EXHIBIT 12
 
                          STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
               COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 


                                                                                         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                          ------------------------------------------------------
(IN MILLIONS)                                                               1991       1992       1993       1994        1995
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                                                       
Income (loss) before extraordinary charges and cumulative effects of
 accounting changes.....................................................  $   (49.1) $  (169.9) $  (319.2) $  (128.8) $    444.5
Income tax provision (credit)...........................................       31.1      (59.4)    (147.7)     (35.5)      320.9
Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries..........................        5.8        5.3        3.6        1.2        29.3
Preferred stock dividend requirements of majority owned subsidiary......       (5.9)      (4.7)      (5.7)      (9.4)       --
Undistributed (earnings) loss of non-consolidated subsidiaries..........        5.4        6.0       13.3        9.1        (9.0)
Capitalized interest....................................................      (81.9)     (47.4)     (10.8)      (4.7)      (13.2)
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                              (94.6)    (270.1)    (466.5)    (168.1)      772.5
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Fixed charges:
  Interest charges (expensed and capitalized), amortization of debt
   discount and debt fees on all indebtedness...........................      479.7      433.5      437.5      460.7       473.5
  Interest cost portion of rental expenses (33 1/3%)....................       26.8       27.8       27.4       29.1        35.4
  Preferred stock dividend requirements of majority owned subsidiary....        5.9        4.7        5.7        9.4        --
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
    Total fixed charges.................................................      512.4      466.0      470.6      499.2       508.9
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Earnings before income taxes, undistributed (earnings) loss of
 non-consolidated subsidiaries, minority interest and fixed charges
 (excluding capitalized interest).......................................  $   417.8  $   195.9  $     4.1  $   331.1  $  1,281.4
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges......................................         (D)        (C)        (B)        (A)       2.52
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                          ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------

 
- ---------
 
(A)   The  Company's  earnings  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  1994  were
    insufficient to cover  fixed charges  by $168.1 million.  Earnings for  1994
    included  a  non-recurring  pretax  gain of  $22.0  million  relating  to an
    involuntary conversion  at  the  Company's Panama  City,  Florida  pulp  and
    paperboard  mill. If  such a nonrecurring  event had  not occurred, earnings
    would have been insufficient to cover the fixed charges by $190.1 million.
 
(B)  The  Company's  earnings  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  1993   were
    insufficient  to cover  fixed charges by  $466.5 million.  Earnings for 1993
    included a non-recurring pretax gain of  $35.4 million from the sale of  the
    Company's  49 percent equity  interest in Empaques de  Carton Titan, S.A. If
    such a  non-recurring  event had  not  occurred, earnings  would  have  been
    insufficient to cover fixed charges by $501.9 million.
 
(C)   The  Company's  earnings  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  1992  were
    insufficient to cover fixed charges by $270.1 million.
 
(D)  The  Company's  earnings  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  1991   were
    insufficient  to cover  fixed charges  by $94.6  million. Earnings  for 1991
    included a non-recurring pretax  gain of $41.8  million associated with  the
    settlement and termination of a Canadian supply contract and a non-recurring
    pretax  gain of $17.5  million relating to an  involuntary conversion at the
    Company's Missoula,  Montana  mill.  If such  nonrecurring  events  had  not
    occurred,  earnings would have been insufficient  to cover the fixed charges
    by $153.9 million.
 
                                       73