Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	May. 20, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 10, 2013
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock authorized, shares		200,000,000
Preferred stock authorized, shares		25,000,000
Purchase of common shares, value			$ 30.7	$ 19.5
Dividends per share declared and paid	$ 0.18	$ 0.72	$ 0.72	$ 0.54
Payments of dividends in total		$ 35.3	$ 35.4	$ 26.7
Percent of matching and retirement contribution of compensation paid		6.00%
Investments in mutual funds, percent		70.00%
Investments in deferred stock, percent		26.00%
Investments in General Cable stock fund, percent		4.00%
Market value of mutual fund investments, nonvested and subsequently vested stock and restricted stock in the rabbi trust		$ 25.6	31.9
Amounts payable to the plan participants classified as other liabilities		19.0	23.5
Stock Repurchase Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized amount					$ 125.0
Prior Stock Repurchase Program [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Purchase of common shares, value			$ 30.7
Repurchase of common shares, shares			1,000,000
Average cost per share			$ 30.73
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Market value of the assets held by the rabbi trust classified as other non-current assets		18.0	$ 22.1
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Market value of the assets held by the rabbi trust classified as other non-current assets		$ 18.0	$ 22.1