Condensed 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 [Member]	Total Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 146.4	$ (24.6)	$ 230.8	$ 1,501.8	$ 16.3	$ 1,870.7	$ 0.2	$ 1,870.9
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	146.4	(4.0)
Net income	0	0	0	83.6	0	83.6	0	83.6
Other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0	9.7	9.7	0	9.7
Cash dividends	0	0	0	(24.3)	0	(24.3)	0	(24.3)
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	0.2
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits	0	2.8	8.2	0	0	11.0	0	11.0
Other stock issuances (in shares)	0	0
Other stock issuances	0	0.4	(0.2)	0	0	0.2	0	0.2
Ending Balance at Apr. 01, 2011	146.4	(21.5)	238.8	1,561.1	26.0	1,950.8	0.2	1,951.0
Ending Balance (in shares) at Apr. 01, 2011	146.4	(3.8)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	146.4	(94.4)	271.7	1,714.0	2.9	2,040.6	0.2	2,040.8
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	146.4	(4.1)
Net income	0	0	0	95.8	0	95.8	0	95.8
Other comprehensive income	0	0	0	0	6.7	6.7	0	6.7
Cash dividends	0	0	0	(34.2)	0	(34.2)	0	(34.2)
Stock purchases (in shares)	0	(1.9)
Stock purchases	0	(90.3)	0	0	0	(90.3)	0	(90.3)
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits (in shares)	0	0.4						0.4
Stock based compensation expense and stock option plan transactions, including related income tax benefits	0	2.0	9.0	0	0	11.0	0	11.0
Other stock issuances (in shares)	0	0
Other stock issuances	0	0.2	0.2	0	0	0.4	0	0.4
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 146.4	$ (182.5)	$ 280.9	$ 1,775.6	$ 9.6	$ 2,030.0	$ 0.2	$ 2,030.2
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2012	146.4	(5.6)