Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales	$ 3,456,686		$ 3,030,773		$ 2,692,468
Cost of goods sold	2,382,964		2,100,133		1,907,333
Gross profit	1,073,722		930,640		785,135
Selling, general and administrative	626,527		529,329		507,303
Research and development	78,158		67,156		57,884
Goodwill impairment	200,520
Operating income	168,517		334,155		219,948
Other (income) expense:
Equity (income) losses of unconsolidated subsidiaries	(1,898)		(2,108)		1,379
Loss on early extinguishment of debt					4,804
Interest income	(1,432)		(1,263)		(999)
Interest expense	60,267		37,379		42,117
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	111,580		300,147		172,647
Provision for income taxes	73,059		97,200		56,428
Income from continuing operations	38,521		202,947		116,219
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax			(626)		(19)
Net income before noncontrolling interest	38,521		202,321		116,200
Noncontrolling interest	4,299		4,493		707
Net income attributable to Pentair, Inc.	34,222		197,828		115,493
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Pentair, Inc.	$ 34,222		$ 198,454		$ 115,512
Basic
Continuing operations	$ 0.35	[1]	$ 2.02	[1]	$ 1.19
Discontinued operations			$ (0.01)	[1]
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.35	[1]	$ 2.01	[1]	$ 1.19
Diluted
Continuing operations	$ 0.34	[1]	$ 2.00	[1]	$ 1.17
Discontinued operations			$ (0.01)	[1]
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.34	[1]	$ 1.99	[1]	$ 1.17
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	98,233		98,037		97,415
Diluted	99,753		99,294		98,522

[1] Amounts may not total to annual earnings because each quarter and year are calculated separately based on basic and diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding during that period.