Accounts receivable, net Accounts Receivable Net Current Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Depreciation Accumulated depreciation Additional paid-in capital Amortization Depreciation Total Adjustments Asset Impairment Charges CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Interest, net of capitalized interest Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Pension Asset and Obligation Inventories Working Capital Working capital Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Environmental and Legal Contingencies Common stock, authorized shares Common stock, outstanding shares Common stock, authorized 200,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value each; issued 2009, 121,853,242 shares, 2008, 121,105,429 shares; outstanding 2009, 109,366,362 shares, 2008, 110,394,774 shares Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cost of products sold (exclusive of items shown below) Current Liabilities: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Total Current Liabilities Total Current Liabilities Fees Related to New Credit Facility or New Debt Fees Related to New Credit Facility or New Debt Deferred income taxes Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Net income (loss) attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation common stockholders Earnings Per Share Diluted Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment Impairment of Investments CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure Text Block Other Assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other intangible assets Inventory, net Labor Contract Charges LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES TOTAL LIABILITIES Current portion of long-term debt Long-term debt Noncontrolling interest CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Net cash flows from financing activities CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Net cash flows from investing activities CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net cash flows from operating activities Net income (loss) attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation Net income (loss) attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents New Accounting Pronouncements Total Non-current Assets Total Non-current Assets Non-current Liabilities: Total Non-current Liabilities Total Non-current Liabilities Operating profit (loss) Basis of Presentation Other Items, Net Derivative Instrument Hedges, Net of Tax Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment, Net of Tax Reclassification of Gain (Loss) Included in Net Income on Derivatives Unrealized Gain (Loss) Arising in Period on Derivatives Unrealized Gain on Marketable Securities, Net of Tax Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss Arising During Period, Net of Tax Other current assets Other investing items, net Other investing items, net Other Labor-related Expenses Other investments Other financing items, net Other Income (Expense) Common stock dividends paid Common stock dividends paid Payments ForRepurchaseOfEquity Purchase of treasury stock Pension contributions Pension contributions Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Current portion of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations Curtailment Charges Other Postretirement Benefit Corridor Charges Pension/Other Preferred stock, authorized shares Proceeds from (Payments to) Noncontrolling Interests Proceeds from exercise of stock options Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, net Provision for Doubtful Accounts Income Tax Provision (Benefit) Due To State Law Changes Purchase of investments Purchase of investments Redemption of long-term debt Redemption of long-term debt Accumulated deficit Net sales Investments in an Unrealized Loss Position Supplemental Guarantor Information Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Subsequent Event Selling and administrative expenses Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows Income Taxes Current Assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Total Current Assets Current Assets Variable Interest Entity Diluted Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Basic Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic TOTAL ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS Interest Income Other non-current liabilities Dividends declared and paid per share Deferred tax asset, non-current Share-Based Compensation Deferred tax asset, current Statement [Table] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Statement [Line Items] Treasury stock Treasury stock, common shares at cost, 2009, 12,486,880 shares; 2008, 10,710,655 shares Net income (loss) attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation common stockholders Share-based Compensation [Abstract] Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Proceeds From Collection of Notes Receivable Common stock, issued shares Other non-current assets Total operating costs Total operating costs Basic earnings per share: Diluted earnings per share: Other Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities Reclassifications and Restatements Long-term Debt [Abstract] Common stock, par value Treasury stock, common shares at cost Total AK Steel Holding Corporation Stockholders' Equity Total AK Steel Holding Corporation Stockholders' Equity Forign Currency Translation Gain (Loss) Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Contributions Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations Preferred stock, authorized 25,000,000 shares Other income, net Cumulative Effect Of Accounting Change, Net Of Tax Cumulative Effect Of Accounting Change, Per Basic Share Cumulative Effect Of Accounting Change Per Diluted Share Investments in an Unrealized Loss Position Gain (Loss) on Investments [Text Block] Pension and OPEB Adjustment, Net of Tax Goodwill Income (Loss) Before Cumulative Effect Of Accounting Change, Per Basic Share Income (Loss) Before Cumulative Effect Of Accounting Change, Per Diluted Share Issuance of Performance Shares, Net Issuance of Restricted Stock, Net Stock Options Exercised Proceeds From Draw on Restricted Funds for Emission Control Expenditures Adjustment to Initially Apply FIN 48 Postretirement Benefit Obligation Capital investments Capital investments Purchase of Treasury Stock Tax Benefit From Share-Based Compensation Earnings and Dividends Per Share Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity: Stockholders' Equity: TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax Derivative Instrument Hedges, Net of Tax Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations noncurrent Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations Commitments and Contingencies Other operating items, net Pension And OPEB Adjustment, Net of Tax Adjustment to Initially Apply FAS 158, Net of Tax Other Postretirement Benefit Corridor Charges And Pensionother Other Postretirement Benefit Corridor Charges And Pension/Other Working capital - Middletown Coke The net change during the reporting period of all current assets and liabilities used in the operating activities of Middletown Coke. Working capital - Middletown Coke Capital investments - Middletown Coke The cash outflow for acquisition of or capital improvements to Middletown Coke properties held for investment (operating, managed, leased) or for use. Capital investments - Middletown Coke Advances from minority interest owner to Middletown Coke The net cash inflow (outflow) to increase or decrease the investment in the minority interest - Middletown Coke. Advances From Minority Interest To Middletown Coke Contribution to Middletown retirees VEBA The amount of cash or cash equivalents contributed by the entity to fund the Middleton retirees VEBA Contribution to Middletown retirees VEBA Pension and other postretirement benefit payments greater than expense The difference between cash payments made and the expense charged against earnings in the period for other postretirement benefits costs. Pension and other postretirement benefit payments greater than expense Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Earnings and Dividends Per Share [Abstract] Inventories [Abstract] Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract] Environmental and Legal Contingencies [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Investments in an Unrealized Loss Position [Abstract] Variable Interest Entity [Abstract] Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract] Subsequent Event [Abstract] New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Supplemental Guarantor Information [Abstract] Common shares and common share equivalents outstanding (weighted average in millions): Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Other Assets: Other Assets [Abstract] Restricted Cash to Collateralize Letter of Credit Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of cash collateral held for borrowed securities, for which the cash is restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Description Document Period End Date Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Commitments [Abstract] Commitments Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments Fair Value Measurements Entity Information [Line Items] Net Cash Paid Received During The Period For Abstract Net cash paid (received) during the period for: Supplemental Disclosure Of Non Cash Investing Financing Activities [Abstract] Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Cumulative Effects Of Changes In Accounting Principles Noncontrolling Interest Income (loss) before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Interest expense Income tax provision (benefit) Excess Tax Benefit From Share Based Compensation Operating Activities Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment Investment in wholly owned subsidiary Investment in AFSG The carrying value of discontinued insurance and finance leasing businesses being "runoff" and are being accounted for, collectively, as a discontinued operation under the liquidation basis of accounting, where future cash inflows and outflows are considered. Long-term Debt Document Information [Line Items] Issuance of restricted common stock and restricted stock units Restricted Stock Expense InvestmentInWhollyOwnedSubsidiary