Accrued Expenses And Other Liabilities (Accrued Expenses And Other Liabilities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current
Compensation and benefits	$ 911.4	$ 773.9
Restructuring	134.0us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent	91.2us-gaap_RestructuringReserveCurrent
Claims, including self-insurance and litigation	130.6	125.8
Pension and post-retirement benefits	100.1	118.0
Environmental and regulatory compliance	40.7	40.9
Taxes, income and other	566.9dhr_IncomeAndOtherTaxesCurrent	224.9dhr_IncomeAndOtherTaxesCurrent
Deferred revenue	766.5us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent	686.5us-gaap_DeferredRevenueCurrent
Sales and product allowances	188.7dhr_SalesAndProductAllowancesCurrent	173.4dhr_SalesAndProductAllowancesCurrent
Warranty	126.2	128.5
Other	484.4us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	323.8us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Total	3,449.5us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	2,686.9us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Non-current
Compensation and benefits	328.3us-gaap_DueToEmployeesNoncurrent	332.7us-gaap_DueToEmployeesNoncurrent
Restructuring	0us-gaap_RestructuringReserveNoncurrent	0us-gaap_RestructuringReserveNoncurrent
Claims, including self-insurance and litigation	86.3	86.5
Pension and post-retirement benefits	1,330.6	869.1
Environmental and regulatory compliance	78.3	91.9
Taxes, income and other	2,647.9dhr_IncomeAndOtherTaxesNoncurrent	2,614.0dhr_IncomeAndOtherTaxesNoncurrent
Deferred revenue	186.8us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	170.2us-gaap_DeferredRevenueNoncurrent
Sales and product allowances	2.4dhr_SalesAndProductAllowancesNoncurrent	2.6dhr_SalesAndProductAllowancesNoncurrent
Warranty	12.9	12.7
Other	70.5	77.0
Total	$ 4,744.0us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	$ 4,256.7us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent

Claims, including self-insurance and litigation, Current

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Environmental And Regulatory Compliance, Current

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Income And Other Taxes, Current

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable, pertaining to costs that are statutory in nature, are incurred on contractual obligations, or accumulate over time and for which invoices have not yet been received or will not be rendered. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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The carrying amount of consideration received or receivable as of the balance sheet date on potential earnings that were not recognized as revenue in conformity with GAAP, and which are expected to be recognized as such within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, including sales, license fees, and royalties, but excluding interest income.

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Amounts due to Employee, not to include stockholders or officers, which are due after one year (or one business cycle).

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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The noncurrent portion (due beyond one year or one operating cycle) of other accrued expenses (expenses incurred at the end of the reporting period but not yet paid) not otherwise defined in the taxonomy.

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Aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of noncurrent obligations not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. Noncurrent liabilities are expected to be paid after one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer).

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The current liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement and postemployment benefit plans.

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This represents the noncurrent liability for underfunded plans recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with the defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement defined benefit plans.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for estimated claims under standard and extended warranty protection rights granted to customers. For classified balance sheets, represents the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due after one year (or beyond the operating cycle if longer) for estimated claims under standard and extended warranty protection rights granted to customers.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated obligations associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid in the next twelve months or in the normal operating cycle if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of known and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan, which are expected to be paid after one year or beyond the next operating cycle, if longer. Costs of such activities include those for one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and costs associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement, but excludes costs associated with the retirement of a long-lived asset.

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