CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
Net sales	$ 3,161.6	$ 3,097.4
Cost of sales (including special charges of $1.5 in 2017)	1,691.5	1,631.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,090.6	1,088.2
Special (gains) and charges	6.2	6.3
Operating income	373.3	371.5
Interest expense, net	62.5	66.1
Income before income taxes	310.8	305.4
Provision for income taxes	54.0	73.4
Net income including noncontrolling interest	256.8	232.0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest (including special charges (a))	3.3	1.2
Net income attributable to Ecolab	$ 253.5	$ 230.8
Earnings attributable to Ecolab per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.87	$ 0.78
Diluted (in dollars per share)	0.86	0.77
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.370	$ 0.350
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	290.6	294.4
Diluted (in shares)	295.0	298.3