CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Shareholders' Equity at Period Start at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 712.3	$ 185.6	$ 1,874.1	$ 4,118.9	$ (965.9)	$ (4,537.8)	$ 37.4
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2008		739.4				313.1
Comprehensive income:
Net income	625.8
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2.4						2.4
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	628.2
Foreign currency translation adjustments	192.8				193.1		(0.3)
Changes in available-for-sale securities, net of taxes	0.3				0.3
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial losses and prior service credit, net of taxes	30.4				30.4
Net actuarial gains/losses and prior service cost arising during year, net of taxes	41.1				41.1
Net derivative losses on cash flow hedges, net of taxes	8.4				8.4
Dividends	(360.8)			(360.8)
Exercise / vesting and expense of share-based compensation, value	68.7	0.5	67.6			0.6
Exercise / vesting and expense of share-based compensation, shares		1.5				(0.1)
Repurchase of common stock, value						(8.6)
Repurchase of common stock, shares						0.4
Purchases and sales of noncontrolling interests, net of dividends paid	0.5						0.5
Income tax benefits - stock transactions	(0.7)		(0.7)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	901.2
Shareholders' Equity at Period End at Dec. 31, 2009	1,312.6	186.1	1,941.0	4,383.9	(692.6)	(4,545.8)	40.0
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		740.9				313.4
Comprehensive income:
Net income	606.3
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3.0						3.0
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	609.3
Foreign currency translation adjustments	59.6				55.4		4.2
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial losses and prior service credit, net of taxes	25.5				25.5
Net actuarial gains/losses and prior service cost arising during year, net of taxes	(8.8)				(8.8)
Sale of Avon Japan, net of taxes	10.6				10.6
Net derivative losses on cash flow hedges, net of taxes	4.1				4.1
Dividends	(379.4)			(379.4)
Exercise / vesting and expense of share-based compensation, value	80.0	0.5	78.9			0.6
Exercise / vesting and expense of share-based compensation, shares		2.4				0
Repurchase of common stock, value						(14.1)
Repurchase of common stock, shares						0.4
Purchases and sales of noncontrolling interests, net of dividends paid	(31.1)						(31.1)
Income tax benefits - stock transactions	4.3		4.3
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	700.3
Shareholders' Equity at Period End at Dec. 31, 2010	1,672.6	186.6	2,024.2	4,610.8	(605.8)	(4,559.3)	16.1
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		743.3				313.8
Comprehensive income:
Net income	513.6
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	4.2						4.2
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	517.8
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(176.0)				(175.7)		0
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial losses and prior service credit, net of taxes	29.4				29.4
Net actuarial gains/losses and prior service cost arising during year, net of taxes	(103.4)				(103.4)
Net derivative losses on cash flow hedges, net of taxes	1.1				1.1
Dividends	(398.3)			(398.3)
Exercise / vesting and expense of share-based compensation, value	55.1	0.7	53.7			0.7
Exercise / vesting and expense of share-based compensation, shares		1.6				0
Repurchase of common stock, value						(7.7)
Repurchase of common stock, shares						0.3
Purchases and sales of noncontrolling interests, net of dividends paid	(5.1)						(5.1)
Income tax benefits - stock transactions	(0.2)		(0.2)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	268.8
Shareholders' Equity at Period End at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,585.2	$ 187.3	$ 2,077.7	$ 4,726.1	$ (854.4)	$ (4,566.3)	$ 14.8
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		744.9				314.1