CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Net sales	$ 3,563.3	$ 3,386.1	$ 10,187.6	$ 9,800.7
Cost of sales (including special charges of (a))	1,891.3	1,737.2	5,454.4	5,153.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,087.3	1,071.6	3,293.2	3,253.1
Special (gains) and charges	4.9	3.2	47.9	35.7
Operating income	579.8	574.1	1,392.1	1,358.1
Interest expense, net	55.1	64.9	177.2	196.3
Income before income taxes	524.7	509.2	1,214.9	1,161.8
Provision for income taxes	128.9	129.7	264.2	286.7
Net income including noncontrolling interest	395.8	379.5	950.7	875.1
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	3.4	5.4	8.2	11.8
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 392.4	$ 374.1	$ 942.5	$ 863.3
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.36	$ 1.28	$ 3.25	$ 2.95
Diluted (in dollars per share)	1.34	1.27	3.20	2.91
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.370	$ 0.350	$ 1.110	$ 1.050
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	289.0	291.6	289.8	292.8
Diluted (in shares)	293.4	295.7	294.2	297.1