STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Share Based Comp (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 28, 2013	Mar. 27, 2012	Mar. 01, 2012	Mar. 22, 2011	May 31, 2011	May 09, 2013	May 31, 2004	May 31, 1999
Assumptions used in valuation
Shares of common stock contributed to employee stock trust	33,000
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Compensation expense recognized under all stock-based compensation arrangements (in dollars)	$ 46.1	$ 44.7	$ 29.8
Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation arrangements (in dollars)	14.6	13.5	9.1
Cash received from option exercises under all stock-based compensation arrangements (in dollars)	1.0
Stock Option
Share-based compensation arrangements
Shares vesting period (in years)	4 years
Grant date average contractual term on options	10 years
Options granted during period (in shares)	0	0	0
Intrinsic value of options exercised (in dollars)	0.2	1.2	0.2
Number of Options
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in shares)	209,557
Exercised (in shares)	(52,098)
Canceled or expired (in shares)	(7,500)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in shares)	149,959	209,557
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	149,959
Vested at the end of the period (in shares)	149,959
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 38.92
Exercised (in dollars per share)	$ 17.36
Canceled or expired (in dollars per share)	$ 45.75
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 46.07	$ 38.92
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 46.07
Vested at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 46.07
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)
Outstanding at the end of the period (in years)	1 year 5 months 15 days
Exercisable at the end of the period (in years)	1 year 5 months 15 days
Vested at the end of the period (in years)	1 year 5 months 15 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars)	0.29
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars)	0.29
Vested at the end of the period (in dollars)	0.29
Restricted stock awards Member
Assumptions used in valuation
Unrecognized compensation costs (in dollars)	43.4
Weighted average period of unrecognized compensation costs will be recognized (in years)	1 year 8 months 24 days
Options granted weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 44.23	$ 33.84	$ 25.74
Total fair value of shares vested (in dollars)	$ 36.2	$ 19.0	$ 16.1
Restricted Stock Awards
Nonvested at the beginning of the period (in shares)	3,721,424
Granted (in shares)	999,622
Vested (in shares)	(1,245,147)
Canceled or expired (in shares)	(280,578)
Nonvested at the end of the period (in shares)	3,195,321	3,721,424
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at the beginning of the period (in dollars per shares)	$ 26.14
Granted (in dollars per shares)	$ 44.23
Vested (in dollars per shares)	$ 29.11
Cancelled or expired (in dollars per shares)	$ 32.44
Nonvested at the end of the period (in dollars per shares)	$ 33.56	$ 26.14
Market Condition Award
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Number of shares of restricted stock with fair value based on market condition, instead of market price (in shares)	900,000
Assumptions used in valuation
Dividend yields (as a percent)				0.46%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility (as a percent)				56.84%	59.15%	60.03%	56.83%
Risk-free interest rate (as a percent)				0.63%	0.41%	0.35%	0.47%
Expected life (in years)				3 years	3 years	3 years	3 years
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Granted (in dollars per shares)				$ 53.17	$ 32.58	$ 43.64	$ 29.50
Terex Corporation 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the 2009 Plan) Member
Share-based compensation arrangements
Shares authorized for issuance (in shares)								5,000,000
Shares available for grant (in shares)	4,400,000
Terex Corporation 2009 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the 2009 Plan) Member | Maximum
Share-based compensation arrangements
Shares authorized for issuance (in shares)									8,000,000
Terex Corporation 2000 Incentive Plan (the 2000 Plan) Member
Share-based compensation arrangements
Shares authorized for issuance (in shares)										12,000,000
Terex Corporation Long-term Incentive Plan (the 1996 Plan) Member
Share-based compensation arrangements
Shares authorized for issuance (in shares)											4,000,000
All Company Stock Plans | Restricted Stock [Member]
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Percentage of awards that vest over a four year period (as a percent)	11.00%
Percentage of awards that vest on each of the first four anniversary dates of the grant (as a percent)	25.00%
Percentage of awards that vest over a five year period (as a percent)	5.00%
Percentage of awards that vest over a three year period (as a percent)	83.00%
Percentage of awards that vest evenly over three year period (as a percent)	52.00%
Percentage of awards that vest at end of three year period (as a percent)	48.00%
Percentage of awards subject to performance conditions (as a percent)	49.00%
Four year period | All Company Stock Plans
Share-based compensation arrangements
Shares vesting period (in years)	4 years
Five year period | All Company Stock Plans
Share-based compensation arrangements
Shares vesting period (in years)	5 years
Three year period | All Company Stock Plans
Share-based compensation arrangements
Shares vesting period (in years)	3 years