Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 407.4	$ 366.1	$ 249.9
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	3.7	(33.9)	28.9
Reclassification of currency translation gains included in net income	(7.7)	0.0	0.0
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans, net of taxes of $5.3, ($6.3) and ($1.0)	(14.5)	17.8	4.0
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of taxes of ($0.2), $0.4 and ($0.2)	2.6	(1.4)	0.6
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of taxes of $0.5, ($0.5) and $0.4	(1.3)	1.6	(0.8)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(17.2)	(15.9)	32.7
Comprehensive income	390.2	350.2	282.6
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	6.5	5.9	6.8
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO HUBBELL	$ 383.7	$ 344.3	$ 275.8