Basis of presentation (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment ARS / $ VEF / $	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) VEF / $	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Number of operating segments | segment	3	9
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 218.7	$ 183.5	$ 186.8	$ 198.3
Accumulated other comprehensive losses related to Venezuela	873.8	907.0
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption			0.2
Cost of revenues	(610.3)		(588.9)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(107.1)		(108.7)
Operating Profit	70.9		23.5
Interest and other income (expense)	$ (11.2)		$ (9.7)
Venezuela
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Remeasurement rate | VEF / $	710		273
Rate decrease percent	62.00%
Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	$ 0.1		$ 0.5
Argentina
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Official exchange rate | ARS / $	15.4
Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Venezuela
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net remeasurement loss	$ 0.3		2.8
Investment in Venezuela operations	28.5	19.2
Nonmonetary assets	20.6	17.6
Net monetary assets	12.9	1.4
Cash and cash equivalents	15.0	6.8
Accumulated other comprehensive losses related to Venezuela	114.4	114.7
Argentine pesos | Argentina
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	25.4
Venezuela Investment | Venezuela
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Net payables to other Brink's affiliates	7.5	$ 6.1
Retained Earnings
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption			0.2
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Excess Tax Benefit Component
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Excess tax benefit	4.6
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Excess Tax Benefit Component | Retained Earnings
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption			$ 0.2
New Accounting Pronouncement, Early Adoption, Effect | Accounting Standards Update 2017-07
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cost of revenues	8.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1.6
Operating Profit	9.7
Interest and other income (expense)	$ 9.7