Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Hubbell Shareholders' Equity	Non- controlling interest
Beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 0.6	$ 15.4	$ 1,879.3	$ (302.5)	$ 1,592.8	$ 10.4
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 249.9			243.1		243.1	6.8
Other comprehensive (loss) income	32.7				32.7	32.7
Stock-based compensation			22.3			22.3
Acquisition/surrender of common shares			(27.2)	(72.1)		(99.3)
Cash dividends declared				(157.9)		(157.9)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest							(3.5)
Directors deferred compensation			0.5			0.5
End of period at Dec. 31, 2017		0.6	11.0	1,892.4	(269.8)	1,634.2	13.7
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	366.1			360.2		360.2	5.9
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(15.9)				(15.9)	(15.9)
Stock-based compensation			24.2			24.2
Acquisition/surrender of common shares	(34.5)			(16.0)		(50.5)
Cash dividends declared				(172.8)		(172.8)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest							(3.9)
Aclara noncontrolling interest							2.6
Directors deferred compensation			0.6			0.6
End of period at Dec. 31, 2018	1,798.9	0.6	1.3	2,064.4	(285.7)	1,780.6	18.3
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	407.4			400.9		400.9	6.5
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(17.2)				(17.2)	(17.2)
Stock-based compensation			16.4			16.4
Reclassification of stranded tax effects	(30.0)			30.0	(30.0)
Acquisition/surrender of common shares			(18.3)	(28.9)		(47.2)
Cash dividends declared				(187.0)		(187.0)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest							(11.4)
Directors deferred compensation			0.6			0.6
End of period at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,960.5	$ 0.6	$ 0.0	$ 2,279.4	$ (332.9)	$ 1,947.1	$ 13.4