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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23
 
                   REPORT AND CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form
10-K) of Rock-Tenn Company of our report dated October 20, 1998, included in the
1998 Annual Report to Shareholders of Rock-Tenn Company.
 
     Our audits also include the financial statement schedule of Rock-Tenn
Company listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
 
     We also consent (a) to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement (Form S-8 No. 33-83304) pertaining to the Rock-Tenn Company 1993
Employee Stock Option Plan, the Rock-Tenn Company 1993 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan, the Rock-Tenn Company Incentive Stock Option Plan, the Rock-Tenn Company
1989 Stock Option Plan, and the Rock-Tenn Company 1987 Stock Option Plan, and
the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 33-93934) of Rock-Tenn Company of our
report dated October 20, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements incorporated herein by reference; and (b) to the use of our report
included in the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statement
schedule included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September
30, 1998, and our report dated November 23, 1998, with respect to the financial
statements of the Rock-Tenn Company 1993 Employee Stock Purchase Plan filed as
an Exhibit to this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30,
1998.
 
                                                  ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Atlanta Georgia
December 15, 1998
 
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