| Cover | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2023 | |
| Document Information [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | PRE 14A |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Entity Registrant Name | CLEARWATER PAPER CORPORATION |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001441236 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended | |||
| Dec. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table | Arsen S. Kitch Linda K. Massman Value of Initial Fixed $100 based on: Year Summary Compensation Actually Paid (1)(2) SCT Total CAP to PEO (1)(2) Average SCT Non-PEO (3) Average CAP to Non-PEO (1)(2)(3) Company Peer Group (4) Net Adjusted (millions) (5) 2023 $5,076,406 $4,607,288 N/A N/A $1,110,431 $839,605 $169.10 $137.42 $107.7 $281.0 2022 $4,665,888 $8,013,712 N/A N/A $1,485,132 $2,042,485 $177.01 $117.98 $46.0 $226.9 2021 $3,508,327 $2,881,453 N/A N/A $1,309,743 $880,350 $171.68 $139.56 ($28.1) $174.6 2020 $4,010,645 $8,567,932 $2,113,374 $2,227,347 $1,691,924 $2,908,320 $176.73 $112.48 $77.1 $283.2 (1) In order to calculate the 2023 compensation “actually paid” for our PEO and NEOs, we have subtracted the following “2023 Summary Compensation Tables” Arsen S. Kitch Equity Award NEO Average Equity Award 2023 $2,872,321 2023 $ 471,999 (2) In order to calculate the 2023 compensation “actually paid” for our PEO and NEOs, we have added the following amounts, which reflect Arsen S. Kitch Fair value of Change in fair value Change in fair value of awards granted in prior 2023 $2,689,265 ($286,062) $70,618 NEO Average Fair value of Change in fair value Change in fair Fair value of 2023 $366,385 ($40,152) $12,475 ($144,226) (3) The named executive officers included for purposes of determining the average compensation for our named executive officers each year, is as follows: NEOs 2023 Sherri Baker, Rebecca Barckley, Michael Murphy, Steve Bowden, Michael Gadd, and Kari Moyes 2022 Michael Murphy, Steve Bowden, Michael Gadd, and Kari Moyes 2021 Michael Murphy, Steve Bowden, Michael Gadd, and Kari Moyes 2020 Michael Murphy, Steve Bowden, Michael Gadd, Kari Moyes, and Robert Hrivnak (4) Represent the total stockholder return of the S&P MidCap 400 ® ® 10-K. (5) Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as described in the above Compensation Discussion & Analysis, specifically the subsection entitled “2023 Annual Incentives.” | |||
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | |||
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote | (3) The named executive officers included for purposes of determining the average compensation for our named executive officers each year, is as follows: NEOs 2023 Sherri Baker, Rebecca Barckley, Michael Murphy, Steve Bowden, Michael Gadd, and Kari Moyes 2022 Michael Murphy, Steve Bowden, Michael Gadd, and Kari Moyes 2021 Michael Murphy, Steve Bowden, Michael Gadd, and Kari Moyes 2020 Michael Murphy, Steve Bowden, Michael Gadd, Kari Moyes, and Robert Hrivnak | |||
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote | Represent the total stockholder return of the S&P MidCap 400 ® ® 10-K. | |||
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote | (1) In order to calculate the 2023 compensation “actually paid” for our PEO and NEOs, we have subtracted the following “2023 Summary Compensation Tables” Arsen S. Kitch Equity Award NEO Average Equity Award 2023 $2,872,321 2023 $ 471,999 (2) In order to calculate the 2023 compensation “actually paid” for our PEO and NEOs, we have added the following amounts, which reflect Arsen S. Kitch Fair value of Change in fair value Change in fair value of awards granted in prior 2023 $2,689,265 ($286,062) $70,618 NEO Average Fair value of Change in fair value Change in fair Fair value of 2023 $366,385 ($40,152) $12,475 ($144,226) | |||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 1,110,431 | $ 1,485,132 | $ 1,309,743 | $ 1,691,924 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 839,605 | 2,042,485 | 880,350 | 2,908,320 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote | (1) In order to calculate the 2023 compensation “actually paid” for our PEO and NEOs, we have subtracted the following “2023 Summary Compensation Tables” Arsen S. Kitch Equity Award NEO Average Equity Award 2023 $2,872,321 2023 $ 471,999 (2) In order to calculate the 2023 compensation “actually paid” for our PEO and NEOs, we have added the following amounts, which reflect Arsen S. Kitch Fair value of Change in fair value Change in fair value of awards granted in prior 2023 $2,689,265 ($286,062) $70,618 NEO Average Fair value of Change in fair value Change in fair Fair value of 2023 $366,385 ($40,152) $12,475 ($144,226) | |||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return | ||||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income | ||||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure | ||||
| Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group | ||||
| Tabular List, Table | Most Important Performance Metrics Adjusted EBITDA (financial) Free Cash Flow (financial) ROIC (financial) TSR (financial) Strategic Objectives (non-financial) | |||
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 169.1 | 177.01 | 171.68 | 176.73 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 137.42 | 117.98 | 139.56 | 112.48 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 107,700,000 | $ 46,000,000 | $ (28,100,000) | $ 77,100,000 |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 281,000,000 | 226,900,000 | 174,600,000 | 283,200,000 |
| Measure:: 1 | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Name | Adjusted EBITDA (financial) | |||
| Measure:: 2 | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Name | Free Cash Flow (financial) | |||
| Measure:: 3 | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Name | ROIC (financial) | |||
| Measure:: 4 | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Name | TSR (financial) | |||
| Measure:: 5 | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Name | Strategic Objectives (non-financial) | |||
| Arsen S. Kitch [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 5,076,406 | $ 4,665,888 | $ 3,508,327 | $ 4,010,645 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 4,607,288 | $ 8,013,712 | $ 2,881,453 | 8,567,932 |
| PEO Name | Arsen S. Kitch | |||
| Linda K. Massman [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | 2,113,374 | |||
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 2,227,347 | |||
| PEO Name | Linda K. Massman | |||
| PEO | Arsen S. Kitch [Member] | Equity Award Values [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | $ 2,872,321 | |||
| PEO | Arsen S. Kitch [Member] | Awards granted in year and unvested at end of year [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 2,689,265 | |||
| PEO | Arsen S. Kitch [Member] | Awards granted in prior year through end of year [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (286,062) | |||
| PEO | Arsen S. Kitch [Member] | Awards granted in prior year through vesting date [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 70,618 | |||
| Non-PEO NEO | Equity Award Values [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 471,999 | |||
| Non-PEO NEO | Awards granted in year and unvested at end of year [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 366,385 | |||
| Non-PEO NEO | Awards granted in prior year through end of year [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (40,152) | |||
| Non-PEO NEO | Awards granted in prior year through vesting date [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 12,475 | |||
| Non-PEO NEO | Awards at the end of the prior year that failed to meet vesting conditions in the year [Member] | ||||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | ||||
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | $ (144,226) | |||
