Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the debt agreement requires the first payment to be made, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow during the period from the repayment of aggregate short-term and long-term debt. Excludes payment of capital lease obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bco_DominionTerminalAssociatesBondsMember
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bco_OtherCreditFacilitiesMember
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- Details

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Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Annual Facility Fee	0.225%
Debt Required Payments Start Date	Jan. 01, 2015
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt	$ 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt	$ 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt	$ 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
Bonds Face Amount	43.2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Undrawn Letters of Credit	123.1
February 2017 Multi-currency Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Debt Due Date	Feb. 01, 2017
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	20.0
Revolving Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Unsecured notes outstanding	233.0	120.6
Amended Revolving Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Credit Facility Borrowing Capacity	480.0
Debt Due Date	Jan. 01, 2017
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	247.0
Amended Revolving Facility [Member] \| Libor [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	1.40%
Amended Revolving Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Annual Facility Fee	0.10%
Amended Revolving Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Libor [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	0.90%
Amended Revolving Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Alternate Base Rate [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	0.00%
Amended Revolving Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Annual Facility Fee	0.30%
Amended Revolving Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Libor [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	1.575%
Amended Revolving Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Alternate Base Rate [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	0.575%
Private Placement Notes [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Debt Due Date	Jan. 01, 2021
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt	100.0
Private Placement Notes [Member] \| Private Placement Notes Seriesa [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Unsecured notes outstanding	50.0
Private Placement Notes [Member] \| Private Placement Notes Series B [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Unsecured notes outstanding	50.0
Unsecured Multi-currency Debt Facilities [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Credit Facility Borrowing Capacity	40.0
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	20.0
Undrawn Letters of Credit	14.3
Unsecured Multi-currency Debt Facilities [Member] \| December 2015 Multi-currency Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Debt Due Date	Dec. 01, 2015
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	20.0
Unsecured Multi-currency Debt Facilities [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	0.90%
Unsecured Multi-currency Debt Facilities [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	2.00%
Unsecured Letter of Credit Facilities [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Credit Facility Borrowing Capacity	179.0
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	72.0
Undrawn Letters of Credit	107.0
Unsecured Letter of Credit Facilities [Member] \| Fifty Four Million Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Debt Due Date	Dec. 01, 2016
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	54.0
Unsecured Letter of Credit Facilities [Member] \| Eighty Five Million Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Debt Due Date	Jun. 01, 2015
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	85.0
Unsecured Letter of Credit Facilities [Member] \| Twenty Four Million Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Debt Due Date	Dec. 01, 2015
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	40.0
Unsecured Bilateral Commited Credit Facilities [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Credit Facility Borrowing Capacity	24.0
Debt Due Date	Apr. 01, 2016
Credit Facility Availble Borrowing Credit	24.0
Unsecured Bilateral Commited Credit Facilities [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	1.20%
Unsecured Bilateral Commited Credit Facilities [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Margin on Base Rate	1.575%
Dominion Terminal Associates Bonds [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Debt Due Date	Jan. 01, 2033
Redemption of bonds including the interest	44.3
Other Credit Facilities [Member]
Long-term Debt Types [Abstract]
Undrawn Letters of Credit	$ 1.8