Amount of difference between fair value and book value.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dfin_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cash payment received from related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dfin_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Restrictions on the entity's ability to pay dividends as required by the terms of the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the debt agreement requires the first payment to be made, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the frequency of periodic payments (monthly, quarterly, annual).

+ References

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow for the payment of a long-term borrowing made from a related party where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth. Alternate caption: Payments for Advances from Affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
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Balance Type:
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- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

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Balance Type:
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- Details

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Debt - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Debt - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)	Apr. 03, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Apr. 25, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount of difference between fair value and book value			$ 5,500,000		$ 7,100,000
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest payment period			semi-annually
Commencement of interest payment				Apr. 15, 2017
8.25% Senior Notes Due October 15, 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes		$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000
Interest rate, stated percentage		8.25%	8.25%	8.25%	8.25%
Maturity date		Oct. 15, 2024	Oct. 15, 2024		Oct. 15, 2024
8.25% Senior Notes Due October 15, 2024 \| Subsequent Event
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes						$ 299,900,000
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt				$ 340,200,000
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company \| Subsequent Event \| Separation and Distribution Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash payment received from RR Donnelley	$ 68,000,000
Senior Secured Term Loan B Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility		$ 350,000,000		350,000,000
Outstanding borrowings			$ 298,400,000		$ 298,300,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility		300,000,000		300,000,000
Outstanding borrowings			$ 20,000,000		$ 0
Weighted average interest rate on borrowings			4.20%
Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Allowable annual dividend payment under credit agreement		$ 15,000,000		$ 15,000,000