Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Table Text Block [Abstract]

Schedule Of Total Equity [TableTextBlock]

		September 30,		December 31,
		2011		2010
Common stock, $.01 par value:
	Class A - authorized 50.0 shares; issued and outstanding 7.2 and 7.2 shares	$	0.1	$	0.1
	Class B - authorized 150.0 shares; issued and outstanding 51.8 and 53.5 shares		0.5		0.5
Additional paid-in-capital			91.2		201.3
Retained earnings			1,468.3		1,338.6
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
	Pension and post retirement benefit plan adjustment, net of tax		(91.7)		(95.6)
	Cumulative translation adjustment		7.6		14.6
	Unrealized gain on investment, net of tax		0.9		0.5
	Cash flow hedge gain (loss), net of tax		0.2		(0.8)
Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(83.0)		(81.3)
Hubbell Shareholders' equity			1,477.1		1,459.2
Noncontrolling interest			5.4		4.3
Total equity		$	1,482.5	$	1,463.5

Schedule of Changes in Total Equity [TableTextBlock]

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011						2010
	Hubbell Shareholders' Equity		Noncontrolling interest		Total Equity		Hubbell Shareholders' Equity		Noncontrolling interest		Total Equity
Equity, January 1,	$	1,459.2	$	4.3	$	1,463.5	$	1,298.2	$	3.8	$	1,302.0
Total comprehensive income		196.2		1.8		198.0		178.7		1.1		179.8
Stock-based compensation		7.7		-		7.7		6.9		-		6.9
Exercise of stock options		17.2		-		17.2		11.1		-		11.1
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net		4.0		-		4.0		2.4		-		2.4
Acquisition/surrender of common shares		(139.8)		-		(139.8)		(3.6)		-		(3.6)
Issuance of shares related to director's deferred compensation		0.8		-		0.8		-		-		-
Dividends to noncontrolling interest		-		(0.7)		(0.7)		-		(0.9)		(0.9)
Cash dividends declared		(68.2)		-		(68.2)		(64.8)		-		(64.8)
Equity, September 30,	$	1,477.1	$	5.4	$	1,482.5	$	1,428.9	$	4.0	$	1,432.9