Share - Based Compensation (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
20.00 - 34.99 [Member]
Information about stock options and SARs outstanding in connection with the Lorillard Plan
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 20.00
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 34.99
Stock options, and SARs outstanding Number of shares	40,064
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	2.7
Stock options outstanding, weighted average exercise price	$ 29.38
Awards Vested, Number of shares	40,064
Award vested, weighted average exercise price	$ 29.38
35.00 - 49.99 [Member]
Information about stock options and SARs outstanding in connection with the Lorillard Plan
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 35.00
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 49.99
Stock options, and SARs outstanding Number of shares	36,937
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	3.8
Stock options outstanding, weighted average exercise price	$ 44.75
Awards Vested, Number of shares	36,937
Award vested, weighted average exercise price	$ 44.75
50.00 - 64.99 [Member]
Information about stock options and SARs outstanding in connection with the Lorillard Plan
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 50.00
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 64.99
Stock options, and SARs outstanding Number of shares	191,823
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	6.5
Stock options outstanding, weighted average exercise price	$ 59.36
Awards Vested, Number of shares	94,018
Award vested, weighted average exercise price	$ 58.49
65.00 - 79.99 [Member]
Information about stock options and SARs outstanding in connection with the Lorillard Plan
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 65.00
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 79.99
Stock options, and SARs outstanding Number of shares	608,460
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	7.3
Stock options outstanding, weighted average exercise price	$ 73.04
Awards Vested, Number of shares	212,164
Award vested, weighted average exercise price	$ 72.43
80.00 - 94.99 [Member]
Information about stock options and SARs outstanding in connection with the Lorillard Plan
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 80.00
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 94.99
Stock options, and SARs outstanding Number of shares	323,456
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	7.4
Stock options outstanding, weighted average exercise price	$ 81.13
Awards Vested, Number of shares	112,884
Award vested, weighted average exercise price	$ 81.42
95.00 - 109.99 [Member]
Information about stock options and SARs outstanding in connection with the Lorillard Plan
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 95.00
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 109.99
Stock options, and SARs outstanding Number of shares	102,630
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	9.2
Stock options outstanding, weighted average exercise price	$ 107.33
Awards Vested, Number of shares	5,708
Award vested, weighted average exercise price	$ 101.94
110.00 - 114.00 [Member]
Information about stock options and SARs outstanding in connection with the Lorillard Plan
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 110.00
Share-based Compensation, Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 114.00
Stock options, and SARs outstanding Number of shares	159,584
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	9.3
Stock options outstanding, weighted average exercise price	$ 112.35
Awards Vested, Number of shares	0
Award vested, weighted average exercise price	$ 0.00

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The weighted average period between the balance sheet date and expiration for all awards outstanding under the plan, which may be expressed in a decimal value for number of years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

-SubTopic 10

-Topic 718

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Weighted average exercise price as of the balance sheet date for those equity-based payment arrangements exercisable and outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The floor of a customized range of exercise prices for purposes of disclosing shares potentially issuable under outstanding stock option awards on all stock option plans and other required information pertaining to awards in the customized range.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 64

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The number of shares reserved for issuance pertaining to the outstanding exercisable stock options as of the balance sheet date in the customized range of exercise prices for which the market and performance vesting condition has been satisfied.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(1)(c)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(iii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The number of shares reserved for issuance pertaining to the outstanding stock options as of the balance sheet date for all option plans in the customized range of exercise prices.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(1)(a, b)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The weighted average price as of the balance sheet date at which grantees could acquire the underlying shares with respect to all outstanding stock options which are in the customized range of exercise prices.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The ceiling of a customized range of exercise prices for purposes of disclosing shares potentially issuable under outstanding stock option awards on all stock option plans and other required information pertaining to awards in the customized range.

+ References

+ Details

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