Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Estimated Average Expense for Each of the Next Five Years

No definition available.

Name:	swm_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseEstimatedAverageExpenseforEachoftheNextFiveYears
Namespace Prefix:	swm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

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

- Definition

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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

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

- Definition

Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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

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

- Definition

Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=swm_AdvancedMaterialsStructuresSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=swm_CustomerRelatedIntangiblesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=swm_EngineeredPapersSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_PatentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	$ 197.8		$ 197.8		$ 197.8
Accumulated Amortization	26.5		26.5		19.5
Net Carrying Amount	171.3		171.3		178.3
Amortization expense of intangible assets	3.1	$ 1.0	6.2	$ 2.1
Estimated Amortization Expense
Estimated average amortization expense in each of next five years	11.7		11.7
Trade names [Member] \| Advanced Materials & Structures Segment [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Unamortized intangible assets	35.6		35.6		35.6
Customer-Related Intangibles [Member] \| Engineered Papers Segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	10.0		10.0		10.0
Accumulated Amortization	10.0		10.0		10.0
Net Carrying Amount	0.0		0.0		0.0
Customer relationships [Member] \| Advanced Materials & Structures Segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	167.7		167.7		167.7
Accumulated Amortization	12.2		12.2		6.4
Net Carrying Amount	155.5		155.5		161.3
Developed Technology Rights [Member] \| Advanced Materials & Structures Segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	16.0		16.0		16.0
Accumulated Amortization	3.2		3.2		2.4
Net Carrying Amount	12.8		12.8		13.6
Customer Contracts [Member] \| Advanced Materials & Structures Segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	0.9		0.9		0.9
Accumulated Amortization	0.7		0.7		0.5
Net Carrying Amount	0.2		0.2		0.4
Non-Compete Agreements [Member] \| Advanced Materials & Structures Segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	1.7		1.7		1.7
Accumulated Amortization	0.3		0.3		0.1
Net Carrying Amount	1.4		1.4		1.6
Patents [Member] \| Advanced Materials & Structures Segment [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross Carrying Amount	1.5		1.5		1.5
Accumulated Amortization	0.1		0.1		0.1
Net Carrying Amount	$ 1.4		$ 1.4		$ 1.4