Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Oct. 27, 2011
Document And Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Registrant Name	GENERAL CABLE CORP /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000886035
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		52,188,356

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