Quarterly Data (Schedule Of Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Net sales and operating revenues	$ 1,296.1	[1]	$ 1,000.2	[1]	$ 953.2	[1]	$ 1,008.3	[1]	$ 1,386.9		$ 1,031.8		$ 941.9		$ 1,017.4		$ 4,257.8		$ 4,378.0		$ 4,265.8
Cost of products sold	849.0		640.3		592.9		613.8		904.5	[2],[3]	589.9	[2],[3]	509.8	[2],[3]	563.0	[2],[3]	2,696.0		2,567.2		2,352.1
Gross profit	447.1		359.9		360.3		394.5		482.4		441.9		432.1		454.4		1,561.8		1,810.8		1,913.7
Selling, general and administrative	408.6	[4],[5]	384.6	[4],[5]	362.5	[4],[5]	373.3	[4],[5]	431.1	[6],[7],[8]	411.4	[6],[7],[8]	364.3	[6],[7],[8]	370.6	[6],[7],[8]	1,529.0		1,577.4		1,483.8
Depreciation and amortization	17.8		17.6		18.0		18.9		19.4		19.2		18.3		18.3		72.3		75.2		75.7
Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill	3.4	[9]	16.5	[9]	1.0	[9]	0.5	[9]	1.4		0.7		0.6		0.4		21.4		3.1		4.0
Total operating expenses	429.8		418.7		381.5		392.7		451.9		431.3		383.2		389.3		1,622.7		1,655.7		1,563.5
Operating (loss) income	17.3		(58.8)		(21.2)		1.8		30.5		10.6		48.9		65.1		(60.9)		155.1		350.2
Interest income	0.6		0.5		0.3		0.5		0.9		1.4		0.5		0.3		1.9		3.1		2.6
Interest expense	(15.3)		(13.2)		(12.9)		(13.1)		(13.6)		(12.6)		(10.9)		(9.7)		(54.5)		(46.8)		(41.9)
Other (loss) income			(0.6)												(4.1)		(0.6)		(4.1)
Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments	2.6		(72.1)		(33.8)		(10.8)		17.8		(0.6)		38.5		51.6		(114.1)		107.3		310.9
Income tax (benefit) expense	65.9	[10]	(25.0)	[10]	(12.8)	[10]	(2.8)	[10]	5.9		(0.9)		15.0		20.2		25.3		40.2		120.2
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(63.3)		(47.1)		(21.0)		(8.0)		11.9		0.3		23.5		31.4		(139.4)		67.1		190.7
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes													1.4		3.7				5.1		15.4
Net Income Loss	(63.3)		(47.1)		(21.0)		(8.0)		11.9		0.3		24.9		35.1		(139.4)		72.2		206.1
Income (loss) per share from continuing operations, basic and diluted	$ (0.63)		$ (0.47)		$ (0.21)		$ (0.08)		$ 0.12		$ 0.00		$ 0.23		$ 0.30
Income (loss) per share from discontinued operations, basic and diluted													$ 0.01		$ 0.03
Net income (loss) per share, Basic and diluted	$ (0.63)		$ (0.47)		$ (0.21)		$ (0.08)		$ 0.12		$ 0.00		$ 0.24		$ 0.33
Shares used in computing net income per share, Basic and Diluted	100.2		100.1		100.1		99.8
Shares used in computing net income per share, Basic									100.0		100.2		103.7		106.2		100.1		102.5		120.5
Shares used in computing net income per share, Diluted									100.4		100.7		104.6		107.4		100.1		103.3		122.7
Comprehensive (loss) income	(64.1)		(44.6)		(23.9)		(2.4)		11.1		(9.9)		26.3		37.1		(135.0)		64.6		208.3
Franchise fee revenue			3.0														3.0
Adjustment to reduce occupancy expense	1.4
Goodwill impairment																	3.0
Severance costs			8.5														8.5
Chinese Manufacturing Plant [Member]
Inventory valuation loss													1.2
Severance costs											0.4		5.6		1.5
Foreign currency exchange loss													1.5
Target Mobile [Member]
Net sales and operating revenues																	426.5		342.4		64.6
Operating (loss) income																	(37.5)	[11]	(21.0)	[11]	(4.0)	[11]
Impairment charges of long-lived assets held for use			11.7
Goodwill impairment
T-Mobile [Member]
Inventory valuation loss													3.0
Earnings charge related to vendor transition													23.4
U.S. RadioShack Company-Operated Stores [Member]
Net sales and operating revenues																	3,456.5		3,663.3		3,808.2
Operating (loss) income																	337.7	[12],[13]	530.2	[12],[13]	675.4	[12],[13]
Goodwill impairment			3.0														3.0
Federal And State [Member]
Increase in tax expense	$ 66.7																$ 68.8

[1] The third quarter includes $3.0 million of franchise fee revenue related to the opening of our first franchised stores in Southeast Asia.

[2] Includes an inventory valuation loss of $3.0 million in the second quarter for T-Mobile wireless handsets we had on hand at June 30, 2011. This amount was recognized in conjunction with our transition from offering T-Mobile products and services to offering Verizon products and services.

[3] Includes an inventory valuation loss of $1.2 million in the second quarter related to the closure of our Chinese manufacturing plant.

[4] The third quarter includes severance costs of $8.5 million related to the departure of our CEO and headcount reductions.

[5] The fourth quarter includes an adjustment to reduce occupancy expense by $1.4 million.

[6] Includes severance costs of $1.5 million, $5.6 million, and $0.4 million in the first, second and third quarters, respectively, related to the closure of our Chinese manufacturing plant.

[7] Includes a foreign currency exchange loss of $1.5 million in the second quarter related to the closure of our Chinese manufacturing plant.

[8] Includes a charge to earnings of $23.4 million in the second quarter related to a payment to T-Mobile in conjunction with our transition from offering T-Mobile products and services to offering Verizon products and services.

[9] The third quarter includes a long-lived assets impairment charge of $11.7 million for our Target Mobile centers and a goodwill impairment charge of $3.0 million for our U.S. RadioShack company-operated stores reporting unit.

[10] The fourth quarter includes an increase to income tax expense of $66.7 million related to a valuation allowance with respect to our U.S. federal deferred tax assets and our remaining state deferred tax assets.

[11] Includes a long-lived assets impairment charge of $11.7 million in 2012.

[12] Includes a goodwill impairment charge of $3.0 million for 2012.

[13] Includes a charge to earnings of $23.4 million for 2011 related to a payment to T-Mobile in conjunction with our transition from offering T-Mobile products and services to offering Verizon products and services.