization	41.9	47.4
Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges	2.6	22.8
Total operating expenses	684.8	817.5
Operating income from continuing operations	21.0	5.0
Interest expense	14.5	18.1
Net pension income	(4.1)	(2.7)
Gain on debt extinguishment	0.0	(0.6)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity	10.6	(9.8)
Income tax expense (benefit)	0.5	(1.2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity	10.1	(8.6)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entity	(0.1)	0.0
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	10.2	(12.4)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	10.2	(8.6)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0	(3.8)
Less: net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Quad common shareholders	$ 10.2	$ (12.4)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders, basic, continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.20	$ (0.17)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders, basic, discontinued operations (USD per share)	0	(0.08)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders (USD per share)	0.20	(0.25)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders, diluted, continuing operations (USD per share)	0.19	(0.17)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders, diluted, discontinued operations (USD per share)	0	(0.08)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.19	$ (0.25)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	51.4	50.5
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	52.8	50.5
Products
Total net sales	$ 526.0	$ 645.0
Total cost of sales	428.3	523.7
Services
Total net sales	179.8	177.5
Total cost of sales	$ 131.5	$ 124.0