2.2.0.25truefalse06131 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities, Concentrations of Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Contractual Amount of Forward Exchange Contracts (Details 1)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesTotalAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseU. S. dollar equivalent contractual amounts of Cooper's forward exchange contracts3false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse11967000001196.7falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse17770000001777.0falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTotal Contractual amounts of forward exchange contracts4false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://cooperindustries.com/role/financialinstrumentsandhedgingactivitiesconcentrationsofcreditriskandfairvalueoffinancialinstrumentsdetails11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : United States of America, Dollars (Member) 3/31/2011 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_U_S_Dhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseUnited States of America, Dollars (Member)cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicurrency_USDcbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : United States of America, Dollars (Member) 12/31/2010 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_U_S_Dhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseUnited States of America, Dollars (Member)cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicurrency_USDcbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseUnited States of America, Dollars (Member)5true0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesTotalAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseU. S. dollar equivalent contractual amounts of Cooper's forward exchange contracts6false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse614200000614.2falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse894800000894.8falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTotal Contractual amounts of forward exchange contracts7false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://cooperindustries.com/role/financialinstrumentsandhedgingactivitiesconcentrationsofcreditriskandfairvalueoffinancialinstrumentsdetails11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : Euro Member Countries, Euro (Member) 3/31/2011 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_E_U_Rhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseEuro Member Countries, Euro (Member)cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicurrency_EURcbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : Euro Member Countries, Euro (Member) 12/31/2010 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_E_U_Rhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseEuro Member Countries, Euro (Member)cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicurrency_EURcbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseEuro Member Countries, Euro (Member)8true0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesTotalAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseU. S. dollar equivalent contractual amounts of Cooper's forward exchange contracts9false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse365400000365.4falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse335400000335.4falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTotal Contractual amounts of forward exchange contracts10false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://cooperindustries.com/role/financialinstrumentsandhedgingactivitiesconcentrationsofcreditriskandfairvalueoffinancialinstrumentsdetails11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : United Kingdom, Pounds (Member) 3/31/2011 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_G_B_Phttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseUnited Kingdom, Pounds (Member)cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicurrency_GBPcbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : United Kingdom, Pounds (Member) 12/31/2010 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_G_B_Phttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseUnited Kingdom, Pounds (Member)cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicurrency_GBPcbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseUnited Kingdom, Pounds (Member)11true0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesTotalAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseU. S. dollar equivalent contractual amounts of Cooper's forward exchange contracts12false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse143900000143.9falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse143900000143.9falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTotal Contractual amounts of forward exchange contracts13false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://cooperindustries.com/role/financialinstrumentsandhedgingactivitiesconcentrationsofcreditriskandfairvalueoffinancialinstrumentsdetails11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : Canadian Dollar (Member) 3/31/2011 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_Canadian_Dollar_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCanadian Dollar (Member)cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicbe_CanadianDollarMembercbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$10falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : Canadian Dollar (Member) 12/31/2010 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Canadian_Dollar_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCanadian Dollar (Member)cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicbe_CanadianDollarMembercbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseCanadian Dollar (Member)14true0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesTotalAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseU. S. dollar equivalent contractual amounts of Cooper's forward exchange contracts15false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse3480000034.8falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse370600000370.6falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTotal Contractual amounts of forward exchange contracts16false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://cooperindustries.com/role/financialinstrumentsandhedgingactivitiesconcentrationsofcreditriskandfairvalueoffinancialinstrumentsdetails11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : Other Currencies [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Mar2011_Other_Currencies_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseOther Currencies [Member]cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicbe_OtherCurrenciesMembercbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$12falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cbe_CurrenciesAxis} : Other Currencies [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Other_Currencies_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141982instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseOther Currencies [Member]cbe_CurrenciesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicbe_OtherCurrenciesMembercbe_CurrenciesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseOther Currencies [Member]17true0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesTotalAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseU. S. dollar equivalent contractual amounts of Cooper's forward exchange contracts18false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse3840000038.4falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3230000032.3falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTotal Contractual amounts of forward exchange contracts217Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities, Concentrations of Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Contractual Amount of Forward Exchange Contracts (Details 1) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue