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ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Apr. 10, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Nov. 30, 2012
Apr. 30, 2013
Five year 2012 senior notes            
Stock consideration            
Long-term debt, aggregate principal amount     $ 500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_FiveYear2012SeniorNotesMember
$ 500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_FiveYear2012SeniorNotesMember
   
Interest rate (as a percent)   1.45%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_FiveYear2012SeniorNotesMember
  1.45%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_FiveYear2012SeniorNotesMember
   
Term loan            
Stock consideration            
Long-term debt, aggregate principal amount     400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_TermLoanMember
  900us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_TermLoanMember
 
Champion            
Acquisitions and Dispositions            
Estimated annual sales pre-acquisition   1,300ecl_BusinessAcquisitionSalesRevenueForecast
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
       
Cash consideration 1,511.7us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
         
Stock consideration            
Ecolab shares issued at closing 6.6us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestsIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
         
Ecolab's closing stock price on April 10, 2013 (in dollars per share) $ 82.31us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionSharePrice
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
         
Total fair value of stock consideration 543.0us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredEquityInterestsIssuedAndIssuable
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
         
Total consideration transferred 2,054.7us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
         
Portion of consideration transferred and deposited in an escrow account to fund post-closing adjustments to the consideration and covenant and other indemnification obligations 100ecl_BusinessCombinationPortionOfConsiderationTransferredToEscrowFundCommonStockValue
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
         
Period of escrow deposit 2 years          
Long-term debt, aggregate principal amount   500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
       
Champion | Term loan            
Stock consideration            
Long-term debt, aggregate principal amount           $ 900us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ecl_ChampionMember
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ecl_TermLoanMember