Document and Entity Information (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 21, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	BRINKS CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000078890
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1,220,954,365
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		48,435,731