Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock Class A Common Stock	Common Stock Class B Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Hubbell Shareholders' Equity	Non- controlling interest
Equity, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011		$ 0.1	$ 0.5	$ 294.2	$ 1,323.4	$ (150.4)	$ 1,467.8	$ 5.7
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	302.1				299.7		299.7	2.4
Other comprehensive (loss) income	31.3					31.3	31.3
Stock-based compensation				15.4			15.4
Exercise of stock options				24.8			24.8
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net				15.1			15.1
Acquisition/surrender of common shares				(93.1)			(93.1)
Cash dividends declared					(99.8)		(99.8)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest								(1.4)
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2012		0.1	0.5	256.4	1,523.3	(119.1)	1,661.2	6.7
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	329.8				326.5		326.5	3.3
Other comprehensive (loss) income	48.1					48.1	48.1
Stock-based compensation				13.5			13.5
Exercise of stock options				2.4			2.4
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net				8.4			8.4
Acquisition/surrender of common shares				(44.1)			(44.1)
Cash dividends declared					(109.6)		(109.6)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest								(1.6)
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	1,914.8	0.1	0.5	236.6	1,740.2	(71.0)	1,906.4	8.4
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	327.2				325.3		325.3	1.9
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(93.3)					(93.3)	(93.3)
Stock-based compensation				15.8			15.8
Exercise of stock options				2.4			2.4
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net				9.2			9.2
Acquisition/surrender of common shares				(117.3)			(117.3)
Cash dividends declared					(121.4)		(121.4)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest								(1.7)
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,935.7	$ 0.1	$ 0.5	$ 146.7	$ 1,944.1	$ (164.3)	$ 1,927.1	$ 8.6