v2.4.0.6
Segment Information (Company's Segments Results) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Net Sales $ 5,864.6 $ 5,658.2 $ 5,483.4
Operating Profit (Loss) 257.2 623.5 575.3
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 161.6 172.3 175.1
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets 222.9 164.7 153.3
Identifiable Assets 6,160.9 6,405.3  
Restructuring Costs (50.1) [1] (77.4) [1] (100.0) [1]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss (382.6) [1] 0 [1] 0 [1]
Home & Family [Member]
      
Net Sales 2,390.5 [2] 2,378.4 [2] 2,377.2 [2]
Operating Profit (Loss) 280.5 [1] 281.8 [1] 274.7 [1]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 44.5 [1] 51.4 [1] 51.3 [1]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets 42.4 38.2 30.8
Identifiable Assets 882.4 896.4  
Restructuring Costs (10.6) (13.7) (24.0)
Rubbermaid Consumer [Member]
      
Net Sales 827.2 819.7 847.7
Baby & Parenting [Member]
      
Net Sales 680.4 700.2 703.6
Decor [Member]
      
Net Sales 464.8 458.8 450.9
Home & Family - Other GBUs [Member]
      
Net Sales 418.1 399.7 375.0
Office Products [Member]
      
Net Sales 1,778.8 [2] 1,708.9 [2] 1,674.7 [2]
Operating Profit (Loss) 300.2 [1] 269.4 [1] 235.2 [1]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 32.2 [1] 32.1 [1] 39.6 [1]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets 39.5 35.5 35.2
Identifiable Assets 1,019.6 972.0  
Restructuring Costs (4.4) (24.2) (34.8)
Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products [Member]
      
Net Sales 1,695.3 [2] 1,570.9 [2] 1,431.5 [2]
Operating Profit (Loss) 234.3 [1] 246.6 [1] 246.0 [1]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 45.5 [1] 49.7 [1] 48.9 [1]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets 59.6 28.5 26.2
Identifiable Assets 893.3 931.5  
Restructuring Costs (0.8) (9.4) (16.6)
Corporate [Member]
      
Operating Profit (Loss) (125.1) [1] (96.9) [1] (80.6) [1]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 39.4 [1] 39.1 [1] 35.3 [1]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets 81.4 [3] 62.5 [3] 61.1 [3]
Identifiable Assets 3,365.6 3,605.4 [4]  
Restructuring Costs (34.3) (30.1) (24.6)
Total North America [Member]
      
Net Sales 4,292.0 [2],[5] 4,221.3 [2],[5] 4,124.4 [2],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss) 248.1 [1] 551.0 [1] 555.9 [1]
Restructuring Costs (29.4) (26.0) (38.3)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss (266.8) 0 0
United States [Member]
      
Net Sales 3,915.7 [2],[5] 3,870.3 [2],[5] 3,806.8 [2],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss) 166.9 [1] 471.9 [1] 492.6 [1]
Restructuring Costs (29.3) (18.1) (32.6)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss (266.8) 0 0
Canada [Member]
      
Net Sales 376.3 [2],[5] 351.0 [2],[5] 317.6 [2],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss) 81.2 [1] 79.1 [1] 63.3 [1]
Restructuring Costs (0.1) (7.9) (5.7)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss 0 0 0
Total International [Member]
      
Net Sales 1,572.6 [2],[5] 1,436.9 [2],[5] 1,359.0 [2],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss) 9.1 [1] 72.5 [1] 19.4 [1]
Restructuring Costs (20.7) (51.4) (61.7)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss (115.8) 0 0
Europe, Middle East and Africa [Member]
      
Net Sales 815.3 [2],[5] 800.5 [2],[5] 791.0 [2],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss) 16.6 [1],[6] 10.0 [1],[6] (19.7) [1],[6]
Restructuring Costs (19.5) (30.4) (36.4)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss (9.2) 0 0
Restructuring Related Costs 37.4 15.2  
Latin America [Member]
      
Net Sales 318.6 [2],[5] 267.0 [2],[5] 259.5 [2],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss) 12.8 [1] (1.3) [1] 22.3 [1]
Restructuring Costs (0.7) (12.9) (6.3)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss 0 0 0
Asia Pacific [Member]
      
Net Sales 438.7 [2],[5] 369.4 [2],[5] 308.5 [2],[5]
Operating Profit (Loss) (20.3) [1] 63.8 [1] 16.8 [1]
Restructuring Costs (0.5) (8.1) (19.0)
Goodwill, Impairment Loss $ (106.6) $ 0 $ 0
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Subsidiaries [Member]
      
Percentage of net sales 11.00% 11.90% 12.30%
[1] Operating income (loss) by segment is net sales less cost of products sold and selling, general & administrative (“SG&A”) expenses. Operating income by geographic area is net sales less cost of products sold, SG&A expenses, impairment charges, and restructuring costs. Certain headquarters expenses of an operational nature are allocated to business segments and geographic areas primarily on a net sales basis. Depreciation and amortization is allocated to the segments on a percentage of sales basis, and the allocated depreciation and amortization is included in segment operating income.
[2] All intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and subsidiaries amounted to 11.0%, 11.9% and 12.3% of consolidated net sales in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, substantially across all segments.
[3] Corporate capital expenditures primarily relate to the SAP implementation.
[4] Corporate assets primarily include goodwill, capitalized software, cash and deferred tax assets.
[5] Geographic sales information is based on the region from which the products are shipped and invoiced.
[6] The Europe, Middle East and Africa operating income (loss) is after considering $37.4 million and $15.2 million of incremental SG&A costs associated with the European Transformation Plan for 2011 and 2010, respectively.