Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture	$ 3.8		$ 3.7
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	(0.3)	$ (0.2)	(0.3)	$ (0.2)
Common Stock, Value, Issued	53.1		53.1			$ 53.1
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value			(0.1)
Treasury Stock, Value	672.3		672.3			509.2
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	17.4		17.4			12.9
Shareholding pattern
Beginning Balance			1,589.1
Net income	37.7	63.8	(97.1)	147.6
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1.0	1.1	1.4	1.4
Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, net of Tax, net of Spinoff			(21.2)
Net (loss) Income attributable to The Timken Company	36.7	62.7	(98.5)	146.2
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment (net of the income tax benefit of $60.3 million)	2.4	(26.7)	107.5	(13.5)
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value			(0.1)
Dividends - $0.25 per share			(44.0)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation			1.5
Stock-based compensation expense			9.1
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock			(177.2)	(151.3)
Stock option exercise activity			4.1
Restricted shares surrendered (issued)			(0.1)
Shares surrendered for taxes			(3.9)
Ending Balance	1,371.1		1,371.1
Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock	896.0		896.0			899.4
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,472.9		1,472.9			1,615.4
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(396.0)	$ (397.8)	(396.0)	$ (397.8)	$ (405.2)	$ (482.5)	$ (614.0)
Stated Capital [Member]
Shareholding pattern
Ending Balance	53.1		53.1
Other Paid-In Capital [Member]
Shareholding pattern
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation			1.5
Stock-based compensation expense			9.1
Stock option exercise activity			(7.3)
Restricted shares surrendered (issued)			(6.7)
Ending Balance	896.0		896.0
Earnings Invested in the Business [Member]
Shareholding pattern
Dividends - $0.25 per share			(44.0)
Ending Balance	1,472.9		1,472.9
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax			(0.3)
Shareholding pattern
Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, net of Tax, net of Spinoff			(20.7)
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment (net of the income tax benefit of $60.3 million)			107.5
Ending Balance	(396.0)		(396.0)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Shareholding pattern
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock			(177.2)
Stock option exercise activity			11.4
Restricted shares surrendered (issued)			6.6
Shares surrendered for taxes			(3.9)
Ending Balance	(672.3)		(672.3)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture			3.7
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value			(0.1)
Shareholding pattern
Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, net of Tax, net of Spinoff			(0.5)
Noncontrolling Interest, Change in Redemption Value			(0.1)
Ending Balance	$ 17.4		$ 17.4