| DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES (Schedule Of Long-Term Debt) (Details) (USD $)
 | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 
      
        | Mar. 31, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Mar. 30, 2015 | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | $ 313,700,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt |  | $ 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Total Face Amount | 3,621,500,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount |  |  |  | 3,980,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount |  |  | 
      
        | Letters of credit outstanding | 136,200,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount |  |  |  | 149,500,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term Debt | 2,880,900,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt |  |  |  | 2,843,300,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt |  |  | 
      
        | Current portion of long-term debt | 0us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent |  |  |  | 0us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term debt noncurrent portion | 2,880,900,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent |  |  |  | 2,843,300,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent |  |  | 
      
        | $700 Million 4.875% 2021 Senior Note [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount | 58,300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Stated interest rate | 4.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 4.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase Discount | 52.00%clf_DebtRepurchaseDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Face Amount Exchanged | 208,500,000clf_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountExchanged / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Type | Fixed |  |  | Fixed |  |  |  | 
      
        | Final Maturity | 2021 |  |  | 2021 |  |  |  | 
      
        | Total Face Amount | 700,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 700,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Par Value | 423,200,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 690,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term Debt | 422,900,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 | [1] |  |  | 689,500,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 | [1] |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount | 300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 500,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Imputed interest rate | 4.89%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 4.88%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | $500 million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount | 43,800,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Stated interest rate | 4.80%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 4.80%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase Discount | 54.30%clf_DebtRepurchaseDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Face Amount Exchanged | 137,800,000clf_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountExchanged / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Type | Fixed |  |  | Fixed |  |  |  | 
      
        | Final Maturity | 2020 |  |  | 2020 |  |  |  | 
      
        | Total Face Amount | 500,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 500,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Par Value | 308,500,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 490,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term Debt | 308,100,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 | [2] |  |  | 489,400,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 | [2] |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount | 400,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 600,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Imputed interest rate | 4.83%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 4.83%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | $800 Million 6.25% 2040 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount | 45,900,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Stated interest rate | 6.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase Discount | 52.50%clf_DebtRepurchaseDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Face Amount Exchanged | 261,300,000clf_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountExchanged / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Type | Fixed |  |  | Fixed |  |  |  | 
      
        | Final Maturity | 2040 |  |  | 2040 |  |  |  | 
      
        | Total Face Amount | 800,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Par Value | 492,800,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  |  | 800,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term Debt | 487,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 | [3] |  |  | 790,500,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 | [3] |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount | 5,800,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  |  | 9,500,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Imputed interest rate | 6.34%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  |  | 6.34%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | $400 Million 5.90% 2020 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount | 1,300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Stated interest rate | 5.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 5.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase Discount | 58.00%clf_DebtRepurchaseDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Face Amount Exchanged | 67,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountExchanged / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Type | Fixed |  |  | Fixed |  |  |  | 
      
        | Final Maturity | 2020 |  |  | 2020 |  |  |  | 
      
        | Total Face Amount | 400,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 400,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Par Value | 326,800,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 395,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term Debt | 325,700,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 | [4] |  |  | 393,700,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 | [4] |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount | 1,100,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 1,300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Imputed interest rate | 5.98%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 5.98%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | $500 Million 3.95% 2018 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Repurchased Face Amount | 44,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRepurchasedFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Stated interest rate | 3.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 3.95%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase Discount | 77.50%clf_DebtRepurchaseDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Type | Fixed |  |  | Fixed |  |  |  | 
      
        | Final Maturity | 2018 |  |  | 2018 |  |  |  | 
      
        | Total Face Amount | 500,000,000.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 500,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Par Value | 436,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 480,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term Debt | 433,800,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 | [5] |  |  | 477,400,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 | [5] |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount | 2,200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 2,600,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Imputed interest rate | 6.32%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  |  | 5.17%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Five hundred forty million Eight point two five Twenty twenty First Lien Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Stated interest rate | 8.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredfortymillionEightpointtwofiveTwentytwentyFirstLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Type | Fixed |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Final Maturity | 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Total Face Amount | 540,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredfortymillionEightpointtwofiveTwentytwentyFirstLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  | 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredfortymillionEightpointtwofiveTwentytwentyFirstLienNotesMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Par Value | 540,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredfortymillionEightpointtwofiveTwentytwentyFirstLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term Debt | 503,500,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredfortymillionEightpointtwofiveTwentytwentyFirstLienNotesMember
 | [5] |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount | 36,500,000.0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredfortymillionEightpointtwofiveTwentytwentyFirstLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Imputed interest rate | 9.97%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredfortymillionEightpointtwofiveTwentytwentyFirstLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Five hundred Forty-four Million Seven Point Seven Five Twenty Twenty Second Lien Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Stated interest rate | 7.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Discount Received in Debt Exchange of $400M 5.90% Notes | 15,500,000clf_DiscountReceivedinDebtExchangeof400M5.90Notes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Face Amount Received in Debt Exchange of $400M 5.90% Notes | 57,500,000clf_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountReceivedinDebtExchangeof400M5.90Notes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Face Amount Received in Debt Exchange of $800M 6.25% Notes | 203,500,000clf_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountReceivedinDebtExchangeof800M6.25Notes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Discount Received in Debt Exchange of $800M 6.25% Notes | 55,000,000clf_DiscountReceivedinDebtExchangeof800M6.25Notes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Discount Received in Debt Exchange of $500M 4.80% Notes | 30,500,000clf_DiscountReceivedinDebtExchangeof500M4.80Notes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Face Amount Received in Debt Exchange of $500M 4.80% Notes | 112,900,000clf_DebtInstrumentFaceAmountReceivedinDebtExchangeof500M4.80Notes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Discount Received in Debt Exchange of $700M 4.875% Notes | 46,000,000clf_DiscountReceivedinDebtExchangeof700M4.875Notes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt instrument, Face Amount Received in Debt Exchange of $700M 4.875% Notes | 170,300,000clf_DebtinstrumentFaceAmountReceivedinDebtExchangeof700M4.875Notes / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Type | Fixed |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Final Maturity | 2020 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Total Face Amount | 544,200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  | 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Par Value | 544,200,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Long-term Debt | 397,200,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 | [5] |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount | 147,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Imputed interest rate | 15.55%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  |  | 15.55%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FivehundredFortyfourMillionSevenPointSevenFiveTwentyTwentySecondLienNotesMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Type | Variable |  |  | Variable |  |  |  | 
      
        | Final Maturity | 2020 |  |  | 2017 |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument, Par Value | 550,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  |  | 1,125,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  | 900,000,000clf_DebtInstrumentParValue / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 | 
      
        | Credit facility, amount outstanding | 0us-gaap_LineOfCredit / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 | [6] |  |  | 0us-gaap_LineOfCredit / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 | [7] |  | 
      
        | Revolving credit facility, borrowing capacity | 441,100,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Letters of credit outstanding | 136,200,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  |  | 149,500,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Foreign Exchange Hedge Obligations | 5,500,000clf_ForeignExchangeHedgeObligations / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Imputed interest rate | 0.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  |  | 2.94%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Credit facility remaining capacity | 299,400,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  |  | 975,500,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Interest Rate Swap [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Fair Value Adjustment to Interest Rate Hedge | 2,700,000clf_FairValueAdjustmenttoInterestRateHedge / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
 |  |  |  | 2,800,000clf_FairValueAdjustmenttoInterestRateHedge / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
 |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase [Member] | $700 Million 4.875% 2021 Senior Note [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | 20,000,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_DebtRepurchaseMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase [Member] | $500 million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | 15,600,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_DebtRepurchaseMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase [Member] | $800 Million 6.25% 2040 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | 15,000,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_DebtRepurchaseMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase [Member] | $400 Million 5.90% 2020 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | 300,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_DebtRepurchaseMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Repurchase [Member] | $500 Million 3.95% 2018 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | 7,100,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionThreePointNineFiveTwoThousandEighteenSeniorNoteMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_DebtRepurchaseMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Exchange of Debt [Member] | $700 Million 4.875% 2021 Senior Note [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | 83,100,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_SevenHundredMillionFourPointEightSevenFiveTwoThousandTwentyoneSeniorNoteMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_ExchangeofDebtMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Exchange of Debt [Member] | $500 million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | 54,600,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FiveHundredMillionFourPointEightZeroPercentSeniorNoteMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_ExchangeofDebtMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Exchange of Debt [Member] | $800 Million 6.25% 2040 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | 107,300,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_EightHundredMillionSixPointTwoFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFortyMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_ExchangeofDebtMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Exchange of Debt [Member] | $400 Million 5.90% 2020 Senior Notes [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        | Gain on extinguishment of debt | $ 24,500,000us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
 = clf_FourHundredMillionFivePointNineZeroTwoThousandAndTwentySeniorNoteMember
 / us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAxis
 = clf_ExchangeofDebtMember
 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 
      
        |  | 
      
        |  |