Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Total net sales	$ 679.3	$ 943.6	$ 2,086.3	$ 2,853.5
Total cost of sales	543.3	764.5	1,651.9	2,324.3
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses	75.1	99.6	238.0	290.5
Depreciation and amortization	44.8	52.2	138.9	159.3
Restructuring, impairment and transaction-related charges	9.8	56.7	49.0	73.7
Total operating expenses	673.0	973.0	2,077.8	2,847.8
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations	6.3	(29.4)	8.5	5.7
Interest expense	17.9	22.0	52.2	69.6
Net pension income	(2.7)	(1.5)	(8.0)	(4.5)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0.0	14.6	1.8	30.5
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of unconsolidated entity	(8.9)	(64.5)	(37.5)	(89.9)
Income tax benefit	(12.0)	(17.6)	(17.5)	(28.0)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before equity in loss of unconsolidated entity	3.1	(46.9)	(20.0)	(61.9)
Equity in loss of unconsolidated entity	0.4	0.1	0.9	0.9
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1.6	(126.4)	(34.5)	(163.9)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	2.7	(47.0)	(20.9)	(62.8)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1.1)	(79.4)	(13.6)	(101.1)
Less: net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.1	(0.2)	(0.1)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Quad common shareholders	$ 1.6	$ (126.5)	$ (34.3)	$ (163.8)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders, basic, continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.05	$ (0.94)	$ (0.41)	$ (1.26)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders, basic, discontinued operations (USD per share)	(0.02)	(1.58)	(0.27)	(2.02)
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders (USD per share)	0.03	(2.52)	(0.68)	(3.28)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders, diluted, continuing operations (USD per share)	0.05	(0.94)	(0.41)	(1.26)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders, diluted, discontinued operations (USD per share)	(0.02)	(1.58)	(0.27)	(2.02)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Quad common shareholders (USD per share)	$ 0.03	$ (2.52)	$ (0.68)	$ (3.28)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	50.7	50.1	50.6	50.0
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	51.1	50.1	50.6	50.0
Products
Total net sales	$ 493.5	$ 742.5	$ 1,586.2	$ 2,247.4
Total cost of sales	410.1	625.3	1,296.7	1,896.0
Services
Total net sales	185.8	201.1	500.1	606.1
Total cost of sales	$ 133.2	$ 139.2	$ 355.2	$ 428.3

Income (Loss) Before Equity in Earnings (Loss) of Unconsolidated Entities

No definition available.

Name:	quad_IncomeLossBeforeEquityinEarningsLossofUnconsolidatedEntities
Namespace Prefix:	quad_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 924
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.L)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472922&loc=d3e499488-122856

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227