Cumulative translation adjustment for net investment hedge.

No definition available.

Name:	nwl_Cumulativetranslationadjustmentfornetinvestmenthedge
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Increase (Decrease) Due To Interest Rate Adjustment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_DebtInstrumentInterestRateIncreaseDecreaseDueToInterestRateAdjustment
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Total Increase (Decrease) Due Interest Rate Adjustment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_DebtInstrumentInterestRateTotalIncreaseDecreaseDueInterestRateAdjustment
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expected Interest Rate Adjustment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ExpectedInterestRateAdjustment
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest Expense, Debt, Interest Rate Adjustment, Annualized Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_InterestExpenseDebtInterestRateAdjustmentAnnualizedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Senior Notes, Subject To Interest Rate Adjustment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_SeniorNotesSubjectToInterestRateAdjustment
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775744&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114775985&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 470
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph e
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=75038535&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from a borrowing with the highest claim on the assets of the entity in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSeniorLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for a long-term debt where the holder has highest claim on the entity's asset in case of bankruptcy or liquidation during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSeniorDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nwl_A4.20SeniorNotesdue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nwl_A470SeniorNotesDue2020Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nwl_A375SeniorNotesDueOctober2021Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=nwl_A4875SeniorNotesDueJune2025Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_UsTreasuryUstInterestRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=nwl_SecuritizationFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Debt - Additional Information (Detail)	May 31, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 EUR (€)	Aug. 15, 2020	Mar. 08, 2020 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior notes subject to interest rate adjustment			$ 4,500,000,000
Interest rate change due to downgrade			0.0025
Total interest rate change			0.0050
Annual interest expense			$ 17,000,000
Increase in interest expense, annualized			23,000,000
Deferred gain (loss) on net investment hedge recorded in AOCL, net of tax			(11,000,000)
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						$ 1,250,000,000
Line of credit			$ 0
Revolving Credit Facility \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing rate margin			1.275%
4.20% senior notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.20%	4.20%
4.70% senior notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.70%	4.70%	4.70%
3.75% senior notes due October 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount \| €				€ 300,000,000
Commercial Paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity						$ 800,000,000
Senior notes \| 4.875% senior notes due May 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 500,000,000
Interest rate	4.875%
Proceeds from issuance of senior debt	$ 492,000,000
Redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior notes \| 4.875% senior notes due May 2025 \| US Treasury (UST) interest rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing rate margin	0.50%
Senior notes \| 4.20% senior notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 15,000,000
Interest rate		4.20%
Repayments of senior debt		$ 15,000,000
Senior notes \| 4.70% senior notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			4.70%	4.70%
Senior notes \| 3.75% senior notes due October 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate			3.75%	3.75%
Receivables facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			$ 600,000,000
Line of credit			$ 0