Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionAggregatePurchasePriceAllocation
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of aggregate acquisition cost of all business combinations made during the period allocated to customer relationships.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizableCustomerRelationships
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to identifiable intangible assets excluding goodwill.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizableIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of aggregate acquisition cost of all business combinations made during the period allocated to other intangible assets.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizableOtherIntangibles
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the portion of the aggregate acquisition cost of all business combinations made during the period, which are allocated to patents.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizablePatents
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of aggregate acquisition cost of all business combinations made during the period allocated to trademarks.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAmortizableTrademarks
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of aggregate acquisition cost of all business combinations made during the period allocated to goodwill.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationIdentifiableIntangibleAssetsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to tangible assets net of liabilities assumed.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationNetTangibleAssetsAcquiredLiabilitiesAssumed
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Approximate amount of total annual revenue from sale of goods and services of acquired entity.

No definition available.

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

The amount of aggregate acquisition cost of all business combinations made during the period allocated to acquisition related liabilities and contingent consideration.

No definition available.

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

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16265-109275

Name:	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

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

The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

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

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ecl_AkzoNobelMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ecl_AseptixHealthSciencesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ecl_ClariantAgMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ecl_CommercialPestControlPtyLtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: