Segment Information (Company's Segments Results) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Net Sales	$ 1,535.3		$ 1,549.9		$ 4,383.9		$ 4,369.4
Operating Profit (Loss)	188.4		(192.2)		498.1		131.7
Impairment charges	0		(382.6)		0		(382.6)
Restructuring costs	(13.7)		(5.5)		(37.5)		(12.3)
Identifiable Assets	6,363.3				6,363.3				6,160.9
Newell Consumer Segment [Member]
Net Sales	814.6	[1]	832.1	[1]	2,262.6	[1]	2,322.3	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	137.9	[2],[3]	128.8	[2],[3]	359.0	[2],[3]	363.1	[2],[3]
Restructuring costs	(1.3)		0		(12.2)		0
Identifiable Assets	1,496.2				1,496.2				1,363.7
Newell Professional Segment [Member]
Net Sales	535.4	[1]	541.6	[1]	1,571.4	[1]	1,545.4	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	70.6	[2]	84.5	[2]	204.9	[2]	214.2	[2]
Restructuring costs	(4.3)		0		(9.1)		0
Identifiable Assets	1,286.4				1,286.4				1,126.3
Baby & Parenting Segment [Member]
Net Sales	185.3	[1]	176.2	[1]	549.9	[1]	501.7	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	18.3	[2]	17.7	[2]	59.9	[2]	38.1	[2]
Restructuring costs	(0.5)		0		(0.7)		0
Identifiable Assets	308.6				308.6				305.3
Corporate [Member]
Operating Profit (Loss)	(24.7)	[3]	(35.1)	[3]	(88.2)	[3]	(88.8)	[3]
Restructuring costs	(7.6)		(5.5)		(15.5)		(12.3)
Identifiable Assets	3,272.1	[4]			3,272.1	[4]			3,365.6	[4]
United States [Member]
Net Sales	1,058.8	[1],[5]	1,041.0	[1],[5]	2,981.7	[1],[5]	2,915.1	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	138.3	[2],[3],[6]	(137.3)	[2],[3],[6]	359.0	[2],[3],[6]	86.0	[2],[3],[6]
Impairment charges	0		(266.8)		0		(266.8)
Restructuring costs	(5.3)		0		(21.4)		0
Restructuring Related Costs					(7.1)
United States [Member] | Newell Consumer Segment [Member]
Restructuring Related Costs	(3.2)				(3.2)
United States [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Restructuring Related Costs					(3.9)
Canada [Member]
Net Sales	94.4	[1],[5]	103.3	[1],[5]	262.5	[1],[5]	284.7	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	20.9	[2],[6]	25.1	[2],[6]	54.4	[2],[6]	61.5	[2],[6]
Impairment charges	0		0		0		0
Restructuring costs	(0.3)		0		(0.8)		0
Total North America [Member]
Net Sales	1,153.2	[1],[5]	1,144.3	[1],[5]	3,244.2	[1],[5]	3,199.8	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	159.2	[2],[6]	(112.2)	[2],[6]	413.4	[2],[6]	147.5	[2],[6]
Impairment charges	0		(266.8)		0		(266.8)
Restructuring costs	(5.6)		0		(22.2)		0
Europe, Middle East and Africa [Member]
Net Sales	174.4	[1],[5]	203.7	[1],[5]	537.2	[1],[5]	617.2	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	3.2	[2],[3],[6]	(4.5)	[2],[3],[6]	17.0	[2],[3],[6]	14.6	[2],[3],[6]
Impairment charges	0		(9.2)		0		(9.2)
Restructuring costs	(6.1)		(5.5)		(11.7)		(12.3)
Europe, Middle East and Africa [Member] | Corporate [Member]
Restructuring Related Costs	(5.4)		(11.5)		(22.0)		(25.8)
Latin America [Member]
Net Sales	86.4	[1],[5]	86.2	[1],[5]	245.3	[1],[5]	238.4	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	6.2	[2],[6]	4.6	[2],[6]	2.6	[2],[6]	13.3	[2],[6]
Impairment charges	0		0		0		0
Restructuring costs	(1.7)		0		(2.6)		0
Asia Pacific [Member]
Net Sales	121.3	[1],[5]	115.7	[1],[5]	357.2	[1],[5]	314.0	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	19.8	[2],[6]	(80.1)	[2],[6]	65.1	[2],[6]	(43.7)	[2],[6]
Impairment charges	0		(106.6)		0		(106.6)
Restructuring costs	(0.3)		0		(1.0)		0
Total International [Member]
Net Sales	382.1	[1],[5]	405.6	[1],[5]	1,139.7	[1],[5]	1,169.6	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	29.2	[2],[6]	(80.0)	[2],[6]	84.7	[2],[6]	(15.8)	[2],[6]
Impairment charges	0		(115.8)		0		(115.8)
Restructuring costs	$ (8.1)		$ (5.5)		$ (15.3)		$ (12.3)
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Subsidiaries [Member]
Percentage of net sales	12.10%		12.50%		10.90%		10.90%

[1] All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and subsidiaries amounted to approximately 12.1% and 12.5% of consolidated net sales in the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and approximately 10.9% of consolidated net sales in the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011.

[2] Operating income (loss) by segment is net sales less cost of products sold and selling, general & administrative (“SG&A”) expenses. Operating income by geographic area is net sales less cost of products sold, SG&A expenses, impairment charges, and restructuring costs. Certain headquarters expenses of an operational nature are allocated to business segments and geographic areas primarily on a net sales basis. Depreciation and amortization is allocated to the segments on a percentage of sales basis, and the allocated depreciation and amortization is included in segment operating income.

[3] The United States operating income is after considering $3.2 million and $7.1 million of incremental SG&A costs associated with Project Renewal for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, of which $3.2 million relates to the Consumer segment and $3.9 million relates to Corporate. The Europe, Middle East and Africa operating income is after considering $5.4 million and $11.5 million of incremental SG&A costs associated with the European Transformation Plan for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $22.0 million and $25.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, all of which is included in Corporate.

[4] Corporate assets primarily include goodwill, capitalized software, cash and deferred tax assets.

[5] Geographic sales information is based on the region from which the products are shipped and invoiced.

[6] The following table summarizes the restructuring costs and impairment charges by region included in operating income (loss) above (in millions): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2012 2011 2012 2011Restructuring Costs United States$5.3 $— $21.4 $—Canada0.3 — 0.8 —Total North America5.6 — 22.2 —Europe, Middle East and Africa6.1 5.5 11.7 12.3Latin America1.7 — 2.6 —Asia Pacific0.3 — 1.0 —Total International8.1 5.5 15.3 12.3 $13.7 $5.5 $37.5 $12.3 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2012 2011 2012 2011Impairment Charges United States$— $266.8 $— $266.8Canada— — — —Total North America— 266.8 — 266.8Europe, Middle East and Africa— 9.2 — 9.2Latin America— — — —Asia Pacific— 106.6 — 106.6Total International— 115.8 — 115.8 $— $382.6 $— $382.6