Defined benefit plan non-service cost.

No definition available.

Name:	esnd_DefinedBenefitPlanNonServiceCost
Namespace Prefix:	esnd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Defined benefit plan, number of plan participants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	esnd_DefinedBenefitPlanNumberOfPlanParticipants
Namespace Prefix:	esnd_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contribution received by defined benefit plan from employer which increases plan assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e2709-114920

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(5)(iv)(01)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82843861&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for gain (loss) of defined benefit plan expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit (cost) credit for fiscal year following most recent annual statement of financial position.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss for prior service cost (credit) expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost (credit) for fiscal year following most recent annual statement of financial position.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCreditNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of target investment allocation to total plan assets. Includes, but is not limited to, percentage on weighted-average basis if more than one plan.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cost for defined contribution plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=esnd_EssendantPensionPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanTypeAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=esnd_AccountingStandardsUpdate201707Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=esnd_GeneralPlanAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_RealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_HedgeFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=esnd_UnionPlanAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Participant	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Participant	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pension expense reclassified from operating expense		$ 2,894	$ 16,218	$ 3,941
Expense associated with company contributions		$ 7,400	7,100	5,900
Essendant Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash contribution to pension plan during the period	$ 10,000
Pension Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Active associates in the pension plan \| Participant	2,200	2,200
Estimated net actuarial loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 5,200	$ 5,200
Estimated prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 400	400
Cash contribution to pension plan during the period		10,000	10,000
Pension Plans [Member] \| ASU 2017-07 [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pension expense reclassified from operating expense		$ 2,894	$ 16,218	$ 3,941
Pension Plans [Member] \| General Plan Assets [Member] \| Fixed Income [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target allocations for plan assets	45.00%	45.00%
Pension Plans [Member] \| General Plan Assets [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target allocations for plan assets	36.00%	36.00%
Pension Plans [Member] \| General Plan Assets [Member] \| Domestic Real Estate [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target allocations for plan assets	9.00%	9.00%
Pension Plans [Member] \| General Plan Assets [Member] \| Hedge Funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target allocations for plan assets	10.00%	10.00%
Pension Plans [Member] \| Union Plan Assets [Member] \| Fixed Income [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target allocations for plan assets	17.00%	17.00%
Pension Plans [Member] \| Union Plan Assets [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target allocations for plan assets	64.00%	64.00%
Pension Plans [Member] \| Union Plan Assets [Member] \| Domestic Real Estate [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target allocations for plan assets	9.00%	9.00%
Pension Plans [Member] \| Union Plan Assets [Member] \| Hedge Funds [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Target allocations for plan assets	10.00%	10.00%