Restructuring and Other Charges (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 03, 2010 Other costs 2010 Actions	Oct. 03, 2010 Other costs 2010 Actions	Jul. 03, 2011 Severance 2011 Actions Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Oct. 02, 2011 Severance 2011 Actions Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Oct. 02, 2011 Severance 2011 Actions Europe	Jul. 03, 2011 Severance 2011 Actions Europe	Apr. 03, 2011 Severance 2011 Actions Europe	Oct. 03, 2010 Severance 2010 Actions	Oct. 03, 2010 Severance 2010 Actions	Jul. 03, 2011 Severance 2010 Actions Europe	Apr. 03, 2011 Severance 2010 Actions Europe	Oct. 02, 2011 Severance 2010 Actions Europe	Oct. 02, 2011 Severance 2010 Actions North America	Jul. 03, 2011 Severance 2010 Actions North America	Apr. 03, 2011 Severance 2010 Actions North America	Oct. 02, 2011 Severance 2010 Actions North America	Oct. 02, 2011 Asset write-downs 2010 Actions North America	Apr. 03, 2011 Facility exit and other 2011 Actions Europe	Jul. 03, 2011 Facility exit and other 2010 Actions Europe	Apr. 03, 2011 Facility exit and other 2010 Actions Europe	Apr. 03, 2011 Facility exit and other 2010 Actions North America	Oct. 02, 2011 2010 Actions North America	Jul. 03, 2011 2010 Actions North America	Apr. 03, 2011 2010 Actions North America	Oct. 02, 2011 2010 Actions North America	Oct. 02, 2011 North America	Oct. 03, 2010 North America	Oct. 02, 2011 North America	Oct. 03, 2010 North America	Oct. 02, 2011 2011 Actions Europe	Jul. 03, 2011 2011 Actions Europe	Apr. 03, 2011 2011 Actions Europe	Jul. 03, 2011 2010 Actions Europe	Apr. 03, 2011 2010 Actions Europe	Oct. 02, 2011 2010 Actions Europe	Oct. 02, 2011 Europe	Oct. 03, 2010 Europe	Oct. 02, 2011 Europe	Oct. 03, 2010 Europe	Oct. 02, 2011 China	Oct. 03, 2010 China	Oct. 02, 2011 2010 Actions	Oct. 03, 2010 2010 Actions	Oct. 02, 2011 2010 Actions	Oct. 03, 2010 2010 Actions	Oct. 02, 2011 2011 Actions	Oct. 02, 2011 2011 Actions	Jul. 03, 2011 2011 Actions Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Oct. 02, 2011 2011 Actions Danfoss Socla S.A.S	Oct. 02, 2011 Total.	Oct. 03, 2010 Total.	Oct. 02, 2011 Total.	Oct. 03, 2010 Total.
Restructuring reserve
Balance at the beginning of the period									$ 0.4					$ 4.4	$ 5.4	$ 5.4	$ 1.4	$ 1.8	$ 2.0	$ 2.0						$ 1.4	$ 1.8	$ 2.0	$ 2.0					$ 0.4			$ 4.4	$ 5.4	$ 5.4
Net pre-tax restructuring charges	1.9	3.0	8.5	8.8	0.8	1.8	2.7	0.1	0.6	0.7	0.1	1.9	5.2	1.5	0.2	0.1				0	0.2	0.1	0.3	0.6	0.1	0.2		0.1	0	1.1	2.1	1.2	3.1	0.6	0.7	0.2	1.8	0.8	0.1	0.8	0.9	7.1	6.7	0.2	0.3	0.1	2.7	2.8	8.3	0.7	4.3	2.7	0.1	1.9	3.0	8.2	9.9
Utilization and foreign currency impact							(0.1)	(1.2)	(0.8)	(0.3)	(0.1)			(1.7)	(1.2)	(1.4)	(0.8)	(0.4)	(0.2)		(0.2)	(0.1)	(0.3)	(0.6)	(0.1)	(1.0)	(0.4)	(0.3)						(0.8)	(0.3)	(0.2)	(2.0)	(1.8)	(1.4)													(0.1)	(1.2)
Balance at the ending of the period							$ 2.6	$ 1.5	$ 0.2	$ 0.4				$ 4.2	$ 4.4	$ 2.9	$ 0.6	$ 1.4	$ 1.8	$ 0.6						$ 0.6	$ 1.4	$ 1.8	$ 0.6					$ 0.2	$ 0.4		$ 4.2	$ 4.4	$ 2.9													$ 2.6	$ 1.5