Operating Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract]

Schedule of Revenue from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets, by Geographical Areas [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes net sales and long-lived assets by geographic area:

Millions of dollars	United States		Brazil		All Other Countries		Total
2011:
Sales to external customers	$	8,035	$	3,133	$	7,498	$	18,666
Long-lived assets	4,464		405		1,717		6,586
2010:
Sales to external customers	$	8,221	$	3,290	$	6,855	$	18,366
Long-lived assets	4,431		459		1,764		6,654
2009:
Sales to external customers	$	8,174	$	2,530	$	6,395	$	17,099
Long-lived assets	4,443		437		1,762		6,642

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Operating Segment Information [Table Text Block]

	OPERATING SEGMENTS
Millions of dollars	North America		Latin America		EMEA		Asia		Other/ Eliminations			Total Whirlpool
Net sales
2011	$	9,582	$	5,062	$	3,305	$	881	$	(164	)	$	18,666
2010	9,784		4,694		3,227		855		(194		)	18,366
2009	9,592		3,705		3,338		654		(190		)	17,099
Intersegment sales
2011	$	216	$	187	$	167	$	217	$	(787	)	$	—
2010	201		233		257		197		(888		)	—
2009	142		237		339		169		(887		)	—
Depreciation and amortization
2011	$	290	$	101	$	110	$	21	$	36		$	558
2010	297		92		107		20		39			555
2009	280		77		107		18		43			525
Restructuring costs
2011	$	92	$	3	$	39	$	1	$	1		$	136
2010	42		2		28		—		2			74
2009	35		5		74		10		2			126
Operating profit (loss)
2011	$	398	$	642	$	1	$	30	$	(279	)	$	792
2010	461		668		102		34		(257		)	1,008
2009	560		363		21		30		(286		)	688
Total assets
2011	$	7,894	$	3,620	$	2,839	$	797	$	31		$	15,181
2010	8,163		3,618		3,144		775		(116		)	15,584
2009	8,123		2,887		3,216		690		178			15,094
Capital expenditures
2011	$	316	$	112	$	103	$	27	$	50		$	608
2010	330		108		98		22		35			593
2009	276		78		116		13		58			541