Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Millions	Total	Common shares	Treasury shares	Capital contribution reserve	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Total Pentair Ltd.	Noncontrolling interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 6,487.5	$ 113.5	$ (315.5)	$ 5,292.4	$ 1,292.3	$ (11.6)	$ 6,371.1	$ 116.4
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		213.0	(6.9)
Net income	53.3				51.7		51.7	1.6
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	(76.9)
Changes in market value of derivative financial instruments, net of $0.5 and $2.6 tax for the nine months ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively	0.7
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(76.2)					(75.3)	(75.3)	(0.9)
Tax benefits of share-based compensation	6.2			6.2			6.2
Dividends declared	0.8			0.8	0		0.8
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(2.0)							(2.0)
Share repurchase	(140.3)		(140.3)				(140.3)
Share repurchase (in shares)			(2.7)
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	21.8	0	33.8	(12.0)			21.8
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)		0	0.8
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations	0	0	24.0	(24.0)			0
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)		0	0.5
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	(10.0)	0	(8.5)	(1.5)			(10.0)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)		0	(0.2)
Share-based compensation	10.4			10.4			10.4
Ending Balance at Mar. 30, 2013	6,351.5	113.5	(406.5)	5,272.3	1,344.0	(86.9)	6,236.4	115.1
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 30, 2013		213.0	(8.5)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	6,217.7	113.5	(875.1)	5,071.4	1,829.1	(43.6)	6,095.3	122.4
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		213.0	(15.6)
Net income	118.6				118.6		118.6	0
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	(27.9)
Changes in market value of derivative financial instruments, net of $0.5 and $2.6 tax for the nine months ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively	0.2
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(27.7)					(27.7)	(27.7)
Dividends declared	0.6			0.6			0.6
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(134.7)			12.3			12.3	122.4
Share repurchase	(269.6)		(269.6)				(269.6)
Share repurchase (in shares)			(3.5)
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	27.2		34.3	(7.1)			27.2
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)			0.7
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations			7.3	(7.3)
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)			0.2
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	(3.2)		(2.0)	(1.2)			(3.2)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)			(0.1)
Share-based compensation	7.4			7.4			7.4
Ending Balance at Mar. 29, 2014	$ 5,936.3	$ 113.5	$ (1,105.1)	$ 5,051.5	$ 1,947.7	$ (71.3)	$ 5,936.3	$ 0
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 29, 2014		213.0	(18.3)