Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Jan. 03, 2010
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 261,341		$ 50,077		$ 46,056		$ 33,396
Accounts and notes receivable, net	1,292,648		569,204
Inventories	1,380,271		449,863
Other current assets	326,108		168,691
Total current assets	3,260,368		1,237,835
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,224,488		387,525		329,435
Other assets
Goodwill	4,894,512		2,273,918		2,066,044
Intangibles, net	1,909,656		592,285
Other non-current assets	506,287		94,750
Total other assets	7,310,455		2,960,953
Total assets	11,795,311	[1]	4,586,313	[1]	3,973,533	[1]
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings	3,096
Accounts payable	569,596		294,858
Employee compensation and benefits	295,067		118,413
Other current liabilities	670,162		223,708
Total current liabilities	1,537,921		641,841
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	2,454,278		1,304,225
Pension and other post-retirement compensation and benefits	378,066		280,389
Deferred tax liabilities	488,102		188,957
Other non-current liabilities	453,587		123,509
Total liabilities	5,311,954		2,538,921
Equity
Shareholders' equity attributable to Pentair Ltd. and subsidiaries	6,366,860		1,933,329
Noncontrolling interest	116,497		114,063
Total equity	6,483,357		2,047,392		2,205,032		2,126,340
Total liabilities and equity	11,795,311		4,586,313
Pentair Ltd.
Current assets
Accounts and notes receivable, net	20,197
Other current assets	1,425
Total current assets	21,622
Other assets
Investments in subsidiaries	6,496,081
Other non-current assets	13,300
Total other assets	6,509,381
Total assets	6,531,003
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	54,263
Other current liabilities	96,580
Total current liabilities	150,843
Other liabilities
Other non-current liabilities	13,300
Total liabilities	164,143
Equity
Shareholders' equity attributable to Pentair Ltd. and subsidiaries	6,366,860
Total equity	6,366,860
Total liabilities and equity	6,531,003
Subsidiary Issuer
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	30
Accounts and notes receivable, net	1,458,341
Total current assets	1,458,371
Other assets
Investments in subsidiaries	7,471,843
Other non-current assets	8,988
Total other assets	7,480,831
Total assets	8,939,202
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	1,787
Other current liabilities	11,297
Total current liabilities	13,084
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	2,297,710
Total liabilities	2,310,794
Equity
Shareholders' equity attributable to Pentair Ltd. and subsidiaries	6,628,408
Total equity	6,628,408
Total liabilities and equity	8,939,202
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	261,311		50,077
Accounts and notes receivable, net	1,348,698
Inventories	1,380,271
Other current assets	324,683
Total current assets	3,314,963
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,224,488
Other assets
Goodwill	4,894,512
Intangibles, net	1,909,656
Other non-current assets	497,299
Total other assets	7,301,467
Total assets	11,840,918
Current liabilities
Current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings	3,096
Accounts payable	589,793
Employee compensation and benefits	295,067
Other current liabilities	562,285
Total current liabilities	1,450,241
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	1,614,909
Pension and other post-retirement compensation and benefits	378,066
Deferred tax liabilities	488,102
Other non-current liabilities	453,587
Total liabilities	4,384,905
Equity
Shareholders' equity attributable to Pentair Ltd. and subsidiaries	7,339,516
Noncontrolling interest	116,497
Total equity	7,456,013
Total liabilities and equity	11,840,918
Eliminations
Current assets
Accounts and notes receivable, net	(1,534,588)
Total current assets	(1,534,588)
Other assets
Investments in subsidiaries	(13,967,924)
Other non-current assets	(13,300)
Total other assets	(13,981,224)
Total assets	(15,515,812)
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	(76,247)
Total current liabilities	(76,247)
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	(1,458,341)
Other non-current liabilities	(13,300)
Total liabilities	(1,547,888)
Equity
Shareholders' equity attributable to Pentair Ltd. and subsidiaries	(13,967,924)
Total equity	(13,967,924)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (15,515,812)

[1] All cash and cash equivalents are included in "Other."