Acquisitions and Other Investments	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Business Combinations [Abstract]
ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS	ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS On April 28, 2011, the Company, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, acquired all of the stock of TV One Broadcast Sales Corporation, Barcom (UK) Holdings Limited, and Barcom Asia Holdings, LLC (collectively, "TV One") for approximately $25.1 million, net of cash acquired of approximately $0.9 million. In connection with the acquisition of TV One, in the second quarter of 2011, the Company also incurred approximately $0.8 million of fees and expenses, which were recorded in SG&A. TV One sells a complete range of video signal processing products for the professional audio/video and broadcast markets. TV One is included in the Company's Technology Solutions segment. The acquisition of TV One contributed approximately $6.1 million to net sales and had no effect on operating earnings (but includes depreciation and amortization of approximately $0.4 million) for 2012. Pro forma results related to the acquisition of TV One have not been presented, as the effect is not significant to the Company's consolidated operating results. On March 21, 2011, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Huntair Middle East Holdings, Inc. ("Huntair"), acquired a forty-nine percent minority interest in Huntair Arabia for approximately $5.3 million. Huntair Arabia is an operating joint venture between the Company and Alessa Advanced Projects Company ("Alessa") in Saudi Arabia that was formed for purposes of trading, manufacturing, supplying, installing, and servicing commercial air conditioning and commercial air handling units in Saudi Arabia and certain other regions. The Company does not have a controlling financial interest and, therefore, is accounting for this investment under the equity method of accounting within the Custom & Engineered Solutions segment. In connection with its investment in Huntair Arabia, Huntair issued a 10 year note to Alessa for approximately $5.3 million. The note does not bear interest; therefore, the Company has recorded the note net of discount on its accompanying consolidated balance sheet. For 2012 and 2011, income from Huntair Arabia was not material to the Company's consolidated operating results. On December 17, 2010, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Ergotron, Inc. (“Ergotron"). Ergotron is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, ergonomic mounting and mobility products for computer monitors, notebooks and flat panel displays in the United States and other parts of the world. The purchase price was approximately $299.6 million, consisting of cash payments totaling approximately $298.2 million, of which approximately $2.6 million and $5.8 million was paid in 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily related to the reimbursement of federal and state tax refunds for the pre-acquisition period. Additionally, the Company has an estimated payable to the sellers of approximately $1.4 million related to the remaining federal and state tax refunds. In connection with the acquisition of Ergotron, the Company also incurred approximately $2.2 million of fees and expenses, which have been recorded in SG&A in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for 2010. The Company selected December 31, 2010 as the date to record the acquisition of Ergotron as the effect of using December 31, 2010, instead of December 17, 2010, was not material to the Company's financial condition or results of operations for 2010. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for 2010 does not include any activity related to Ergotron for the period from December 18, 2010 to December 31, 2010. The unaudited pro forma net sales, (net loss) and basic and diluted (loss) per share for the Company as a result of the acquisition of Ergotron for 2010 were approximately $2.1 billion, $(21.4) million, $(1.43) per share and $(1.43) per share, respectively. These amounts were determined assuming that the acquisition of Ergotron had occurred on January 1, 2010 and include the historical results of Ergotron for the year ended December 31, 2010 as well as pro forma adjustments to reflect (i) increased depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $18.6 million from the acquisition fair value adjustments, including approximately $7.3 million related to inventory fair value amortization, (ii) increased interest expense of approximately $25.3 million related to the amounts borrowed to fund the acquisition and (iii) other pro forma adjustments that the Company considered appropriate related to the acquisition of Ergotron. The transaction costs of approximately $2.2 million related to the acquisition of Ergotron for 2010 have been excluded from the unaudited pro forma net loss and basic and diluted loss per share. These pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would have been achieved had the acquisition taken place as of January 1, 2010, nor are they necessarily indicative of the results for future periods. On July 6, 2010, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Linear LLC, acquired all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Skycam, LLC (“Luxor”) for approximately $9.1 million (utilizing approximately $7.9 million of cash and issuing an unsecured 4% subordinated note in the amount of $1.2 million). Luxor is an on-line retailer and distributor of security cameras and digital video recorders. Pro forma results related to the acquisition of Luxor have not been presented, as the effect is not significant to the Company's consolidated operating results. Contingent consideration of approximately $1.3 million was paid in the first quarter of 2010 related to the prior acquisition of certain entities. The Company does not anticipate paying any further contingent consideration for completed acquisitions as of December 31, 2012. On February 14, 2013, the Company announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire 2GIG Technologies, Inc. (“2GIG”) from APX Group, Inc. A privately held company based in Lehi, Utah, 2GIG is an innovative designer and supplier of residential security and home automation systems. Developed with the assistance of Nortek's Linear® business, 2GIG's Go!Control™ touch-screen panel is an industry-leading, self-contained, all-in-one home security and automation control panel. 2GIG also provides wireless interactive home security services and a wide range of peripheral hardware devices and system components for home security and automation solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will pay approximately $135.0 million for all of the outstanding common stock of 2GIG on a cash- and debt-free basis. The acquisition is expected to be financed with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under Nortek's asset-based credit facility. The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2013, subject to customary closing conditions including approval pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. 2GIG will be included in the Company's Technology Solutions segment. Two of the Company's subsidiaries in the TECH segment have recorded sales to 2GIG Technologies amounting to approximately $63.1 million and $98.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 6, "Commitments and Contingencies".

ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

On April 28, 2011, the Company, through wholly-owned subsidiaries, acquired all of the stock of TV One Broadcast Sales Corporation, Barcom (UK) Holdings Limited, and Barcom Asia Holdings, LLC (collectively, "TV One") for approximately $25.1 million, net of cash acquired of approximately $0.9 million. In connection with the acquisition of TV One, in the second quarter of 2011, the Company also incurred approximately $0.8 million of fees and expenses, which were recorded in SG&A. TV One sells a complete range of video signal processing products for the professional audio/video and broadcast markets. TV One is included in the Company's Technology Solutions segment. The acquisition of TV One contributed approximately $6.1 million to net sales and had no effect on operating earnings (but includes depreciation and amortization of approximately $0.4 million) for 2012. Pro forma results related to the acquisition of TV One have not been presented, as the effect is not significant to the Company's consolidated operating results.

On March 21, 2011, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Huntair Middle East Holdings, Inc. ("Huntair"), acquired a forty-nine percent minority interest in Huntair Arabia for approximately $5.3 million. Huntair Arabia is an operating joint venture between the Company and Alessa Advanced Projects Company ("Alessa") in Saudi Arabia that was formed for purposes of trading, manufacturing, supplying, installing, and servicing commercial air conditioning and commercial air handling units in Saudi Arabia and certain other regions. The Company does not have a controlling financial interest and, therefore, is accounting for this investment under the equity method of accounting within the Custom & Engineered Solutions segment. In connection with its investment in Huntair Arabia, Huntair issued a 10 year note to Alessa for approximately $5.3 million. The note does not bear interest; therefore, the Company has recorded the note net of discount on its accompanying consolidated balance sheet. For 2012 and 2011, income from Huntair Arabia was not material to the Company's consolidated operating results.

On December 17, 2010, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Ergotron, Inc. (“Ergotron"). Ergotron is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative, ergonomic mounting and mobility products for computer monitors, notebooks and flat panel displays in the United States and other parts of the world. The purchase price was approximately $299.6 million, consisting of cash payments totaling approximately $298.2 million, of which approximately $2.6 million and $5.8 million was paid in 2012 and 2011, respectively, primarily related to the reimbursement of federal and state tax refunds for the pre-acquisition period. Additionally, the Company has an estimated payable to the sellers of approximately $1.4 million related to the remaining federal and state tax refunds. In connection with the acquisition of Ergotron, the Company also incurred approximately $2.2 million of fees and expenses, which have been recorded in SG&A in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for 2010.

The Company selected December 31, 2010 as the date to record the acquisition of Ergotron as the effect of using December 31, 2010, instead of December 17, 2010, was not material to the Company's financial condition or results of operations for 2010. Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for 2010 does not include any activity related to Ergotron for the period from December 18, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

The unaudited pro forma net sales, (net loss) and basic and diluted (loss) per share for the Company as a result of the acquisition of Ergotron for 2010 were approximately $2.1 billion, $(21.4) million, $(1.43) per share and $(1.43) per share, respectively. These amounts were determined assuming that the acquisition of Ergotron had occurred on January 1, 2010 and include the historical results of Ergotron for the year ended December 31, 2010 as well as pro forma adjustments to reflect (i) increased depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $18.6 million from the acquisition fair value adjustments, including approximately $7.3 million related to inventory fair value amortization, (ii) increased interest expense of approximately $25.3 million related to the amounts borrowed to fund the acquisition and (iii) other pro forma adjustments that the Company considered appropriate related to the acquisition of Ergotron. The transaction costs of approximately $2.2 million related to the acquisition of Ergotron for 2010 have been excluded from the unaudited pro forma net loss and basic and diluted loss per share. These pro forma amounts are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would have been achieved had the acquisition taken place as of January 1, 2010, nor are they necessarily indicative of the results for future periods.

On July 6, 2010, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Linear LLC, acquired all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Skycam, LLC (“Luxor”) for approximately $9.1 million (utilizing approximately $7.9 million of cash and issuing an unsecured 4% subordinated note in the amount of $1.2 million). Luxor is an on-line retailer and distributor of security cameras and digital video recorders. Pro forma results related to the acquisition of Luxor have not been presented, as the effect is not significant to the Company's consolidated operating results.

Contingent consideration of approximately $1.3 million was paid in the first quarter of 2010 related to the prior acquisition of certain entities. The Company does not anticipate paying any further contingent consideration for completed acquisitions as of December 31, 2012.

On February 14, 2013, the Company announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire 2GIG Technologies, Inc. (“2GIG”) from APX Group, Inc. A privately held company based in Lehi, Utah, 2GIG is an innovative designer and supplier of residential security and home automation systems. Developed with the assistance of Nortek's Linear® business, 2GIG's Go!Control™ touch-screen panel is an industry-leading, self-contained, all-in-one home security and automation control panel. 2GIG also provides wireless interactive home security services and a wide range of peripheral hardware devices and system components for home security and automation solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will pay approximately $135.0 million for all of the outstanding common stock of 2GIG on a cash- and debt-free basis. The acquisition is expected to be financed with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under Nortek's asset-based credit facility. The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2013, subject to customary closing conditions including approval pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. 2GIG will be included in the Company's Technology Solutions segment. Two of the Company's subsidiaries in the TECH segment have recorded sales to 2GIG Technologies amounting to approximately $63.1 million and $98.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 6, "Commitments and Contingencies".