Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2013

Table Text Block [Abstract]

Schedule Of Total Equity [TableTextBlock]

		March 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
Common stock, $.01 par value:
	Class A - authorized 50.0 shares; issued and outstanding 7.2 and 7.2 shares	$	0.1	$	0.1
	Class B - authorized 150.0 shares; issued and outstanding 52.2 and 52.1 shares		0.5		0.5
Additional paid-in-capital			66.3		64.0
Retained earnings			1,754.9		1,715.7
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
	Pension and post retirement benefit plan adjustment, net of tax		(127.9)		(130.1)
	Cumulative translation adjustment		2.3		10.8
	Unrealized gain on investment, net of tax		0.7		0.7
	Cash flow hedge loss, net of tax		(0.1)		(0.5)
Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(125.0)		(119.1)
Hubbell shareholders' equity			1,696.8		1,661.2
Noncontrolling interest			7.2		6.7
Total equity		$	1,704.0	$	1,667.9

Schedule of Changes in Total Equity [TableTextBlock]

	Three Months Ended March 31
	2013						2012
	Hubbell Shareholders' Equity		Noncontrolling interest		Total Equity		Hubbell Shareholders' Equity		Noncontrolling interest		Total Equity
Equity, January 1,	$	1,661.2	$	6.7	$	1,667.9	$	1,467.8	$	5.7	$	1,473.5
Total comprehensive income		60.0		0.9		60.9		77.9		0.4		78.3
Stock-based compensation		2.8		-		2.8		2.8		-		2.8
Exercise of stock options		0.8		-		0.8		18.3		-		18.3
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net		4.4		-		4.4		8.6		-		8.6
Repurchase/surrender of common shares		(5.8)		-		(5.8)		(49.8)		-		(49.8)
Issuance of shares related to directors' deferred compensation		0.1		-		0.1		0.2		-		0.2
Dividends to noncontrolling interest				(0.4)		(0.4)		-		(0.4)		(0.4)
Cash dividends declared		(26.7)		-		(26.7)		(24.4)		-		(24.4)
Equity, March 31,	$	1,696.8	$	7.2	$	1,704.0	$	1,501.4	$	5.7	$	1,507.1