Derivative Instuments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011 year day	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Interest Rate Risk
Cash and Short-Term Deposits, Average Interest Rate	1.00%
Convertible Bonds, Fixed Interest Rate	2.75%
Convertible Bond, Principal Amount	$ 1,100.0
Long-term Investments
Available-for-Sale Securities	107.5
Equity Method Investments	9.3
Cost Method Investments	8.9
Long-term Investments, Total	125.7		101.6
Credit Risk
Entity-Wide Revenue, Major Customer, USA, Percent			44.00%
Foreign Exchange Risk
Swap and Foreign Exchange Contract, Number Outstanding	22
Swap and Forward Contract, Days-to-Maturity, Maximum	90
Foreign Currency Contract, Asset, Fair Value Disclosure	1.1		3.7
Foreign Currency Contracts, Liability, Fair Value Disclosure	4.1		2.7
Foreign Exchange Contract, Gain (Loss), Net	$ (2.6)	$ 38.5

Average interest rate received on cash and liquid investments.

Name:	shpgf_CashAndShortTermDepositsAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	shpgf
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of revenues for the major customers in the USA over total revenues to consolidated external customers.

+ Details

Name:	shpgf_EntityWideRevenueMajorCustomerUsaPercent
Namespace Prefix:	shpgf
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum number of days to maturity for swaps and forward contracts.

+ Details

Name:	shpgf_SwapAndForwardContractDaysToMaturityMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	shpgf
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading and which are intended to be sold or mature more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph b

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 17

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the aggregate carrying amount of all cost-method investments as reported on or included in the balance sheet. The original cost of the investments may differ from the aggregate carrying amount disclosed due to various adjustments such as: (i) dividends received in excess of earnings after the date of investment that are considered a return of investment and therefore recorded as reductions to cost of the investment, or (ii) a series of operating losses of an investee or other factors which may indicate that a decrease in value of the investment has occurred which is other than temporary and should accordingly be recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 18
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph a

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 03-1
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph a

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS115-1/124-1
-Paragraph 18
-Subparagraph a

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditRiskDerivativesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective interest rate on the liability component of convertible debt instrument which may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number APB14-1
-Paragraph 33
-Subparagraph a

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleEffectiveInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 21
-Paragraph 16, 20

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net gain (loss) included in earnings for the period from the net change in fair value of derivative instrument not designated as hedging instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(1)(b)

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of derivative instruments of a particular group held by the entity.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNumberOfInstrumentsHeld
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment losses recognized.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into and existing as of the balance sheet date.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of investments that are intended to be held for an extended period of time (longer than one operating cycle).

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermInvestmentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration