Quarterly Financial Data - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,039.6	$ 1,057.7	$ 1,027.2	$ 889.1	$ 964.6	$ 1,003.6	$ 922.1	$ 813.3	$ 4,013.6	[1]	$ 3,703.6	[1]	$ 3,134.8	[1]
Gross profit	341.8	368.0	361.8	295.3	334.2	348.5	337.3	275.1	1,366.9		1,295.1
Operating income	79.2	129.5	125.5	69.3	81.9	89.3	94.6	57.2	403.5		323.0		143.2
Net income from continuing operations	56.5	84.5	86.3	46.3	54.8	59.0	56.8	38.4	273.6		209.0		108.3
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(11.1)	(105.4)	7.3	(5.1)	9.8	5.6	7.4	(0.9)	(114.3)		21.9		11.4
Net income (loss)	45.4	(20.9)	93.6	41.2	64.6	64.6	64.2	37.5	159.3		230.9		119.7
Net income (loss) attributable to Fortune Brands	$ 45.1	$ (21.1)	$ 93.3	$ 40.8	$ 64.2	$ 64.2	$ 64.0	$ 37.3	$ 158.1		$ 229.7
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
Continuing operations	$ 0.36	$ 0.53	$ 0.52	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 0.35	$ 0.34	$ 0.23	$ 1.68		$ 1.26		$ 0.67
Discontinued operations	$ (0.07)	$ (0.66)	$ 0.05	$ (0.03)	$ 0.06	$ 0.04	$ 0.05		$ (0.70)		$ 0.13		$ 0.07
Net income (loss) attributable to Fortune Brands common shareholders	$ 0.29	$ (0.13)	$ 0.57	$ 0.25	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.23	$ 0.98		$ 1.39		$ 0.74
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
Continuing operations	$ 0.35	$ 0.52	$ 0.51	$ 0.27	$ 0.32	$ 0.34	$ 0.33	$ 0.22	$ 1.64		$ 1.21		$ 0.65
Discontinued operations	$ (0.07)	$ (0.65)	$ 0.04	$ (0.03)					$ (0.69)		$ 0.13		$ 0.06
Discontinued operations					$ 0.05	$ 0.03	$ 0.04				$ 0.13
Net income (loss) attributable to Fortune Brands common shareholders	$ 0.28	$ (0.13)	$ 0.55	$ 0.24	$ 0.37	$ 0.37	$ 0.37	$ 0.22	$ 0.95		$ 1.34		$ 0.71

[1] Based on country of destination