Target operating income as a percentage of net sales for European operations of the Company

Name:	nwl_IncreaseInOperatingMargin
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Restructuring and related activities completion year.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of cash paid during the reporting period for charges associated with the consolidation and relocation of operations, disposition or abandonment of operations or productive assets (that is, for reorganizing and restructuring charges and other related expenses). These charges may be incurred in connection with a business combination, change in strategic plan, a managerial response to declines in demand, increasing costs or other environmental factors.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 28

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount expected to be charged against earnings in the current and future periods for the specified restructuring cost.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 146
-Paragraph 20

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 95-3

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section P
-Subsection 3, 4

+ Details

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

Restructuring Costs (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended						1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 European Transformation Plan Minimum Charges [Member] Employee Related Cash Costs [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 European Transformation Plan Minimum Charges [Member] Selling, General, And Administrative [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 European Transformation Plan Maximum Charges [Member] Employee Related Cash Costs [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 European Transformation Plan Maximum Charges [Member] Selling, General, And Administrative [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Forecast [Member]
Increase in operating margin									10.00%
Expected cumulative restructuring charges					$ 40	$ 70	$ 45	$ 75
Expected completion year			2012
Cash paid for restructuring activities	$ 8.7	$ 15.2	$ 20.5	$ 31.3