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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The total amount of the entity's obligation as of the balance sheet date of the amount due to a Trust associated with one or more defined contribution plans.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecl_DefinedContributionPlanPayableToTrust
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of eligible compensation by employee before tax contribution, 100% matched by employer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecl_PercentageOfEligibleContribution
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of matching contribution by company vested immediately under a 401(k) savings plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecl_PercentageOfMatchingContributionByCompanyVestedImmediately
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employer matching contribution when employee before tax contribution is up to 3% of eligible compensation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecl_PercentageOfMatchingContributionMadeByCompany
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employer matching contribution when employee before tax contribution is between 3% to 5% of eligible compensation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecl_PercentageOfMatchingContributionMadeByCompanyForEmployeeContributionsBetween3PercentAnd5Percent
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employer matching contribution when employee before tax contribution is between 4% to 8% of eligible compensation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecl_PercentageOfMatchingContributionMadeByCompanyForEmployeeContributionsBetween4PercentAnd8Percent
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employer matching contribution when employee before tax contribution is up to 4% of eligible compensation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ecl_PercentageOfMatchingContributionMadeByCompanyUpTo4Percent
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 11

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

RETIREMENT PLANS (Details 7) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended										1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan	Dec. 31, 2011 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan	Dec. 31, 2010 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan All other active employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan Active employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan Minimum All other active employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan Minimum Active employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan Maximum All other active employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Legacy Ecolab 401 (K) Plan Maximum Active employees	Dec. 31, 2012 Nalco	Dec. 31, 2011 Nalco Profit Sharing	Dec. 31, 2012 Nalco Profit Sharing	Dec. 31, 2011 Nalco 401 (K) Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Nalco 401 (K) Plan	Dec. 31, 2012 Nalco 401 (K) Plan Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Nalco 401 (K) Plan Maximum
Savings Plan, ESOP and Profit Sharing
Percentage of eligible compensation, matched 100%				4.00%	3.00%	4.00%	3.00%	8.00%	5.00%					4.00%	4.00%	8.00%
Percentage of matching contribution made by company, up to 3% eligible compensation					100.00%
Percentage of matching contribution made by company, up to 4% eligible compensation				100.00%										100.00%
Percentage of matching contribution made by company for employee contributions between 3% and 5%					50.00%
Percentage of matching contribution made by company for employee contributions between 4% and 8%				50.00%										50.00%
Percentage of matching contribution by company vested immediately	100.00%
Employer contribution	$ 26.0	$ 24.0	$ 23.0								$ 2.0	$ 13.0	$ 1.0	$ 17.0
Payable to Trust										$ 14.0