Schedule Of Changes In Goodwill (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Jul. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance	$ 96,216		$ 143,510	$ 143,510	$ 143,510	$ 1,152
Goodwill from acquisition						142,358
Goodwill impairment	686	(32,369)	(47,294)	(46,608)	(51,157)	0	0
Goodwill Ending balance	96,902	96,216	96,216	96,902	92,353	143,510	1,152
Intermec-Branded Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			3,348	3,348	3,348	1,152
Goodwill from acquisition						2,196
Goodwill impairment					(3,348)
Goodwill Ending balance					0	3,348
Intermec-Branded Services | Intermec Global Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			3,348	3,348	3,348
Goodwill impairment					(3,348)
Goodwill Ending balance					0
Voice Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			140,162	140,162	140,162	0
Goodwill from acquisition						140,162
Goodwill impairment					(47,809)
Goodwill Ending balance					92,353	140,162
Voice Solutions | Supply Chain
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			130,682	130,682	130,682
Goodwill impairment					(41,174)
Goodwill Ending balance					89,508
Voice Solutions | Healthcare
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill Beginning Balance			9,480	9,480	9,480
Goodwill impairment					(6,635)
Goodwill Ending balance					$ 2,845