Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011
Notes to Financial Statement [Abstract]
Suits filed naming Cameron as one of a number of defendants related to Deepwater Horizon incident (in number of suits)	over 350
Mexican states included in number of governmental entities filing suits relating to personal injury, wrongful death and property damage arising from Deepwater Horizon incident (in number of states)	3
Commercial general liability insurance coverage	$ 500
Commercial general insurance self (insured) retention	3
Incurred legal fees to date related to participation in investigations into Deepwater Horizon incident of April 20, 2010	46.9
Number of homeowners covered by class action lawsuit settlement on contaminated underground water from Houston manufacturing site (in number of homeowners)	197
The number of homeowners notified of 2009 test results indicating their property is adjacent to the class area and may be affected by underground water contamination (in number of homeowners)	33
Accrued liability for claims for contaminated underground water from Houston manufacturing site	11.8
Accrued liability for other multi-defendant multi-plaintiff tort potential pending lawsuits	9.0
Number of countries where company has legal entities (in number of countries)	over 40
Number of sites designated for cleanup under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act or similar state law where Company is identified as a potentially responsible party	2
Accrued environmental loss contingencies, noncurrent (in number of sites)	$ 5.4