OTHER COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Warranty (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Changes in the company's warranty liability
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 135	$ 124
Accruals for warranties issued during the year	56	51
Accruals related to pre-existing warranties	15	11
Settlements made (in cash or kind) during the year	(50)	(46)
Other, net (including currency translation)	(4)	(5)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 152	$ 135

Represents increase (decrease) in standard product warranty accrual due to other, net and currency translation.

No definition available.

Name:	mas_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualOtherNet
Namespace Prefix:	mas_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MovementInStandardProductWarrantyAccrualRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount as of the balance sheet date of the aggregate standard product warranty liability that is expected to be paid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Does not include the balance for the extended product warranty liability.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the aggregate decrease in the liability for payments made (in cash or in kind) to satisfy claims under the terms of the standard product warranty. Does not include any Increase or Decrease in the liability for payments related to extended product warranties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph ((c)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the aggregate Increase or Decrease in the liability during the reporting period for accruals related to preexisting standard product warranties (including adjustments related to changes in estimates). Does not include any Increase or Decrease in the liability for accruals related to extended product warranties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph ((c)(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the aggregate increase in the liability for accruals related to standard product warranties issued during the reporting period. Does not include any increase in the liability for accruals related to extended product warranties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph ((c)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6398077&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StandardProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration