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                                                                     Exhibit 11

                               ROCK-TENN COMPANY
                       COMPUTATION OF PER SHARE EARNINGS
                                  (Unaudited)
                     (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)


                                                           Three Months Ended    Nine Months Ended
                                                           June 30,   June 30,   June 30,  June 30,
                                                           1997          1996    1997         1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       
PRIMARY EARNINGS PER SHARE
Net income                                                 $ 6,212   $13,525     $ 6,420   $37,577    
                                                           =======   =======     =======   ======= 
                                                                                                   
Average common shares outstanding                           33,357    33,257      33,265    33,204 
                                                                                                   
Average common shares outstanding including                                                        
   common equivalent shares                                 34,085    34,121      34,102    34,007 
                                                                                                   
Primary earnings per common share                          $  0.19   $  0.41     $  0.19   $  1.13 
                                                                                                   
Primary earnings per common and                                                                    
   common equivalent share                                 $  0.18   $  0.40     $  0.19   $  1.10 
                                                           =======   =======     =======   ======= 
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                   
FULLY DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE                                                                   
                                                                                                   
Net income                                                 $ 6,212   $13,525     $ 6,420   $37,577 
                                                           =======   =======     =======   ======= 
                                                                                                   
Average common shares outstanding                           33,357    33,257      33,265    33,204 
                                                                                                   
Average common shares outstanding including                                                        
     common equivalent shares                               34,152    34,159      34,102    34,116 
                                                                                                   
Fully diluted earnings per common share                    $  0.19   $  0.41     $  0.19   $  1.13 
                                                                                                   
Fully diluted earnings per common and                                                              
     common equivalent share                               $  0.18   $  0.40     $  0.19   $  1.10 
                                                           =======   =======     =======   ======= 
                                                                     


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