Represents the amount of accelerated share repurchase agreement entered by the entity with a financial institution.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesAgreementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of shares repurchased under the accelerated share repurchase agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesSharesRepurchasedNumber
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The additional number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan contingent upon merger.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_StockRepurchaseProgramAdditionalNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchasedContingentUponMerger
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfStockLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The amount authorized by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The remaining repurchase amount authorized by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Shareholders' Equity (Details) (Common stock, USD $)	1 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
Shareholders' Equity (Details) (Common stock, USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2011 Nalco Holding Company ("Nalco")
Shareholder's Equity
Common stock, shares authorized to be repurchased					15,000,000
Additional shares authorized to be repurchased contingent upon merger						10,000,000
Common Stock, value of share repurchase program			$ 1,000,000,000
Amount of common stock to be repurchased under ASR agreement		500,000,000
Shares received under ASR agreement		8,330,379		122,314
Shares authorized to be repurchased	15,810,096			15,810,096
Dollar value of shares remaining to be purchased	$ 279,000,000