XML 55 R43.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2017
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |
Net cash used in operating activities | $ (401.7) | $ (263.6)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 474.7 | (859.6)
ASU 2017-07 [Member] |  |
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |
Income reclassified from selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") to other expense (income), net |  | 2.1
Accounting Standards Update 2016-15 [Member] |  |
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |
Net cash used in operating activities |  | 25.6
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |  | 25.6
Accounting Standards Update 2016-16 [Member] | Retained Earnings And Prepaid Expenses And Other [Member] |  |
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |
Retained earnings and prepaid expenses | (9.5) |
Sprue Aegis [Member] |  |
Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |
Revenue from related parties | $ 7.5 | $ 6.7
Investment owned, percentage | 23.40% |

X
- Definition Basis of presentation and significant accounting policies. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nwl_BasisOfPresentationAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | nwl_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Pension and other postretirement benefit plans non operating costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nwl_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansNonOperatingCosts
Namespace Prefix: | nwl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities, including discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 24 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3521-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 26 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3574-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities, including discontinued operations. Operating activity cash flows include transactions, adjustments, and changes in value not defined as investing or financing activities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 24 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3521-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the quantification of the effect of adopting the new accounting standard or change in accounting principle expected by the entity to have a significant effect on the entity's financial statements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 946 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.6-07.1(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606610-122999 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RevenueFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=nwl_AccountingStandardsUpdate201707Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201615Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201616Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=nwl_RetainedEarningsAndPrepaidExpensesAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=nwl_SprueAegisMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |