CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Net sales	$ 3,386.1	$ 3,446.4	$ 9,800.7	$ 10,133.1
Cost of sales including special charges (a)	1,737.2	1,820.0	5,153.8	5,391.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,071.6	1,070.7	3,253.1	3,286.7
Special (gains) and charges	3.2	142.7	35.7	216.1
Operating income	574.1	413.0	1,358.1	1,238.5
Interest expense, net	64.9	57.6	196.3	181.3
Income before income taxes	509.2	355.4	1,161.8	1,057.2
Provision for income taxes	129.7	105.3	286.7	262.9
Net income including noncontrolling interest	379.5	250.1	875.1	794.3
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (including special charges (a)	5.4	(7.7)	11.8	1.1
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 374.1	$ 257.8	$ 863.3	$ 793.2
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.28	$ 0.87	$ 2.95	$ 2.67
Diluted (in dollars per share)	1.27	0.86	2.91	2.63
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.350	$ 0.330	$ 1.050	$ 0.990
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	291.6	295.2	292.8	296.5
Diluted (in shares)	295.7	300.0	297.1	301.5