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STOCK PLANS (Textual) (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Apr. 28, 2006
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Common shares available for future grant under all plans (in shares) | 2,330,493 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant |  |  |
Total stock-based compensation expense | $ 8,416,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense | $ 9,734,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense | $ 8,961,000 us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense |
Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation recognized in the period | 3,222,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense | 3,727,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense | 3,409,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense |
Total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to nonvested stock options, restricted shares and restricted stock units | 12,452,000 us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized |  |  |
Weighted average period of recognition of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense (in months) | 3 years |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value | 5,104,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1 | 5,131,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1 | 4,791,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedInPeriodFairValue1 |
Stock options |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Award expiration (in years) | 10 years |  |  |
Award vesting period (in years) | 3 years |  |  |
Aggregate intrinsic value of awards outstanding | 65,873,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember |  |  |
Aggregate intrinsic value of awards exercisable | 64,161,000 us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1 / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember |  |  |
Total intrinsic value of awards exercised | 14,647,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember | 26,288,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember | 25,936,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember |
Restricted stock awards |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Shares converted (in shares) | 80,753 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember | 224,021 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember | 62,524 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember |
Shares granted (in shares) | 14,927 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember | 14,464 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember | 20,099 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember |
Shares granted (in dollars per share) | $ 66.32 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember | $ 70.88 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember | $ 47.81 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember |
Remaining weighted average life of non-vested restricted awards (in years) | 1 year 9 months 18 days |  |  |
Restricted Stock Units |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Shares converted (in shares) | 40,035 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember | 33,698 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember | 10,499 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember |
Shares granted (in shares) | 2,861 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember | 69,925 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember | 133,944 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember |
Shares granted (in dollars per share) | $ 70.71 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember | $ 67.17 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember | $ 47.97 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember |
Remaining weighted average life of non-vested restricted awards (in years) | 3 years 2 months 12 days |  |  |
1995 Lincoln Stock Purchase Plan |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Maximum additional number of the Company's common shares that may be granted (in shares) | 800,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember |  |  |
Shares purchased (in shares) | 5,511 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember | 4,653 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember | 4,908 us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember |
EPI Plan |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Maximum additional number of the Company's common shares that may be granted (in shares) |  |  |  | 6,000,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = leco_EquityAndPerformanceIncentivePlanMember
Director Plan |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Maximum additional number of the Company's common shares that may be granted (in shares) |  |  |  | 600,000 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = leco_DirectorPlanMember
2005 Plan | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Shares converted (in shares) | 17,131 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = leco_A2005DeferredCompensationPlanMember |  |  |
Deferred RSUs (in shares) | 46,375 leco_RsuAndDividendEquivalentWhoseConversionToSharesAreDeferred / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = leco_A2005DeferredCompensationPlanMember |  |  |
Minimum | Restricted stock awards |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Award vesting period (in years) | 3 years |  |  |
Minimum | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Award vesting period (in years) | 3 years |  |  |
Maximum | Restricted stock awards |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Award vesting period (in years) | 5 years |  |  |
Maximum | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Award vesting period (in years) | 5 years |  |  |
Maximum | 1995 Lincoln Stock Purchase Plan |  |  |  |
Stock Plans |  |  |  |
Dollar value of shares that each employee has the ability to purchase on the open market, on a commission-free basis annually under the plan | $ 10,000 leco_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesPerEmployeeAmount / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember |  |  |

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- Definition Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (h)(1)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 14 -Section F + Details
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