Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Earnings Per Share) (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
Income from continuing operations less amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests											$ 522.2		$ 590.9		$ 616.9
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities, continuing operations											(4.6)		(4.8)		(5.2)
Income allocated to common shareholders, continuing operations											517.6		586.1		611.7
(Loss) income from discontinued operations plus/less amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests											(8.6)		15.4		8.9
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities, discontinued operations											(0.9)		(0.4)		0.1
(Loss) income allocated to common shareholders, discontinued operations											(9.5)		15.0		9.0
Income attributable to Avon less amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.4)	[1]	164.2	206.2	143.6	229.5	[1]	166.7	167.6	42.5	513.6		606.3		625.8
Less: Earnings allocated to participating securities											(5.5)		(5.2)		(5.1)
Income allocated to common shareholders											$ 508.1		$ 601.1		$ 620.7
Basic EPS weighted-average shares outstanding											430.5		428.8		426.9
Diluted effect of assumed conversion of stock options											1.6		2.6		1.6
Diluted EPS adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding											432.1		431.4		428.5
Earnings Per Common Share from continuing operations, 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
Earnings Per Common Share from continuing operations, 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
Earnings Per Common Share from discontinued operations, Basic											$ (0.02)		$ 0.04		$ 0.02
Earnings Per Common Share from discontinued operations, Diluted											$ (0.02)		$ 0.03		$ 0.02
Earnings per Common Share attributable to Avon, Basic											$ 1.18		$ 1.40		$ 1.45
Earnings per Common Share attributable to Avon, Diluted											$ 1.18		$ 1.39		$ 1.45

[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.