Overview and Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Overview and Basis of Presentation	Note 1. Overview and Basis of Presentation Description of Business and Separation Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Donnelley Financial,” or the “Company”) is a financial communications services company that supports global capital markets compliance and transaction needs for its corporate clients and their advisors (such as law firms and investment bankers) and global investment markets compliance and analytics needs for mutual fund companies, variable annuity providers and broker/dealers. With proprietary technology such as data storage and workflow collaboration tools, deep subject matter expertise and a global footprint, Donnelley Financial produces, manages, stores, distributes and translates documents and electronic communications in order to deliver timely financial communications to investors and documents in a manner that complies with regulatory commissions. Donnelley Financial’s Registration Statement on Form 10, as amended, was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 20, 2016. On October 1, 2016, Donnelley Financial became an independent publicly traded company through the distribution by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (“RRD”) of approximately 26.2 million shares, or 80.75%, of Donnelley Financial common stock to RRD shareholders (the “Separation”). Holders of RRD common stock received one share of Donnelley Financial common stock for every eight shares of RRD common stock held on September 23, 2016. RRD retained approximately 6.2 million shares of Donnelley Financial common stock, or a 19.25% interest in Donnelley Financial, as part of the Separation, but expects to dispose of the common stock that it retained in the 12-month period following the Separation. Donnelley Financial’s common stock began regular-way trading under the ticker symbol “DFIN” on the New York Stock Exchange on October 3, 2016. On October 1, 2016, RRD also completed the previously announced separation of LSC Communications, Inc. (“LSC”), its publishing and retail-centric print services and office products business. The Company and LSC entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement with RRD to effect the distribution of the Company’s and LSC’s common stock to R.R. Donnelley’s common stockholders. This agreement governs the Company’s relationship with RRD and LSC with respect to pre-Separation matters and provides for the allocation of employee benefit, litigation and other liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to the Separation. The Separation and Distribution Agreement also includes an agreement that the Company, RRD and LSC will provide each other with appropriate indemnities with respect to liabilities arising out of the businesses being distributed and retained by RRD in the Separation. The Separation and Distribution Agreement also addresses employee compensation and benefit matters. In connection with the Separation, the Company entered into transition services agreements separately with RRD and LSC, under which, in exchange for the fees specified in the arrangements, RRD and LSC agree to provide certain services to the Company and the Company agrees to provide certain services to RRD, respectively, for up to 24 months following the Separation. These services include, but are not limited to, information technology, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and other financial and administrative services and functions. These agreements facilitate the separation by allowing the Company to operate independently prior to establishing stand-alone back office systems across its organization. The Company entered into a number of commercial and other arrangements with RRD and its subsidiaries. These include, among other things, arrangements for the provision of services, including global outsourcing and logistics services, printing and binding, digital printing, composition, premedia and access to technology. The Company also entered into a number of commercial and other arrangements with LSC and its subsidiaries, pursuant to which LSC will print and bind products for the Company. The terms of the arrangements with RRD and LSC do not exceed 24 months. Subsequent to the Separation, RRD and LSC are clients of the Company and expect to utilize financial communication software and services that the Company provides to all of its clients. Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements reflect the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations of the Company as an independent, publicly traded company for the periods after the Separation and the combined financial position and combined results of operations for the periods prior to the Separation. Prior to the Separation, the combined financial statements were prepared on a stand-alone basis and were derived from RRD’s consolidated financial statements and accounting records. The consolidated and combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For periods prior to the Separation, the consolidated and combined financial statements include the allocation of certain assets and liabilities that have historically been held at the RRD corporate level but which are specifically identifiable or attributable to the Company. Cash and cash equivalents held by RRD were not allocated to Donnelley Financial unless they were held in a legal entity that was transferred to Donnelley Financial. All intercompany transactions and accounts within Donnelley Financial have been eliminated. All intracompany transactions between RRD and Donnelley Financial are considered to be effectively settled in the consolidated and combined financial statements at the time the transaction is recorded. The total net effect of the settlement of these intracompany transactions is reflected in the consolidated and combined statements of cash flows as a financing activity and in the consolidated and combined balance sheets as net parent company investment. Net parent company investment is primarily impacted by contributions from RRD which are the result of treasury activities and net funding provided by or distributed to RRD. Prior to the Separation, the consolidated and combined financial statements include certain expenses of RRD which were allocated to Donnelley Financial for certain functions, including general corporate expenses related to information technology, finance, legal, human resources, internal audit, treasury, tax, investor relations and executive oversight. These expenses were allocated to the Company on the basis of direct usage, when available, with the remainder allocated on the pro rata basis of revenue, employee headcount, or other measures. We consider the expense methodology and results to be reasonable for all periods presented. However these allocations may not be indicative of the actual expenses that would have been incurred as an independent public company or the costs that may be incurred in the future. For periods prior to the Separation, the income tax amounts in the consolidated and combined financial statements were calculated based on a separate income tax return methodology and presented as if the Company’s operations were separate taxpayers in the respective jurisdictions. RRD maintained various benefit and share-based compensation plans at a corporate level. Donnelley Financial employees participated in those programs and a portion of the cost of those plans is included in Donnelley Financial’s consolidated and combined financial statements. On October 1, 2016, Donnelley Financial recorded net pension plan liabilities of $68.3 million (consisting of a total benefit plan liability of $317.0 million, net of plan assets having fair market value of $248.7 million), as a result of the transfer of certain pension plan liabilities and assets from RRD to the Company upon the legal split of those plans. The Company also recorded a net other postretirement benefit liability of $1.5 million, as a result of the transfer of an other postretirement benefit plan from RRD to the Company. Refer to Note 11, Retirement Plans, for further details regarding the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Refer to Note 15, Share Based Compensation, for further details regarding the Company’s share-based compensation plans. Donnelley Financial generates a portion of net revenue from sales to RRD’s subsidiaries. Included in the consolidated and combined financial statements are net revenues from sales to RRD and affiliates of $19.4 million, $7.8 million and $8.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Donnelley Financial utilizes RRD for freight and logistics, production of certain printed products and outsourced business services functions. Included in the consolidated and combined financial statements are cost of sales to RRD and affiliates of $95.7 million, $108.7 million and 115.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Intercompany receivables and payables with RRD are reflected within net parent company investment in the accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements for periods prior to the Separation. See Note 20, Related Parties, for a further description of related party transactions.

Note 1. Overview and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business and Separation

Donnelley Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Donnelley Financial,” or the “Company”) is a financial communications services company that supports global capital markets compliance and transaction needs for its corporate clients and their advisors (such as law firms and investment bankers) and global investment markets compliance and analytics needs for mutual fund companies, variable annuity providers and broker/dealers. With proprietary technology such as data storage and workflow collaboration tools, deep subject matter expertise and a global footprint, Donnelley Financial produces, manages, stores, distributes and translates documents and electronic communications in order to deliver timely financial communications to investors and documents in a manner that complies with regulatory commissions.

Donnelley Financial’s Registration Statement on Form 10, as amended, was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 20, 2016. On October 1, 2016, Donnelley Financial became an independent publicly traded company through the distribution by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (“RRD”) of approximately 26.2 million shares, or 80.75%, of Donnelley Financial common stock to RRD shareholders (the “Separation”). Holders of RRD common stock received one share of Donnelley Financial common stock for every eight shares of RRD common stock held on September 23, 2016. RRD retained approximately 6.2 million shares of Donnelley Financial common stock, or a 19.25% interest in Donnelley Financial, as part of the Separation, but expects to dispose of the common stock that it retained in the 12-month period following the Separation. Donnelley Financial’s common stock began regular-way trading under the ticker symbol “DFIN” on the New York Stock Exchange on October 3, 2016. On October 1, 2016, RRD also completed the previously announced separation of LSC Communications, Inc. (“LSC”), its publishing and retail-centric print services and office products business.

The Company and LSC entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement with RRD to effect the distribution of the Company’s and LSC’s common stock to R.R. Donnelley’s common stockholders. This agreement governs the Company’s relationship with RRD and LSC with respect to pre-Separation matters and provides for the allocation of employee benefit, litigation and other liabilities and obligations attributable to periods prior to the Separation. The Separation and Distribution Agreement also includes an agreement that the Company, RRD and LSC will provide each other with appropriate indemnities with respect to liabilities arising out of the businesses being distributed and retained by RRD in the Separation. The Separation and Distribution Agreement also addresses employee compensation and benefit matters.

In connection with the Separation, the Company entered into transition services agreements separately with RRD and LSC, under which, in exchange for the fees specified in the arrangements, RRD and LSC agree to provide certain services to the Company and the Company agrees to provide certain services to RRD, respectively, for up to 24 months following the Separation. These services include, but are not limited to, information technology, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and other financial and administrative services and functions. These agreements facilitate the separation by allowing the Company to operate independently prior to establishing stand-alone back office systems across its organization.

The Company entered into a number of commercial and other arrangements with RRD and its subsidiaries. These include, among other things, arrangements for the provision of services, including global outsourcing and logistics services, printing and binding, digital printing, composition, premedia and access to technology. The Company also entered into a number of commercial and other arrangements with LSC and its subsidiaries, pursuant to which LSC will print and bind products for the Company. The terms of the arrangements with RRD and LSC do not exceed 24 months. Subsequent to the Separation, RRD and LSC are clients of the Company and expect to utilize financial communication software and services that the Company provides to all of its clients.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements reflect the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations of the Company as an independent, publicly traded company for the periods after the Separation and the combined financial position and combined results of operations for the periods prior to the Separation. Prior to the Separation, the combined financial statements were prepared on a stand-alone basis and were derived from RRD’s consolidated financial statements and accounting records. The consolidated and combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.

For periods prior to the Separation, the consolidated and combined financial statements include the allocation of certain assets and liabilities that have historically been held at the RRD corporate level but which are specifically identifiable or attributable to the Company. Cash and cash equivalents held by RRD were not allocated to Donnelley Financial unless they were held in a legal entity that was transferred to Donnelley Financial. All intercompany transactions and accounts within Donnelley Financial have been eliminated. All intracompany transactions between RRD and Donnelley Financial are considered to be effectively settled in the consolidated and combined financial statements at the time the transaction is recorded. The total net effect of the settlement of these intracompany transactions is reflected in the consolidated and combined statements of cash flows as a financing activity and in the consolidated and combined balance sheets as net parent company investment. Net parent company investment is primarily impacted by contributions from RRD which are the result of treasury activities and net funding provided by or distributed to RRD.

Prior to the Separation, the consolidated and combined financial statements include certain expenses of RRD which were allocated to Donnelley Financial for certain functions, including general corporate expenses related to information technology, finance, legal, human resources, internal audit, treasury, tax, investor relations and executive oversight. These expenses were allocated to the Company on the basis of direct usage, when available, with the remainder allocated on the pro rata basis of revenue, employee headcount, or other measures. We consider the expense methodology and results to be reasonable for all periods presented. However these allocations may not be indicative of the actual expenses that would have been incurred as an independent public company or the costs that may be incurred in the future.

For periods prior to the Separation, the income tax amounts in the consolidated and combined financial statements were calculated based on a separate income tax return methodology and presented as if the Company’s operations were separate taxpayers in the respective jurisdictions.

RRD maintained various benefit and share-based compensation plans at a corporate level. Donnelley Financial employees participated in those programs and a portion of the cost of those plans is included in Donnelley Financial’s consolidated and combined financial statements. On October 1, 2016, Donnelley Financial recorded net pension plan liabilities of $68.3 million (consisting of a total benefit plan liability of $317.0 million, net of plan assets having fair market value of $248.7 million), as a result of the transfer of certain pension plan liabilities and assets from RRD to the Company upon the legal split of those plans. The Company also recorded a net other postretirement benefit liability of $1.5 million, as a result of the transfer of an other postretirement benefit plan from RRD to the Company. Refer to Note 11, Retirement Plans, for further details regarding the Company’s pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Refer to Note 15, Share Based Compensation, for further details regarding the Company’s share-based compensation plans.

Donnelley Financial generates a portion of net revenue from sales to RRD’s subsidiaries. Included in the consolidated and combined financial statements are net revenues from sales to RRD and affiliates of $19.4 million, $7.8 million and $8.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Donnelley Financial utilizes RRD for freight and logistics, production of certain printed products and outsourced business services functions. Included in the consolidated and combined financial statements are cost of sales to RRD and affiliates of $95.7 million, $108.7 million and 115.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Intercompany receivables and payables with RRD are reflected within net parent company investment in the accompanying consolidated and combined financial statements for periods prior to the Separation. See Note 20, Related Parties, for a further description of related party transactions.