Non-TSR PSU Vesting Period Maximum

Name:	nwl_NonTsrPsuVestingPeriodMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Non-TSR PSU Vesting Period Minimum

+ Details

Name:	nwl_NonTsrPsuVestingPeriodMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum percentage applicable to performance based restricted stock units awarded based on the level of achievement of specified conditions at the vesting date.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceShareUnitAdditionalUnitsGrantedMaximumPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum percentage applicable to performance based restricted stock units awarded based on the level of achievement of specified conditions at the vesting date.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceShareUnitAdditionalUnitsGrantedMinimumPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of outstanding performance share units that could be awarded based on performance as of the end of the reporting period.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceShareUnitAwardLevelNonvestedAtPeriodEndNumber
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Performance-based restricted stock units granted during the period.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceShareUnitAwardNumber
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage applicable to performance based restricted stock units awarded based on the threshold level of achievement of specified conditions at end of period.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceShareUnitOutstandingAtThreshold
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of outstanding performance share units at the threshold award level as of the end of the reporting period.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPerformanceShareUnitThresholdAwardLevelNonvestedNumber
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph g(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6793087&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section F

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 64

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the period of time over which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, which may be expressed in a variety of ways (for example, in years, month and year).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Pre-tax stock-based compensation	$ 11.7	$ 9.0	$ 28.4	$ 27.8
Restricted Stock Units (RSU) [Member]
Performance-based stock units awarded			0.5
Vesting period, years			3
Percentage of units that are earned, minimum			0.00%
Percentage of units that are earned, maximum			200.00%
Performance-based stock, outstanding	2.2		2.2
Shares entitled to recipients			0.9
Percentage of units granted assumed			100.00%
PSU Other Than TSR [Member]
Performance-based stock units awarded	0.7
Non-TSR PSU Vesting Period Minimum	2
Non-TSR PSU Vesting Period Maximum	7
Performance-based stock, outstanding	0.7		0.7