Commitments and Contingencies (Summary of Warranties) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Warranties
Warranty accrual – January 1	$ 33	$ 31
Net charges for product warranties in the period	20	21
Settlement of warranty claims	(21)	(21)
Foreign currency and other	3	0
Warranty accrual - September 30	$ 35	$ 31

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount as of the balance sheet date of the aggregate standard product warranty liability. Does not include the balance for the extended product warranty liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)(1),(c)(5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease in the standard product warranty accrual from payments made in cash or in kind to satisfy claims under the terms of the standard product warranty. Excludes extended product warranties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph ((c)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the standard product warranty accrual from changes in estimates attributable to preexisting product warranties. Excludes extended product warranties.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph ((c)(4))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Standard Product Warranty Accrual Other

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	xyl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration