Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	ECOLAB INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000031462
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
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	292,908,272
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3