Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	12 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles Of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Intermec, Inc., and our wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. We have no unconsolidated subsidiaries.
Foreign Currencies	Foreign Currencies. Our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. The financial statements of our operations outside the U.S., whose functional currencies are not the U.S. dollar, are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates for assets and liabilities and at average rates for the period for revenues and expenses. The unrealized translation gains and losses on our net investment in these operations, including long-term intercompany advances considered part of the net investment, are accumulated as a component of other comprehensive income (loss). Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency remeasurement are included in the selling, general and administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. Operating results include net foreign currency transaction losses of $2.5, $0.9, and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Use Of Estimates In The Preparation Of Financial Statements	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses for each reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates and assumptions were used to determine the provision for uncollectible accounts receivable, allowance for sales returns, sales incentives, excess and obsolete inventory, tax valuation allowances, the liabilities for uncertain tax provisions, warranty costs, pension and postretirement obligations, useful lives of our intangible assets and stock-based compensation.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition, Intermec-branded. We record revenue, net of excise and sales taxes, when it is realized, or realizable, and earned. We consider these criteria met when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Royalty revenue is recorded when earned, the amount due is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. For product sales, revenue is recognized when the customer has assumed risk of loss of the goods sold and all performance obligations are complete. These sales may contain discounts, price exceptions, return provisions or other customer incentives. We reduce revenue by providing allowances for estimated customer returns, price exceptions and other incentives that occur under sales programs established by us directly or with our distributors and resellers. The sales allowances are based on management's best estimate of the amount of allowances that the customer will ultimately receive and based on our historical experience taking into account the type of products sold and type of customers involved. We accrue the estimated cost of basic product warranties at the time we recognize revenue based on historical experience. In addition to basic product warranties, we frequently offer extended warranties, including renewal, to our customers in the form of product maintenance services. Our product and services are separately stated and priced. We defer the stated amount of the separately priced product maintenance services contracts and recognize the deferred revenue as services are rendered, generally straight-line over the contract term. We infrequently enter into multiple-element arrangements with our customers, and these sales may include deliverables such as hardware, software, professional consulting services and maintenance support services. For arrangements involving multiple deliverables, where deliverables include software and non-software products and services, we apply the provisions of multiple elements accounting to separate the deliverables and allocate the total arrangement consideration. Each unit of accounting is then accounted for under the applicable revenue recognition guidance. We sell products with embedded software to our customers. The embedded software is not sold separately, it is not a significant focus of the marketing effort and we do not provide post-contract customer support specific to software or incur significant costs related to creating software products. Additionally, the functionality that the software provides is marketed as part of the overall product. The software embedded in the product is incidental to the equipment as a whole such that software revenue recognition is not generally applicable. In certain infrequent situations where our solutions contain software that is more than incidental to the hardware and services, revenue related to the software and software-related elements is recognized in accordance with software revenue recognition accounting. Our customers infrequently request that delivery and passage of title and risk of loss occur on a bill and hold basis. For these transactions, we recognize revenue in accordance with guidance specific to bill and hold transactions, which is deferred until delivery occurs. Revenue Recognition – Voice solutions. For Voice solutions, a substantial portion of the revenues are derived from arrangements that contain multiple deliverables that may include terminals, software, accessories, hardware and support and consulting services. The majority of these products have both software and non-software components that function together to deliver the products' essential functionality. As a result, we separate and assign a value to each element in our multiple-element arrangements. For those deliverables that qualify as separate units of accounting, we must assign a value based on each deliverable's vendor-specific objective evidence ("VSOE") of value, if available. If not available, we utilize third party evidence ("TPE") indicating value. We would use an estimated selling price ("ESP") if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. Arrangement consideration is then allocated to all deliverables using the relative selling price method. Revenue is recognized when it is realized, or realizable, and earned. We consider these criteria met when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Management performs an analysis to determine the relative selling price of each unit of accounting. We have established VSOE for certain hardware and software support, based on standalone renewal transactions, and for professional services, based on standalone consulting services. We have been unable to establish comparable TPE for our deliverables. Generally, our go-to-market strategy differs from our peer's, and our offerings contain a significant level of customization and differentiation such that the comparable pricing of products with similar functionality cannot be obtained. Furthermore, we are unable to reliably determine what similar competitor product selling prices are on a standalone basis. Management's ESP is used for terminals and related software and accessories. We determine ESP for a product or service by considering multiple factors, including, but not limited to, geographies, market conditions, competitive landscape, internal costs, gross margin objectives, and pricing practices. The determination of ESP is made through consultation with and formal approval by our management, taking into consideration the go-to-market strategy. Voice solutions units of accounting are terminals and related software, headsets and accessories, hardware support, software support and professional services. Products are typically considered delivered upon shipment. Support services revenue is deferred and recognized ratably over the period during which the services are performed, which is typically one to three years. Consulting services, which are typically short-term in nature, are recognized upon completion. Our arrangements generally do not provide any provisions for cancellation, termination, or refunds that would significantly impact recognized revenue. Intermec sells products with embedded software to its customers. The embedded software is not sold separately, it is not a significant focus of the marketing effort on a stand-alone basis and the Company does not provide post-contract customer support specific to the software or incur significant costs related to creating software products. Additionally, the functionality that the software provides is marketed as part of the overall product.
Allowance For Doubtful Accounts, Sales Returns And Sales Incentives	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Sales Returns and Sales Incentives. We provide an allowance for doubtful accounts equal to the estimated uncollectible accounts receivable. This estimate is based on historical collection experience, the aging of the accounts receivable, current international, political, economic and market conditions, and a review of the current status of specific customer's trade accounts receivable. We reduce revenue by providing allowances for estimated customer returns, price exceptions and other incentives that occur under sales programs established by us directly or with our distributors and resellers. Our allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns reduced our gross accounts receivable by $6.9 and $7.5 million at December 31, 2011, and 2010, respectively.
Inventories	Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Inventoried costs include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. General and administrative costs are expensed as incurred. The valuation of inventory requires us to estimate obsolete or excess inventory as well as inventory that is not of saleable quality. The determination of obsolete or excess inventory requires us to estimate the future demand for our products and market conditions.
Inventory Obsolescence	Inventory Obsolescence. The valuation of inventory requires us to estimate obsolete or excess inventory as well as inventory that are not of saleable quality. The determination of obsolete or excess inventory requires us to estimate the future demand for our products and market conditions. If future demand and market conditions are less favorable than our assumptions, or there are technology or design changes, additional inventory reserves or write-downs could be required, which would negatively impact our gross margin. Likewise, favorable future demand and market conditions, and/or technology or design changes, could positively impact future operating results if previously reserved or written-down inventory is sold. Management regularly evaluates market and technology conditions and design changes to ensure that our reserves are adequate.
Pension And Other Postretirement Benefits	Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits. We have qualified and nonqualified pension plans that cover some of our employees. Our U.S. qualified pension plan and U.S. nonqualified plans were fully frozen effective February 28, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Annual employer contributions are made to the extent such contributions are actuarially determined to be required in order to adequately fund the plans, and to match a portion of the employees' contribution. Retiree benefits are based on the amount of participant contributions over the term of the participant's employment. We perform an annual measurement of our projected obligations and plan assets or when major events occur requiring remeasurement. These measurements require several assumptions, the most critical of which are the discount rate, the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, and health care cost projections.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes. We account for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. This method also requires the recognition of future tax benefits, such as net operating loss carry forwards and other tax credits. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. We evaluate the likelihood of realizing our deferred tax assets by estimating sources of future taxable income and the impact of tax planning strategies. Our deferred tax assets include future tax benefits of discontinued operations that remain with us. We record benefits from uncertain tax positions based on the largest amount of benefit with greater than 50% cumulative probability of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authority.
Concentrations Of Credit Risk	Concentrations of Credit Risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. We generally place our cash and cash equivalents and investments with high-credit-quality counterparties, and by policy, limit the amount of credit exposure to any one counterparty based on our analysis of that counterparty's relative credit standing. Our short-term investments are comprised primarily of time deposits. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited because a large number of geographically diverse customers make up our customer base, thus spreading the credit risk. We evaluate the creditworthiness of our customers and maintain an allowance for anticipated losses. For 2011, 2010 and 2009, one customer, ScanSource accounted for more than 10% of our revenues. Total sales to this customer were 22%, 23%, and 19% of total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Additionally, ScanSource accounted for 19% and 14% of our accounts receivable as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. We believe that the receivable balance from ScanSource does not represent a significant credit risk based on
Intangible Assets	Intangible Assets. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the estimated useful life. We use an amortization method that best reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the intangible asset are consumed or otherwise used up. A majority of our finite-lived intangible assets pertain to assets acquired in connection with the acquisition of Vocollect including developed technology, customer relationships, trademarks, lease agreements, and in-process research and development, as well as a patent portfolio and have estimated useful lives ranging from 3 years to 18 years.
Goodwill	Goodwill. The accounting for goodwill requires that we test the goodwill of our reporting units for impairment on an annual basis, or earlier when an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is more likely than not that an impairment may exist. Our annual testing date is in the fourth quarter. In assessing the existence of impairment, our considerations include the impact of significant adverse changes in market and economic conditions; the results of our operational performance and strategic plans; unanticipated changes in competition; market share; and the potential for the sale or disposal of all or a significant portion of our business or a reporting unit. Goodwill impairment is deemed to exist if the net book value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. We assign goodwill to our reporting units based on the expected benefit from the synergies arising from each business combination. We have three reportable segments: Intermec-branded products, Intermec-branded services and Voice solutions. Intermec-branded services and Voice solutions each comprise two reporting units. Intermec-branded services are divided into: Core Service and Integrated Global Services ("IGS"). Voice solutions contains the Vocollect Supply Chain and Vocollect Healthcare reporting units. In the third quarter of 2011, we determined that certain economic circumstances had changed sufficiently to require an interim impairment testing of goodwill. Specifically, stock market indices declined suddenly and significantly in August and had only recovered minimally by the end of the third quarter. Intermec and other public companies in the same or similar industries experienced declines that were greater than those of the overall market. We completed our interim tests for impairment of goodwill as of October 2, 2011, and determined goodwill was not impaired. In testing goodwill for impairment, the analysis utilized a combination of discounted cash flow approach and market approach to determine the fair value of the reporting units. Determining the fair value of a reporting unit is judgmental in nature and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. The fair value measurement was calculated using unobservable inputs to the discounted cash flow approach. The key inputs we used in the discounted cash flow approach include risk adjusted discount rates and future cash flows, which include estimates of future revenues and operating costs. The estimate of future cash flow takes into consideration factors such as growth rates and economic and market information. These key inputs are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. We assessed the reasonableness of our valuation by considering other information available such as the market capitalization of Intermec and other public companies in our industry and associated implied enterprise fair values, projected industry trends and investment analyst reports on us and other public companies in our industry, and information regarding recent acquisitions in our industry. We completed our annual impairment test at November 30, 2011 and determined that our goodwill was not impaired.
Impairment Of Long-Lived Assets Including Intangible Assets	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets including Intangible Assets. We assess the recoverability of long-lived assets when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. If undiscounted expected cash flows to be generated by a long-lived asset or asset group are less than its carrying amount, we record an impairment to write down the long-lived asset or asset group to its estimated fair value. Fair value is estimated based on discounted expected future cash flows. For asset groups classified as held for sale (disposal group), the carrying value is compared to the disposal group's fair value less costs to sell. We estimate fair value by considering market appraisals from third party brokers, management judgement and other valuation techniques. We recorded impairment charges of $0.9 million and $3.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, as a result of a write-down of real estate assets.
Capitalized Legal Patent Costs	Capitalized Legal Patent Costs. We capitalize external legal costs incurred in the defense of our patents where we believe that there is an evident increase in the value of the patent and that the successful outcome of the legal action is probable. In the event of a successful outcome, the capitalized costs for that case would be amortized over the remaining life of the patents in the case. During the course of any legal action, the court where the case is pending makes decisions and issues rulings of various kinds, which may be favorable or unfavorable. We monitor developments in the legal action, the legal costs incurred and the anticipated outcome of the legal action, and assess the likelihood of a successful outcome based on the entire action. If changes in the anticipated outcome were to occur that reduce the likelihood of a successful outcome of the entire action to less than probable, the capitalized costs would be charged to expense in the period in which the change is determined. As of December 31, 2011, and 2010, $7.4 and $12.4 million of legal patent defense costs have been capitalized, respectively. The capitalized legal patent costs are recorded in other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. For the fourth quarter of 2011, we wrote off $5.6 million of legal costs that were capitalized between 2007 and 2011 attributable to a patent lawsuit, See Note 13, Litigation, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Research And Development	Research and Development. Research and development ("R&D") costs, net of credits, are expensed as incurred. Total expenditures on R&D activities amounted to $84.4, $69.5, and $59.6 million, net of $0.3, $0.4, and $2.6 million in credits from U.S. and foreign governments relating to reimbursement of certain R&D expenses, for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These expenditures were for Company-sponsored R&D and were primarily for labor, materials and other administrative costs. We incurred no costs associated with R&D sponsored by customers or other external parties.
Reclassifications	Reclassification. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to the current year presentation. Specifically, for the year ended December 31, 2010 we have reclassified certain operating expenses previously reported in selling, general and administrative expense that totaled $6.0 million, which are now reported in cost of service revenues and research and development of $2.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively. Additionally, we have reclassified an impairment charge previously reported in selling, general and administrative expense and now report the charge in impairment of facility. This reclassification had no impact on previously reported earnings from continuing operations or net income. We have reclassified deferred tax liabilities previously reported in current deferred tax assets, net and deferred tax assets, net, and now report these liabilities in accounts payable and accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheets. In addition, we have reclassified accrued expenses previously reported in accounts payable and accrued expenses into accrued expenses in the consolidated statement of cash flows.
Deferred Development Costs	Deferred Development Costs Certain pre-production costs under a guaranteed long-term supply contract are capitalized. We have capitalized approximately $2.2 million of such costs as of the year ended December 31, 2011 and recorded them as other assets.