v2.4.0.8

Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Official Currency Exchange Rate In Venezuela Before February 2013 Devaluation		5.3
Official Currency Exchange Rate In Venezuela After February 2013 Devaluation	6.3
Venezuelan SICAD I rate	10.7
Venezuelan SICAD II rate	49.8
Venezuela Pretax Exchange Loss Due To Devaluation	$ 38.7	$ 11.1
Seasonal percentage of operating income	60.00%
Seasonal percentage of operating cash flows	65.00%
Net Monetary Assets	56.1
Venezuelan cash and cash equivalents	$ 54.6
Percentage of net sales generated by Venezuela, equal to or less than	1.60%	1.60%

X

- Definition

Bolivar-denominated current assets convertible to cash at or approximating carrying value net of Bolivar-denominated short-term liabilities to be settled in cash.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Net Sales As A Percentage of Consolidated Net Sales

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_NetSalesAsPercentageOfConsolidatedNetSales
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Official Currency Exchange Rate In Venezuela After February 2013 Devaluation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
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X

- Definition

Official Currency Exchange Rate In Venezuela Before February 2013 Devaluation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Seasonality of the Company's cash flows from operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_SeasonalPercentageOfOperatingCashFlows
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage of the company's operating income earned in specific quarters due to seasonality.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_SeasonalPercentageOfOperatingIncome
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Cash and cash equivalents denominated in Venezuelan Bolivars.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Venezuelan SICAD II rate is intended to resemble a market-driven exchange rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

SICAD I is a system that allows companies to exchange a limited volume Bolivars for U.S. Dollars at a bid rate via weekly auctions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_VenezuelanSICADIrate
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Venezuela Pretax Exchange Loss Due To Devaluation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nwl_VenezuelaPretaxExchangeLossDueToDevaluation
Namespace Prefix:	nwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration