Reportable Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	$ 3,150,570		$ 2,847,417		$ 8,560,121		$ 7,728,474
Segment profit	583,339		475,970		1,366,026		1,181,757
Interest expense	(16,025)		(15,394)		(48,793)		(45,774)
Administrative expenses and other	(93,266)		(73,114)		(247,878)		(199,253)
Income before income taxes	474,048		387,462		1,069,355		936,730
Reportable Segment Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Mark-up on intersegment transfers realized as result of external sales included in segment profit					24,389		22,618
Paint Stores Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	2,027,485		1,763,404		5,270,080		4,537,849
Segment profit	431,840		359,352		953,962		822,037
Income before income taxes	431,840		359,352		953,962		822,037
Consumer Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,187,487		1,056,164		3,258,784		2,924,311
Segment profit	78,956	[1]	73,065	[1]	222,532	[2]	206,079	[2]
Income before income taxes	78,956		73,065		222,532		206,079
Reportable Segment Information (Textual) [Abstract]
Mark-up on intersegment transfers realized as result of external sales included in segment profit	9,064		8,340
Global Finishes Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	538,358		509,721		1,584,209		1,515,095
Segment profit	60,751		44,536		162,093		132,929
Income before income taxes	60,751		44,536		162,093		132,929
Latin America Coatings Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	210,664		217,815		594,321		639,352
Segment profit	11,792		(983)		27,439		20,712
Income before income taxes	11,792		(983)		27,439		20,712
Administrative [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	(813,424)		(699,687)		(2,147,273)		(1,888,133)
Interest expense	(16,025)		(15,394)		(48,793)		(45,774)
Administrative expenses and other	(93,266)		(73,114)		(247,878)		(199,253)
Income before income taxes	(109,291)		(88,508)		(296,671)		(245,027)
Operating Segments [Member] | Paint Stores Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	2,027,485		1,763,404		5,270,080		4,537,849
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	385,238		366,845		1,143,893		1,069,085
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Finishes Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	536,261		507,284		1,578,497		1,507,626
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America Coatings Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	200,367		208,645		563,975		610,271
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Administrative [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,219		1,239		3,676		3,643
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Administrative [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	(814,643)		(700,926)		(2,150,949)		(1,891,776)
Intersegment Transfers [Member] | Consumer Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	802,249		689,319		2,114,891		1,855,226
Intersegment Transfers [Member] | Global Finishes Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	2,097		2,437		5,712		7,469
Intersegment Transfers [Member] | Latin America Coatings Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	$ 10,297		$ 9,170		$ 30,346		$ 29,081

[1] Segment profit includes $9,064 and $8,340 of mark-up on intersegment transfers realized as a result of external sales by the Paint Stores Group during the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively.

[2] Segment profit includes $24,389 and $22,618 of mark-up on intersegment transfers realized as a result of external sales by the Paint Stores Group during the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.