Debt (Receivables-Related Borrowings) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Receivables Facility [Member]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 200.0
Maturity date			Sep. 01, 2011
Outstanding accounts receivable			722.4
Receivables facility	$ 200.0	$ 100.0	$ 200.0
Weighted average interest rate			1.20%

Secured financing facility where underlying trade receivables are not accounted for as "sale" under ASC 860 with initial maturity date of the financing facility being 364 days.

Name:	nwl_ReceivablesFacility
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the receivables financing facility without consideration of the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ReceivablesFinancingFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	nwl
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter, etc.).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Discussion of whether the borrowings under the credit facility are secured or unsecured and, if secured, a description of collateral (for example, accounts receivable less than 120 days old, finished goods inventory).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration