Earnings Per Share (Calculation Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Earnings Per Share
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 55.5	$ 53.6	$ 101.8	$ 101.1
(Earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(0.8)	(1.4)	(2.1)	(3.2)
Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to Leggett & Platt, Inc. common shareholders	54.7	52.2	99.7	97.9
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0.5		(0.1)
Net earnings attributable to Leggett & Platt, Inc.	$ 54.7	$ 52.7	$ 99.7	$ 97.8
Weighted average number of common shares used in basic EPS	145.6	151.5	147.4	152.0
Additional dilutive shares principally from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options	1.8	2.3	1.7	2.1
Weighted average number of common shares and dilutive potential common shares used in diluted EPS	147.4	153.8	149.1	154.1
Continuing operations, basic	$ 0.38	$ 0.34	$ 0.68	$ 0.64
Discontinued operations, basic		$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Basic EPS attributable to Leggett & Platt, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.38	$ 0.35	$ 0.68	$ 0.64
Continuing operations, dilutive	$ 0.37	$ 0.34	$ 0.67	$ 0.64
Discontinued operations, dilutive		$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Diluted EPS attributable to Leggett & Platt, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.37	$ 0.34	$ 0.67	$ 0.63
Shares issuable under employee and non-employee stock options	11.6	12.6	11.6	12.6
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from diluted EPS computation	1.7	1.5	2.0	3.0