v2.4.0.6

Other (Income) Expense, Net | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011
Other (Income) Expense, Net [Abstract] |
Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] | Other (Income) Expense, Net Other (income) expense, net consists of the following for the years ended December 31, (in millions):
| 2011 | 2010 | 2009
Investment activities, including equity in earnings | $ | 1.5 |  | $ | (0.4 | ) | $ | (0.6 | )
Currency transaction loss (gain) | 14.7 |  | (6.9 | ) | 2.1 |
Other | (2.5 | ) | — |  | 0.5 |
| $ | 13.7 |  | $ | (7.3 | ) | $ | 2.0 |

X
- Details
Name: | nwl_OtherIncomeExpenseNetAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | nwl_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for other income or other expense items (both operating and nonoperating). Sources of nonoperating income or nonoperating expense that may be disclosed, include amounts earned from dividends, interest on securities, profits (losses) on securities, net and miscellaneous other income or income deductions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 5 -Section 03 -Paragraph 3, 6, 7, 9 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3,6,7,9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherIncomeAndOtherExpenseDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration