Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 146.4	$ (37.3)	$ 178.9	$ 1,063.9	$ (20.4)	$ 1,331.5	$ 0.2	$ 1,331.7
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2008	146.4	(6.2)
Net income	0	0	0	243.5	0	243.5	0	243.5
Translation adjustments	0	0	0	0	34.1	34.1	0	34.1
Derivative agreements, net of taxes	0	0	0	0	1.1	1.1	0	1.1
Defined benefit plans, net of taxes	0	0	0	0	(4.7)	(4.7)	0	(4.7)
Cash dividends	0	0	0	(32.3)	0	(32.3)	0	(32.3)
Stock purchases (in shares)	0	0
Stock purchases	0	(0.4)	0	0	0	(0.4)	0	(0.4)
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits (in shares)	0	0.9						0.9
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits	0	4.6	23.1	0	0	27.7	0	27.7
Other stock issuances (in shares)	0	0
Other stock issuances	0	0.2	0.9	0	0	1.1	0	1.1
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	146.4	(32.9)	202.9	1,275.1	10.1	1,601.6	0.2	1,601.8
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009	146.4	(5.3)
Net income	0	0	0	270.7	0	270.7	0	270.7
Translation adjustments	0	0	0	0	(2.5)	(2.5)	0	(2.5)
Derivative agreements, net of taxes	0	0	0	0	3.4	3.4	0	3.4
Defined benefit plans, net of taxes	0	0	0	0	5.3	5.3	0	5.3
Cash dividends	0	0	0	(44.0)		(44.0)	0	(44.0)
Stock purchases (in shares)	0	0
Stock purchases	0	(0.1)	0	0	0	(0.1)	0	(0.1)
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits (in shares)	0	1.2						1.2
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits	0	8.0	27.6	0	0	35.6	0	35.6
Other stock issuances (in shares)	0	0.1
Other stock issuances	0	0.4	0.3	0	0	0.7	0	0.7
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	146.4	(24.6)	230.8	1,501.8	16.3	1,870.7	0.2	1,870.9
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	146.4	(4.0)
Net income	0	0	0	309.6	0	309.6	0	309.6
Translation adjustments	0	0	0	0	(7.3)	(7.3)	0	(7.3)
Derivative agreements, net of taxes	0	0	0	0	1.2	1.2	0	1.2
Defined benefit plans, net of taxes	0	0	0	0	(7.3)	(7.3)	0	(7.3)
Cash dividends	0	0	0	(97.4)	0	(97.4)	0	(97.4)
Stock purchases (in shares)	0	(1.8)
Stock purchases	0	(80.2)	0	0	0	(80.2)	0	(80.2)
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits (in shares)	0	1.6						1.6
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits	0	9.9	40.3	0	0	50.2	0	50.2
Other stock issuances (in shares)	0	0.1
Other stock issuances	0	0.5	0.6	0	0	1.1	0	1.1
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 146.4	$ (94.4)	$ 271.7	$ 1,714.0	$ 2.9	$ 2,040.6	$ 0.2	$ 2,040.8
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	146.4	(4.1)