Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	May 01, 2018
Document Documentand Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	LEGGETT & PLATT INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000058492
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	LEG
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		131,269,508