v2.4.0.8

Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Mar. 01, 2012 | May 07, 2010
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |
Deductible for product liability insurance | $ 10 |  |
Administrative assessment amount from Mexican Tax Administration Service |  |  | 88
Tax assessment received from federal revenue office of Brazil relating to withholding/contributions from Company's distributors during 2004 | 4.2 |  |
Equivalent amount under order from Rome Labor Court for social contributions, interest and penalties related to payments |  | 7.1 |
Spanish Tax Authority [Member] |  |  |
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax assessment for withholding taxes, interest and penalties related to payments to Spanish distributors during 2003-2004 period | $ 4.2 |  |

X
- Definition Administrative assessment amount from tax administration service. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hlf_AdministrativeAssessmentAmountFromTaxAdministrationService
Namespace Prefix: | hlf_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Deductible for product liability insurance. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hlf_DeductibleForProductLiabilityInsurance
Namespace Prefix: | hlf_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tax assessment from Spanish tax authority. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hlf_EquivalentAmountUnderAssessmentForWithholdingTaxesInterestAndPenaltiesRelatedToPayment
Namespace Prefix: | hlf_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Equivalent amount under order from labor court for social contributions interest penalties related to payments. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hlf_EquivalentAmountUnderOrderFromLaborCourtForSocialContributionsInterestPenaltiesRelatedToPayments
Namespace Prefix: | hlf_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Tax assessment received relating to withholding/contributions from Company's distributors during 2004. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | hlf_TaxAssessmentReceivedRelatingToWithholdingContributionsFromCompanysDistributors
Namespace Prefix: | hlf_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration