Results of Operations by Quarter (Financial Results of Operations by Quarter) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Total revenue	$ 3,043.7	[1]	$ 2,762.4	$ 2,856.4	$ 2,629.1	$ 3,175.6	[1]	$ 2,612.4	$ 2,628.5	$ 2,446.3	$ 11,291.6		$ 10,862.8		$ 10,205.2
Gross profit	1,861.2	[1]	1,764.1	1,838.4	1,679.3	1,964.1	[1]	1,679.4	1,666.4	1,511.6	7,143.0		6,821.5
Operating profit	12.9	[1]	278.6	316.6	246.5	355.9	[1]	259.3	266.4	191.5	854.6		1,073.1		1,005.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before tax	(17.3)	[1]	241.3	293.7	224.9	333.9	[1]	236.1	249.1	126.3	742.6		945.4		913.7
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	0.3	[1]	165.2	208.7	152.2	220.3	[1]	167.2	165.0	42.7	526.4		595.2		619.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	[1]	0	0	(8.6)	9.0	[1]	0.3	4.2	0.6	(8.6)		14.1		9.0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.7)	[1]	(1.0)	(2.5)	0	0.2	[1]	(0.8)	(1.6)	(0.8)	(4.2)		(3.0)		(2.4)
Net income attributable to Avon	(0.4)	[1]	164.2	206.2	143.6	229.5	[1]	166.7	167.6	42.5	513.6		606.3		625.8
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest											$ 517.8		$ 609.3		$ 628.2
Basic	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 0.38	$ 0.48	$ 0.35	$ 0.51	[1]	$ 0.38	$ 0.38	$ 0.10	$ 1.20	[2]	$ 1.37	[2]	$ 1.43
Diluted	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 0.38	$ 0.47	$ 0.35	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.38	$ 0.38	$ 0.10	$ 1.20	[2]	$ 1.36	[2]	$ 1.43

[1] As discussed in Note 1, Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, we recorded out-of-period adjustments during the first quarter of 2011 associated with Discontinued operations, net of tax for prior periods resulting in a charge of approximately $9, which would have decreased Discontinued operations, net of tax during the fourth quarter of 2010 by approximately $13 and increased a prior period by approximately $4.During the fourth quarter of 2011, we recorded adjustments of approximately $25 before tax ($17 after tax) of which approximately $14 before tax ($10 after tax) related to prior quarters of 2011 and was primarily associated with inventory in our Brazil operations. The remaining fourth quarter out-of-period adjustments of approximately $11 before tax ($7 after tax) related to prior years. During the other quarters of 2011, we also recorded out-of-period adjustments in the aggregate of approximately $10 before tax ($7 after tax) that related to prior years.We evaluated the out-of-period adjustments, both individually and in the aggregate, in relation to the periods in which they were corrected, as well as the periods in which they originated and concluded that these adjustments are immaterial to both the consolidated quarterly and annual financial statements for all impacted periods.

[2] The sum of per share amounts for the quarters does not necessarily equal that for the year because the computations were made independently.