The amount of the gain (loss) from the reclassification of certain costs added to inventory during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	ecl_InventoryCostAlignment
Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the gain (loss) from the inventory reserve adjustments, net of the reclassification of certain costs added to inventory during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the gain (loss) from the inventory reserve adjustments during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ecl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Depreciation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of LIFO (last in first out) inventory to total inventory as of the balance sheet date if other than 100 percent.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PercentageOfLIFOInventory
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=ecl_BuildingsAndLeaseHoldsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=ecl_MerchandisingAndCustomerEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Property, Plant and Equipement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory Valuations
LIFO inventory as percentage of consolidated inventory	40.00%	39.00%
Charge related to inventory reserves and product costing, before tax		$ 6.0
Inventory cost alignment	$ 6.2	14.5
Inventory reserves		20.6
Property, Plant and Equipment
Total depreciation expense	561.0	559.5	$ 558.1
Cost of sales
Inventory Valuations
Charge related to inventory reserves and product costing, before tax		6.0
Inventory cost alignment	$ 6.2	14.5
Inventory reserves		$ 20.6
Buildings and Leasehold Improvements \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful life	5 years
Buildings and Leasehold Improvements \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful life	40 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful life	3 years
Machinery and Equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful life	20 years
Merchandising and Customer Equipment \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful life	3 years
Merchandising and Customer Equipment \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful life	15 years
Capitalized Software \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful life	3 years
Capitalized Software \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment
Estimated useful life	7 years