Earning Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Numerator (basic and diluted):
Net income (loss)	$ 36	$ (5)	$ (2)	$ (9)
Allocation to unvested restricted stock awards	(1)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	35	(6)	(4)	(11)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	35	(6)	(4)	(11)
Denominator
Basic common shares (based upon weighted average)	348	349	348	349
Add:
Contingent common shares	0	0	0	0
Stock option dilution	0	0	0	0
Diluted common shares	348	349	348	349
Earning Per Common Share (Textuals) [Abstract]
Cash dividends per common share paid	$ 0.75	$ (0.75)	$ 0.225	$ (0.225)
Cash dividends per common share declared	$ 0.75	$ (0.75)	$ 0.225	$ (0.225)
Grant of long term stock awards			2
Repurchase and retirement of common stock to offset the dilutive impact of long term stock awards			2
Repurchase and retirement of common stock cash aggregate to offset the dilutive effect			$ 30
Common stock outstanding under repurchase authorization	25		25
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive effect on computation of diluted earnings per common share	0	0	0	0
Outstanding Stock Awards [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive effect on computation of diluted earnings per common share	37	37	37	37

Add:

Name:	mas_AddAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mas
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Allocation to unvested restricted stock awards.

+ Details

Name:	mas_AllocationToUnvestedRestrictedStockAwards
Namespace Prefix:	mas
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Common stock outstanding under repurchase authorization.

+ Details

Name:	mas_CommonStockOutstandingUnderRepurchaseAuthorization
Namespace Prefix:	mas
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Denominator.

+ Details

Name:	mas_DenominatorAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mas
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Earning Per Common Share Textuals Abstract.

+ Details

Name:	mas_EarningPerCommonShareTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mas
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders.

+ Details

Name:	mas_LossIncomeFromContinuingOperationsAttributableToCommonShareholders
Namespace Prefix:	mas
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Numerator (basic and diluted).

+ Details

Name:	mas_NumeratorBasicAndDilutedAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mas
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts or decrease loss per share amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 13, 14

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 171

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 40

-Subparagraph c

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the reporting entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, but after deduction of those portions of income or loss from continuing operations that are allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 29

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 28

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph b(1)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Shares whose issuance for little or no cash is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and shall be considered outstanding and included in the computation of diluted Earnings Per Share.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 171

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToContingentlyIssuableShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate awards of share options and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a share-based compensation arrangement are considered options for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share. Such share-based awards shall be considered to be outstanding as of the grant date for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share even though their exercise may be contingent upon vesting. Those share-based awards are included in the diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) computation even if the employee may not receive (or be able to sell) the stock until some future date. Accordingly, all shares to be issued shall be included in computing diluted EPS if the effect is dilutive. The dilutive effect of share-based compensation arrangements shall be computed using the treasury stock method. If the equity share options or other equity instruments are outstanding for only part of a period, the shares issuable shall be weighted to reflect the portion of the period during which the equity instruments were outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 20

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of stock granted during the period as a result of any share-based compensation plan other than en employee stock ownership plan

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 43

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockGrantedDuringPeriodSharesSharebasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased and retired during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 12

-Paragraph 10

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of stock that has been repurchased and retired during the period. The excess of the purchase price over par value can be charged against retained earnings (once the excess is fully allocated to additional paid in capital).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The average number of shares issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS, determined based on the timing of issuance of shares in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 40

-Subparagraph a

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 8

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of [basic] shares, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares and other shares not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 171

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 40

-Subparagraph a

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 128

-Paragraph 8

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration