CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Millions	Ecolab Shareholders Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	OCI (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Non-Controlling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 7,344.3	$ 345.1	$ 4,692.0	$ 4,699.0	$ (305.2)	$ (2,086.6)	$ 65.1	$ 7,409.4
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		345,101,009				(43,965,830)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	1,202.8			1,202.8			19.4	1,222.2
Comprehensive income (loss) activity	(646.7)				(646.7)		(8.3)	(655.0)
Cash dividends declared	(346.7)			(346.7)			(14.0)	(360.7)
Champion acquisition							(2.9)	(2.9)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(0.3)		(0.3)				6.9	6.6
Stock options and awards	191.1	$ 2.6	182.8			$ 5.7		191.1
Stock options (in shares)		1,850,757				122,455
Stock awards (in shares)		773,022				8,231
Reacquired shares	(428.6)					$ (428.6)		(428.6)
Reacquired shares						(4,037,188)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	7,315.9	$ 347.7	4,874.5	5,555.1	(951.9)	$ (2,509.5)	66.2	7,382.1
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		347,724,788				(47,872,332)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	1,002.1			1,002.1			15.1	1,017.2
Comprehensive income (loss) activity	(471.4)				(471.4)		(2.0)	(473.4)
Cash dividends declared	(396.9)			(396.9)			(8.3)	(405.2)
Venezuela deconsolidation							(0.5)	(0.5)
Stock options and awards	215.3	$ 2.6	205.4			$ 7.3		215.3
Stock options (in shares)		1,962,360				151,261
Stock awards (in shares)		652,672				14,745
Reacquired shares	(755.1)		6.2			$ (761.3)		(755.1)
Reacquired shares						(6,666,403)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	6,909.9	$ 350.3	5,086.1	6,160.3	(1,423.3)	$ (3,263.5)	70.5	$ 6,980.4
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		350,339,820				(54,372,729)		296,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	1,229.6			1,229.6			17.5	$ 1,247.1
Comprehensive income (loss) activity	(289.6)				(289.6)		(1.3)	(290.9)
Cash dividends declared	(414.9)			(414.9)			(16.9)	(431.8)
Stock options and awards	205.7	$ 2.3	200.2			$ 3.2		205.7
Stock options (in shares)		1,778,821				58,969
Stock awards (in shares)		489,100				14,291
Reacquired shares	(739.6)		(15.5)			$ (724.1)		(739.6)
Reacquired shares						(6,483,198)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 6,901.1	$ 352.6	$ 5,270.8	$ 6,975.0	$ (1,712.9)	$ (3,984.4)	$ 69.8	$ 6,970.9
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		352,607,741				(60,782,667)		291,800,000