Consolidated Statement of Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,591.0	$ 4,481.7	$ 3,668.8
Cost of goods sold	3,238.3	3,181.3	2,513.7
Gross profit	1,352.7	1,300.4	1,155.1
Selling & administrative expenses	756.1	743.5	636.3
Operating income	596.6	556.9	518.8
Gain on disposition of business	21.7	0.0	0.0
Multi-employer pension charge	(8.5)	0.0	0.0
Interest expense	(69.4)	(72.4)	(44.9)
Investment income	1.5	0.1	0.9
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0.0	0.0	(10.1)
Other expense, net	(21.4)	(17.6)	(21.6)
Total other expense	(76.1)	(89.9)	(75.7)
Income before income taxes	520.5	467.0	443.1
Provision for income taxes	113.1	100.9	193.2
Net income	407.4	366.1	249.9
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	6.5	5.9	6.8
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO HUBBELL	$ 400.9	$ 360.2	$ 243.1
Earnings per share
Basic (USD per share)	$ 7.35	$ 6.57	$ 4.42
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 7.31	$ 6.54	$ 4.39