Company's Total Asset by Segement (Detail) (USD $) In Millions	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 5,449.3	$ 4,967.0
Lubrizol Additives
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	2,319.5	1,998.7
Lubrizol Advanced Materials
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	2,065.1	1,802.7
Total Segment Assets
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	4,384.6	3,801.4
Corporate
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 1,064.7	$ 1,165.6