v2.4.0.6
Organization and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 12, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2012
Entity
Dec. 31, 2011
Entity
Dec. 31, 2010
Entity
Dec. 31, 2012
Commodity Contract
Dec. 31, 2011
Commodity Contract
Dec. 31, 2012
Foreign currency contracts
Dec. 31, 2011
Foreign currency contracts
Dec. 31, 2012
Diesel Fuel
Dec. 31, 2011
Diesel Fuel
Dec. 31, 2012
Aluminum
Dec. 31, 2011
Aluminum
Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum
Building and Building Improvements
Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum
Machinery Equipment And Production Tooling
Dec. 31, 2012
Minimum
Building and Building Improvements
Dec. 31, 2012
Minimum
Machinery Equipment And Production Tooling
Dec. 31, 2012
Polaris Acceptance
Sep. 30, 2010
KTM Power Sports AG
Available-for-sale Securities
Jun. 30, 2010
KTM Power Sports AG
Available-for-sale Securities
Mar. 31, 2009
KTM Power Sports AG
Available-for-sale Securities
Dec. 31, 2010
KTM Power Sports AG
Available-for-sale Securities
Dec. 31, 2012
ORVs
Dec. 31, 2012
Snowmobiles and Motorcycles
Dec. 31, 2012
SVs
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                                                    
Stock split   2                                                
Stock split descriptions On September 12, 2011, Polaris shareholders received one additional share of Common Stock for each share they held of record at the close of business on September 2, 2011.                                                  
Variable interest entities requiring consolidation     0 0 0                                          
Business acquisition aggregate purchase prices     $ 41,200,000                                              
Name of acquired entity     Teton Outfitters, LLC                                              
Business acquisition purchase price allocated to goodwill     11,061,000                                              
Business acquisition purchase price allocated to identifiable intangible assets     19,600,000                                              
Business acquisition purchase price allocated to tangible assets, net of liabilities     10,539,000                                              
Business acquisition purchase price allocated to debt assumed     4,647,000                                              
Equity method investment ownership percentage                                     50.00%              
Gain on securities available for sale         825,000                                   825,000      
Gain on available for sale securities                                       1,594,000            
Impairment charges on securities held for sale                                         769,000 8,952,000        
Cash equivalents maturity period                           90 days                        
Property and equipment, estimated useful life                             40 years 7 years 10 years 1 year                
Research and development     127,361,000 105,631,000 84,940,000                                          
Advertising expenses     58,752,000 48,877,000 40,833,000                                          
Period of warranties provided by Polaris                                               6 months 1 year 2 years
Standard product warranty description     Polaris provides a limited warranty for ORVs for a period of six months and for a period of one year for its snowmobiles and motorcycles and a two year period of SEVs. Polaris provides longer warranties in certain geographical markets as determined by local regulations and market conditions and may provide longer warranties related to certain promotional programs. Polaris' standard warranties require the Company or its dealers to repair or replace defective product during such warranty period at no cost to the consumer. The warranty reserve is established at the time of sale to the dealer or distributor based on management's best estimate using historical rates and trends                                              
Sales promotions and incentives     107,008,000 81,228,000                                            
Dealer holdback     86,733,000 76,512,000                                            
Net accumulated other comprehensive income related to translation gains and losses, net gain     13,669,000 9,545,000                                            
Fair value of commodity derivative contract     (2,741,000) 2,241,000   (124,000) (1,337,000)                                      
Unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instrument after tax     12,238,000 12,023,000       (1,431,000) 2,478,000                                  
Pretax unrealized gain (loss) on diesel fuel and aluminum contracts                   108,000 160,000 (232,000) (1,497,000)                          
Fair value of foreign exchange contract     $ (2,617,000) $ 3,578,000