Accounts receivable, net Accounts Receivable Net Current Accumulated other comprehensive income Less accumulated depreciation Accumulated depreciation Additional paid-in capital Amortization Depreciation CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents, end of period Accounts payable and other current liabilities Accounts receivable Accounts receivable Inventories Inventories Environmental and Legal Contingencies Common stock, authorized shares Common stock, outstanding shares Common stock, authorized 200,000,000 shares of $.01 par value each; issued 2010, 122,723,132 shares, 2009, 121,881,816 shares; outstanding 2010, 109,907,793 shares, 2009, 109,394,455 shares 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) per share attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation Earnings Per Share Diluted CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure Text Block Other assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Other assets Other intangible assets Inventory, net 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 Minority Interest Cash flows from financing activities: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Net cash flows from financing activities 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 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 cash flows from operating activities Net income (loss) attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation Net income (loss) attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation Net income Net income (loss) attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Total Non-current Assets Total Non-current Assets Non-current Liabilities: Total Non-current Liabilities Total Non-current Liabilities Operating profit (loss) Other current assets Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities Other investing items, net Other investments Other financing items, net Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities Other income (expense) Common stock dividends paid Common stock dividends paid Payments ForRepurchaseOfEquity Purchase of treasury stock Contributions to pension trust Contributions to pension trust Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Current portion of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations Preferred stock, authorized shares 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 due to tax law change Purchase of investments Purchase of investments Redemption of long-term debt Redemption of long-term debt Accumulated deficit Net sales Selling and administrative expenses CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Current Assets: Assets, Current [Abstract] Total Current Assets Current Assets TOTAL ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS Interest income Other non-current liabilities Deferred tax asset, non-current Share-based Compensation Deferred tax asset, current ASSETS Assets [Abstract] Treasury stock Treasury stock, common shares at cost, 2010, 12,815,339 shares; 2009, 12,487,361 shares Net income (loss) per share attributable to AK Steel Holding Corporation Excess Tax Benefit From Share-Based Compensation Financing Activities Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation 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 Common stock, par value Treasury stock, common shares at cost Total AK Steel Holding Corporation Stockholders' Equity Total AK Steel Holding Corporation Stockholders' Equity Preferred stock, authorized 25,000,000 shares Investments in an Unrealized Loss Position Gain (Loss) on Investments [Text Block] Goodwill Proceeds From Draw on Restricted Funds for Emission Control Expenditures Proceeds from draw on restricted funds for emission control expenditures Capital investments Capital investments Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests Non-controlling interest-Net income (loss) Stockholders' Equity: Stockholders' Equity: Balance - value Balance - value TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Beginning Balance Ending Balance Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations noncurrent Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations Commitments and Contingencies Other operating items, net Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other 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 noncontrolling interest owner to Middletown Coke Advances from noncontrolling interest owner to 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 Contributions to Middletown retirees VEBA 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 Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments Fair Value Measurements Entity Information [Line Items] 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 Total Income Tax Provision Total income tax provision (benefit) Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation Investment in wholly owned subsidiary Investment in AFSG Holdings, Inc. 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 and Other Financing Document Information [Line Items] Other Operating Items [Abstract] Other operating items: Accounts Payable And Other Current Liabilities Middletown Coke Accounts payable and other current liabilities-Middletown Coke The net change during the reporting period in other Middletown Coke obligations or expenses incurred but not yet paid. Other Assets Middletown Coke The net change during the reporting period in Middletown Coke operating assets not otherwise defined in the taxonomy. Other assets-Middletown Coke Other assets-Middletown Coke Proceeds from note receivable from equity investments Restricted cash to collateralize letter of credit Restricted cash to collateralize letter of credit Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Stockholders' Equity Asset Retirement Obligations Consolidated Quarterly Sales and Earnings (Losses) (Unaudited) Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit (OPEB) corridor charge (credit) - represents the charge (credit) recognized during the period for the accumulated actuarial (gain) loss outside of the corridor of 10% of the pension and other post retirement benefit obligation or plan asset. This is based on the company’s accelerated method of recognizing (gains) losses for pension and other post retirement benefit plans. Pension corridor charge Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Corridor Charges Increase (Decrease) In Postretirement Obligations Postretirement benefit obligation Curtailment charges Income Tax Provision Benefit Income tax provision (benefit) The sum of the current income tax expense (benefit) and the deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations but excluding the effect of state tax law changes. Pension asset and obligation Operating Leases Variable Interest Entity Schedule of Valuation And Qualifying Accounts Valuation And Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Abstract] Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment Basis of Presentation Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings and Dividends Per Share Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Inventories Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Comprehensive Income (Loss) Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Other Assets: Common shares and common share equivalents outstanding (weighted average in millions): 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 Dividends declared and paid per share Basic Diluted Net cash paid (received) during the period for: Net Cash Paid Received Durng Period For [Abstract] Interest, net of capitalized interest Income taxes Issuance of restricted common stock and restricted stock units Working capital IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapital 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 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities- Schedule Of Subsequent Events [Text Block] Supplemental Guarantor Information New Accounting Pronouncements InvestmentInWhollyOwnedSubsidiary