CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Ecolab Shareholders Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	OCI (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Non-Controlling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 6,077.0	$ 342.1	$ 4,249.1	$ 4,020.6	$ (459.7)	$ (2,075.1)	$ 83.1	$ 6,160.1
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		342,106,581				(47,384,557)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	967.8			967.8			5.8	973.6
Comprehensive income (loss) activity	154.5				154.5		(16.0)	138.5
Total comprehensive income (loss)	1,122.3						(10.2)	1,112.1
Cash dividends declared	(289.4)			(289.4)			(11.4)	(300.8)
Champion acquisition	543.0		258.1			$ 284.9	3.6	546.6
Champion acquisition						6,596,444
Stock options and awards	199.0	$ 3.0	184.8			$ 11.2		199.0
Stock options (in shares)		2,206,661				254,680
Stock awards, net issuances (in shares)		787,767				11,008
Reacquired shares	(307.6)					$ (307.6)		(307.6)
Reacquired shares (in shares)						(3,443,405)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	7,344.3	$ 345.1	4,692.0	4,699.0	(305.2)	$ (2,086.6)	65.1	7,409.4
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		345,101,009				(43,965,830)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	1,202.8			1,202.8			19.4	1,222.2
Comprehensive income (loss) activity	(646.7)				(646.7)		(8.3)	(655.0)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	556.1						11.1	567.2
Cash dividends declared	(346.7)			(346.7)			(14.0)	(360.7)
Champion acquisition							(2.9)	(2.9)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(0.3)		(0.3)				6.9	6.6
Stock options and awards	191.1	$ 2.6	182.8			$ 5.7		191.1
Stock options (in shares)		1,850,757				122,455
Stock awards, net issuances (in shares)		773,022				8,231
Reacquired shares	(428.6)					$ (428.6)		(428.6)
Reacquired shares (in shares)						(4,037,188)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	7,315.9	$ 347.7	4,874.5	5,555.1	(951.9)	$ (2,509.5)	66.2	$ 7,382.1
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		347,724,788				(47,872,332)		299,900,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	1,002.1			1,002.1			15.1	$ 1,017.2
Comprehensive income (loss) activity	(471.4)				(471.4)		(2.0)	(473.4)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	530.7						13.1	543.8
Cash dividends declared	(396.9)			(396.9)			(8.3)	(405.2)
Venezuela deconsolidation							(0.5)	(0.5)
Stock options and awards	215.3	$ 2.6	205.4			$ 7.3		215.3
Stock options (in shares)		1,962,360				151,261
Stock awards, net issuances (in shares)		652,672				14,745
Reacquired shares	(755.1)		6.2			$ (761.3)		(755.1)
Reacquired shares (in shares)						(6,666,403)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 6,909.9	$ 350.3	$ 5,086.1	$ 6,160.3	$ (1,423.3)	$ (3,263.5)	$ 70.5	$ 6,980.4
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		350,339,820				(54,372,729)		296,000,000