Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 12, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Stock split		2
Stock split descriptions	On September 12, 2011, Polaris shareholders received one additional share of Common Stock for each share they held of record at the close of business on September 2, 2011.
Standard product warranty description			Polaris provides a limited warranty for ORVs for a period of six months and for a period of one year for its snowmobiles and motorcycles and a two year period of SEVs. Polaris provides longer warranties in certain geographical markets as determined by local regulations and market conditions and may provide longer warranties related to certain promotional programs. Polaris' standard warranties require the Company or its dealers to repair or replace defective product during such warranty period at no cost to the consumer. The warranty reserve is established at the time of sale to the dealer or distributor based on management's best estimate using historical rates and trends
ORVs
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Period of warranties provided by Polaris			6 months
Snowmobiles and Motorcycles
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Period of warranties provided by Polaris			1 year
SEVs
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Period of warranties provided by Polaris			2 years