v2.4.0.6

Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt (Details Textual) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Letter of Credit USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Revolving Credit Facility USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Risk Sharing Finance Facility Agreement [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Risk Sharing Finance Facility Agreement [Member] EUR (€)	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Notes	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Notes Due 2016, 3.550% USD ($)	Sep. 20, 2011 Senior Notes Due 2016, 3.550%	Dec. 31, 2012 Senior Notes Due 2021, 4.875% USD ($)	Sep. 20, 2011 Senior Notes Due 2021, 4.875%	Mar. 31, 2013 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 Senior Notes Due 2021, 4.875% USD ($)
Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt [Abstract]
Interest on notes due							3.55%		4.875%
Fair value of senior notes due						$ 639		$ 680		$ 669
Interest payment failure period					30 days
Other covenant default period after servicing of notice					90 days
Percentage of holding required for servicing of notice					25.00%
Redemption price percentage					101.00%
Debt instrument aggregate principal amount	$ 100	$ 600	$ 154	€ 120
Interest rate per annum, effective rate		1.00%
Maximum leverage ratio		3.50	3.50	3.50

X

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt 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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	xyl_CreditFacilitiesAndLongTermDebtAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	xyl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Interest payment failure period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xyl_InterestPaymentFailurePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	xyl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Line of credit basis off spread on variable rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xyl_LineOfCreditBasisOffSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	xyl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Maximum leverage ratio.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xyl_MaximumLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	xyl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Other covenant default period after servicing of notice.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xyl_OtherCovenantDefaultPeriodAfterServicingOfNotice
Namespace Prefix:	xyl_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage of holding required for servicing of notice.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xyl_PercentageOfHoldingRequiredForServicingOfNotice
Namespace Prefix:	xyl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Redemption price percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xyl_RedemptionPricePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	xyl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration