Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equiity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010	Jul. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2010
Beginning Balance			$ 2,205,032	$ 2,126,340
Net income	68,137	62,205	120,171	98,758
Change in cumulative translation adjustment			65,159	(101,832)
Changes in market value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax of $1,249 in 2011 and ($673) in 2010			1,788	(1,076)
Cash dividends - $0.40 per common share in 2011 and $0.38 per common share in 2010			(39,739)	(37,700)
Share repurchase			(287)
Exercise of stock options, net of 3,266 shares tendered for payment in 2011 and 23,548 shares tendered for payment in 2010			10,809	2,974
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations			1,437	608
Amortization of restricted shares			480	2,258
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes			(2,696)	(4,400)
Stock compensation			4,700	5,885
Ending Balance	2,366,854	2,091,815	2,366,854	2,091,815
Common shares
Beginning Balance (in shares)			98,409,192	98,655,506
Beginning Balance			16,401	16,442
Share repurchase (in shares)			(7,826)
Share repurchase			(1)
Exercise of stock options, net of 3,266 shares tendered for payment in 2011 and 23,548 shares tendered for payment in 2010 (in shares)			408,637	172,383
Exercise of stock options, net of 3,266 shares tendered for payment in 2011 and 23,548 shares tendered for payment in 2010			68	28
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)			29,131	3,981
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations			5	1
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)			(72,799)	(130,684)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes			(13)	(22)
Ending Balance (in shares)	98,766,335	98,701,186	98,766,335	98,701,186
Ending Balance	16,460	16,449	16,460	16,449
Additional paid-in Capital
Beginning Balance			474,489	472,807
Share repurchase			(286)
Exercise of stock options, net of 3,266 shares tendered for payment in 2011 and 23,548 shares tendered for payment in 2010			10,741	2,946
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations			1,432	607
Amortization of restricted shares			480	2,258
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes			(2,683)	(4,378)
Stock compensation			4,700	5,885
Ending Balance	488,873	480,125	488,873	480,125
Retained earnings
Beginning Balance			1,624,605	1,502,242
Net income			117,253	96,402
Cash dividends - $0.40 per common share in 2011 and $0.38 per common share in 2010			(39,739)	(37,700)
Ending Balance	1,702,119	1,560,944	1,702,119	1,560,944
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Beginning Balance			(22,342)	20,597
Change in cumulative translation adjustment			62,456	(96,534)
Changes in market value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax of $1,249 in 2011 and ($673) in 2010			1,788	(1,076)
Ending Balance	41,902	(77,013)	41,902	(77,013)
Total Pentair, Inc.
Beginning Balance			2,093,153	2,012,088
Net income			117,253	96,402
Change in cumulative translation adjustment			62,456	(96,534)
Changes in market value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax of $1,249 in 2011 and ($673) in 2010			1,788	(1,076)
Cash dividends - $0.40 per common share in 2011 and $0.38 per common share in 2010			(39,739)	(37,700)
Share repurchase			(287)
Exercise of stock options, net of 3,266 shares tendered for payment in 2011 and 23,548 shares tendered for payment in 2010			10,809	2,974
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations			1,437	608
Amortization of restricted shares			480	2,258
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes			(2,696)	(4,400)
Stock compensation			4,700	5,885
Ending Balance	2,249,354	1,980,505	2,249,354	1,980,505
Noncontrolling interest
Beginning Balance			111,879	114,252
Net income			2,918	2,356
Change in cumulative translation adjustment			2,703	(5,298)
Ending Balance	117,500	111,310	117,500	111,310
Comprehensive income attributable to Pentair, Inc.
Net income			117,253	96,402
Change in cumulative translation adjustment			62,456	(96,534)
Changes in market value of derivative financial instruments, net of tax of $1,249 in 2011 and ($673) in 2010			1,788	(1,076)
Comprehensive income			$ 181,497	$ (1,208)