Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Contingencies [Abstract]
Minimum Number Of Countries And Territories Serving Consumers	200
Range of reasonably possible losses, minimum	$ 0
Range of reasonably possible losses, maximum	225
Brazilian internal revenue authority, matter 1	131
Brazilian internal revenue authority, matter 2	78
European competition matters - Swiss competition law authority	6
European competition matters - Spanish competition law authority	3
European competition matters - Italian competition law authority	3
European competition matters - French competition law authority	46
European competition matters - Hill's France Subsidiary	$ 6

FineImposedandAppealedFrenchcompetitionauthority

No definition available.

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- Definition

FineImposedandAppealedFrenchLawAuthority

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Fine imposed in 2010 by the Italian competition law authority on the Company's Italian subsidiary for exchanging competitively sensitive information in the cosmetics sector. The Company is appealing the fine in the Italian courts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Fine imposed in 2010 by the Spanish competition law authority on the Company's Spanish subsidiary based on a finding that four suppliers of shower gel had entered into an agreement regarding product down-sizing. The Company is appealing the fine in the Spanish courts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Fine imposed in 2009 by the Swiss competition law authority on the Company's GABA subsidiary for alleged violations of restrictions on parallel imports into Switzerland. The Company is appealing the fine in the Swiss courts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Minimum Number Of Countries And Territories Serving Consumers

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Tax assessments with interest related to disallowance by the Brazilian Internal Revenue Authority of interest deductions and foreign exchange losses taken by the Company's Brazilian subsidiary in connection with the financing of the Kolynos acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Tax assessment with interest and penalties based on a claim that certain purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by the Company's Brazilian subsidiary and their subsequent disposition during the period 2000 to 2001 were subject to a tax on foreign exchange transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14557-108349

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 14

-Paragraph 3

-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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12

-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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14435-108349

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- Definition

The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References

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