Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 21, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
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			$ 4,026,184,093
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		49,645,065
Trading Symbol	bco
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Smaller Reporting Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false