Segment Information (Company's Segments Results) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Net sales	$ 5,902.7		$ 5,864.6		$ 5,658.2
Operating Profit (Loss)	651.9		257.2		623.5
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	163.7		161.6		172.3
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	177.2		222.9		164.7
Identifiable Assets	6,222.0		6,160.9
Restructuring Costs	(56.1)		(50.1)		(77.4)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		(382.6)		0
Home Solutions [Member]
Net sales	1,644.0	[1]	1,710.2	[1]	1,678.0	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	217.5	[2]	228.9	[2]	228.3	[2]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	29.8	[2]	34.5	[2]	40.5	[2]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	34.4		33.0		29.4
Identifiable Assets	573.2		579.9
Restructuring Costs	(7.6)		(7.8)
Writing [Member]
Net sales	1,416.2	[1]	1,399.3	[1]	1,355.8	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	261.9	[2]	246.9	[2]	222.4	[2]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	27.0	[2]	24.4	[2]	21.5	[2]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	20.1		33.7		31.3
Identifiable Assets	835.5		783.8
Restructuring Costs	(2.4)		(1.9)
Tools [Member]
Net sales	806.1	[1]	779.6	[1]	687.6	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	109.8	[2]	119.1	[2]	93.0	[2]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	15.3	[2]	16.5	[2]	17.7	[2]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	33.0		28.2		15.2
Identifiable Assets	562.8		499.2
Restructuring Costs	(1.0)		0
Commercial Products [Member]
Net sales	759.7	[1]	741.5	[1]	683.1	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	92.9	[2]	108.3	[2]	134.2	[2]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	25.1	[2]	25.6	[2]	27.2	[2]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	20.7		29.2		10.3
Identifiable Assets	348.8		329.3
Restructuring Costs	(5.6)		0
Baby & Parenting [Member]
Net sales	736.1	[1]	680.4	[1]	700.2	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	72.7	[2]	51.6	[2]	53.4	[2]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	9.9	[2]	9.9	[2]	11.0	[2]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	15.6		9.1		8.8
Identifiable Assets	312.7		305.3
Restructuring Costs	(0.9)		(2.4)
Specialty [Member]
Net sales	540.6	[1]	553.6	[1]	553.5	[1]
Operating Profit (Loss)	68.2	[2]	60.2	[2]	66.5	[2]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	9.8	[2]	11.3	[2]	15.3	[2]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	6.4		8.3		7.2
Identifiable Assets	309.7		297.9
Restructuring Costs	(3.4)		(3.7)
Corporate [Member]
Operating Profit (Loss)	(115.0)	[2]	(125.1)	[2]	(96.9)	[2]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization	46.8	[2]	39.4	[2]	39.1	[2]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets	47.0	[3]	81.4	[3]	62.5	[3]
Identifiable Assets	3,279.3	[4]	3,365.5	[4]
Restructuring Costs	(35.2)		(34.3)
Total North America [Member]
Net sales	4,363.3	[1],[5]	4,292.0	[1],[5]	4,221.3	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	547.3	[2],[6]	248.1	[2],[6]	551.0	[2],[6]
Restructuring Costs	(32.9)		(29.4)		(26.0)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		(266.8)		0
United States [Member]
Net sales	4,004.5	[1],[5]	3,915.7	[1],[5]	3,870.3	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	472.1	[2],[6]	166.9	[2],[6]	471.9	[2],[6]
Restructuring Costs	(32.1)		(29.3)		(18.1)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		(266.8)		0
Canada [Member]
Net sales	358.8	[1],[5]	376.3	[1],[5]	351.0	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	75.2	[2],[6]	81.2	[2],[6]	79.1	[2],[6]
Restructuring Costs	(0.8)		(0.1)		(7.9)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0		0
Total International [Member]
Net sales	1,539.4	[1],[5]	1,572.6	[1],[5]	1,436.9	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	104.6	[2],[6]	9.1	[2],[6]	72.5	[2],[6]
Restructuring Costs	(23.2)		(20.7)		(51.4)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		(115.8)		0
Europe, Middle East and Africa [Member]
Net sales	718.4	[1],[5]	815.3	[1],[5]	800.5	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	7.8	[2],[6]	16.6	[2],[6]	10.0	[2],[6]
Restructuring Costs	(19.5)		(19.5)		(30.4)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		(9.2)		0
Latin America [Member]
Net sales	338.9	[1],[5]	318.6	[1],[5]	267.0	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	12.4	[2],[6]	12.8	[2],[6]	(1.3)	[2],[6]
Restructuring Costs	(2.7)		(0.7)		(12.9)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0		0
Asia Pacific [Member]
Net sales	482.1	[1],[5]	438.7	[1],[5]	369.4	[1],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss)	84.4	[2],[6]	(20.3)	[2],[6]	63.8	[2],[6]
Restructuring Costs	(1.0)		(0.5)		(8.1)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	$ 0		$ (106.6)		$ 0
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Subsidiaries [Member]
Percentage of net sales	10.80%		11.00%		11.90%

[1] All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and subsidiaries amounted to 10.8%, 11.0% and 11.9% of consolidated net sales in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, substantially across all segments.

[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] Corporate capital expenditures primarily relate to the SAP implementation.

[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. Long-lived assets by geography are not presented because it is impracticable to do so.

[6] The following table summarizes the restructuring costs and impairment charges by region included in operating income (loss) above (in millions): 2012 2011 2010Restructuring Costs United States$(32.1) $(29.3) $(18.1)Canada(0.8) (0.1) (7.9)Total North America(32.9) (29.4) (26.0)Europe, Middle East and Africa(19.5) (19.5) (30.4)Latin America(2.7) (0.7) (12.9)Asia Pacific(1.0) (0.5) (8.1)Total International(23.2) (20.7) (51.4) $(56.1) $(50.1) $(77.4) 2012 2011 2010Impairment Charges United States$— $(266.8) $—Canada— — —Total North America— (266.8) —Europe, Middle East and Africa— (9.2) —Latin America— — —Asia Pacific— (106.6) —Total International— (115.8) — $— $(382.6) $—