Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	ECOLAB INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000031462
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	232,097,949
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3

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

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