CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Net sales	$ 3,297.6us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 3,336.6us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Cost of sales (including special charges of $0.6 in 2015 and $6.0 in 2014)	1,765.3us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	1,819.2us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,136.8	1,136.9
Special (gains) and charges	7.8us-gaap_OtherNonrecurringIncomeExpense	29.6us-gaap_OtherNonrecurringIncomeExpense
Operating income	387.7us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	350.9us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense, net	62.5ecl_InterestExpenseNet	65.1ecl_InterestExpenseNet
Income before income taxes	325.2	285.8
Provision for income taxes	89.8us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	91.3us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net income including noncontrolling interest	235.4us-gaap_ProfitLoss	194.5us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	2.0	3.5
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 233.4	$ 191.0
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.64us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.62us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3300	$ 0.2750
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	298.2	300.6
Diluted (in shares)	303.2	306.5

The cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest that was charged against earnings during the period net of income derived from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents the earnings of which reflect the time value of money or transactions in which the payments are for the use or forbearance of money.

No definition available.