Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Millions	Total	Ordinary shares	Treasury shares	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Total Pentair plc	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	208.7				205.8		205.8	2.9
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	(118.2)
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	0.3
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(117.9)					(117.4)	(117.4)	(0.5)
Tax benefits of share-based compensation	6.2			6.2			6.2
Dividends declared	(199.2)			(199.2)	0		(199.2)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(2.0)							(2.0)
Share repurchase	(490.3)		(490.3)				(490.3)
Share repurchase (in shares)			(9.0)
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	50.7	0	68.6	(17.9)			50.7
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)		0	1.6
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations	0	0	24.8	(24.8)			0
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)		0	0.7
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	(10.6)	0	(8.7)	(1.9)			(10.6)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)		0	(0.2)
Share-based compensation	18.1			18.1			18.1
Ending Balance at Jun. 29, 2013	5,951.2	113.5	(721.1)	5,072.9	1,498.1	(129.0)	5,834.4	116.8
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 29, 2013		213.0	(13.8)
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	280.1				280.1		280.1	0
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	(11.5)
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	0.4
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(11.1)					(11.1)	(11.1)
par value conversion		(111.4)		111.4
Dividends declared	(230.5)			(230.5)			(230.5)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(134.7)			12.3			12.3	122.4
Share repurchase	(450.7)		(450.7)				(450.7)
Share repurchase (in shares)			(5.8)
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	34.9		44.9	(10.0)			34.9
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)			0.9
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations			7.8	(7.8)
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)			0.2
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	(3.4)		(2.1)	(1.3)			(3.4)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)			(0.1)
Share-based compensation	16.5			16.5			16.5
Ending Balance at Jun. 28, 2014	$ 5,718.8	$ 2.1	$ (1,275.2)	$ 4,937.4	$ 2,109.2	$ (54.7)	$ 5,718.8	$ 0
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 28, 2014		213.0	(20.4)