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Income Taxes - Summary of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]      
Balance as of January 1 $ (5.4)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits $ (111.3)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits $ (111.0)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Increases related to current year tax positions (0.3)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions (1.5)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions (1.3)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Increases related to prior years' tax positions (1.0)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions (0.1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions (0.1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Decreases related to prior year's tax positions 0.9us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions 64.8us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions [1] 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Settlements with taxing authorities 0.5us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities 106.2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities [2] 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Expiration of the statute of limitations 0.9us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations [3] 1.7us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations [3] 1.1us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations [3]
Balance at December 31 (4.4)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits (5.4)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits (111.3)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact of effective tax rate 3.5us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate    
Income tax, interest expense gross 0.2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense 3.3us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesExpense  
Income tax, accrued interest expense gross 0.4us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued 0.4us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestOnIncomeTaxesAccrued  
Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit      
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]      
Settlements with taxing authorities 104.7us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= pkg_AlternativeFuelMixtureCreditMember		 [2]    
Boise Inc. | Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit      
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]      
Increases related to current year tax positions 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= pkg_BoiseInc.Member
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= pkg_AlternativeFuelMixtureCreditMember		 (65.2)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= pkg_BoiseInc.Member
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= pkg_AlternativeFuelMixtureCreditMember		 [4] 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= pkg_BoiseInc.Member
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= pkg_AlternativeFuelMixtureCreditMember
Decreases related to prior year's tax positions $ 64.3us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= pkg_BoiseInc.Member
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= pkg_AlternativeFuelMixtureCreditMember		    
[1] The 2013 amount includes a $64.3 million gross decrease related to the taxability of the alternative energy tax credits claimed in 2009 excise tax returns by Boise Inc. For further discussion regarding these credits, see Note 7, Alternative Energy Tax Credits.
[2] The 2013 amount includes a $104.7 million gross decrease related to the conclusion of the Internal Revenue Service audit of PCA’s alternative energy tax credits. For further discussion regarding these credits, see Note 7, Alternative Energy Tax Credits.
[3] In 2014, 2013, and 2012, various state statutes of limitations expired. As a result, the reserve for unrecognized tax benefits decreased by $0.9 million gross, $1.7 million gross, and $1.1 million gross, respectively.
[4] In 2013, PCA acquired $65.2 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits from Boise Inc. that relate primarily to the taxability of the alternative energy tax credits.