v2.4.0.8

Debt (Receivables-Related Borrowings) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Receivables Facility [Member]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 350.0
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date			Sep. 01, 2015
Accounts receivable as collateral for receivables facility			603.2
Receivables facility	$ 175.0	$ 75.0

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

+ Details

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