Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income attributable to Hubbell	$ 81.3	$ 89.6	$ 90.2	$ 64.2	$ 82.0	$ 96.5	$ 82.1	$ 65.9	$ 325.3	$ 326.5	$ 299.7
Less: Earning allocated to participating securities, basic									0.9	1.0	1.0
Less: Earning allocated to participating securities, diluted									0.9	1.0	1.0
Net income available to common shareholders									$ 324.4	$ 325.5	$ 298.7
Average number of common shares outstanding									58,800,000	59,100,000	59,100,000
Potential dilutive shares									400,000	500,000	700,000
Average number of diluted shares outstanding									59,200,000	59,600,000	59,800,000
Basic (USD per share)	$ 1.39	$ 1.52	$ 1.53	$ 1.08	$ 1.39	$ 1.63	$ 1.38	$ 1.11	$ 5.51	$ 5.51	$ 5.05
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 1.38	$ 1.51	$ 1.51	$ 1.08	$ 1.38	$ 1.62	$ 1.37	$ 1.10	$ 5.48	$ 5.47	$ 5.00
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive sdecurities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount									0	0	0
Performance Shares
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares granted									28,871	30,730	38,656	28,871