CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Net sales	$ 3,097.4	$ 3,297.6
Cost of sales (including special charges of $0.6 in 2015)	1,631.4	1,765.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,088.2	1,136.8
Special (gains) and charges	6.3	7.8
Operating income	371.5	387.7
Interest expense, net	66.1	62.5
Income before income taxes	305.4	325.2
Provision for income taxes	73.4	89.8
Net income including noncontrolling interest	232.0	235.4
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1.2	2.0
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 230.8	$ 233.4
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78	$ 0.78
Diluted (in dollars per share)	0.77	0.77
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.350	$ 0.330
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	294.4	298.2
Diluted (in shares)	298.3	303.2