Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2010
Contingencies [Abstract]
Suits filed naming Cameron as one of a number of defendants related to Deepwater Horizon incident		350
Accrued liability for claims of other litigation	$ 9.3
Number of countries where Company has legal entities	50
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	5.5
Number of homeowners covered by class action lawsuit settlement on contaminated underground water from Houston manufacturing site (in number of homeowners)	197
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