v2.4.0.8

Debt (Receivables-Related Borrowings) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Receivables Facility [Member]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 350.0
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Sep. 01, 2015
Accounts receivable as collateral for receivables facility			648.2
Receivables facility	$ 0	$ 200.0

X

- Definition

Secured financing facility where underlying trade receivables are not accounted for as "sale" under ASC 860 with initial maturity date of the financing facility being 364 days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ReceivablesFacility
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Receivables Facility, Collateral At Period End, Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ReceivablesFacilityCollateralAtPeriodEndValue
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the receivables financing facility without consideration of the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_ReceivablesFinancingFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ 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)(2))

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



Reference 3: 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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration