Acquisition of Diversey Holdings, Inc. - Supplemental Pro Forma Information (Detail) (Diversey [Member], USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Diversey [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 7,785.0	$ 7,304.6
Operating profit	596.0	659.2
Net earnings from continuing operations	$ 106.1	$ 164.6
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	190.8	190.0
Diluted	209.2	208.4
Net earnings per common share:
Basic	$ 0.56	$ 0.87
Diluted	$ 0.51	$ 0.79

Name:	see_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaNetEarningPerCommonShareAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	see_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	see_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaWeightedAverageNumberOfCommonSharesOutstandingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	see_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business acquisition pro forma weighted average number of common shares outstanding basic.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	see_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaWeightedAverageNumberOfCommonSharesOutstandingBasic
Namespace Prefix:	see_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business acquisition pro forma weighted average number of common shares outstanding diluted.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	see_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaWeightedAverageNumberOfCommonSharesOutstandingDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	see_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business acquisitions pro forma operating profit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	see_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaOperatingProfit
Namespace Prefix:	see_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 54

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 55

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph r(2, 3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionProFormaEarningsPerShareDiluted
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma income from continuing operations before changes in accounting and extraordinary items, net of tax effect, for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaIncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeChangesInAccountingAndExtraordinaryItemsNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionsProFormaRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration