Information on Business Segments (Operating Income by Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income		$ 56.9	$ 54.8	$ 49.2	$ 2.6	$ 68.5	$ 61.8	$ 43.9	$ (0.6)	$ 163.5	[1]	$ 173.6	[1]	$ 145.8	[1]
Interest expense										44.5		49.5		59.0
Interest income										(6.6)		(5.6)		(4.3)
Equity in earnings of joint ventures										(7.9)		(8.1)		(8.2)
Other expense, net										2.1		0.8		7.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax										131.4		137.0		91.7
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income										(35.2)		(38.2)		(32.6)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	[1]									198.7		211.8		178.4
ACCO Brands North America | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income										147.6		140.7		98.2
ACCO Brands International | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income										40.8		62.9		66.5
Computer Products Group | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income										$ 10.3		$ 8.2		$ 13.7

[1] Operating income as presented in the segment table above is defined as i) net sales; ii) less cost of products sold; iii) less advertising, selling, general and administrative expenses; iv) less amortization of intangibles; and v) less restructuring charges.