Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 764.3	$ 685.0	$ 2,131.6	$ 1,901.9
Operating Income	125.3	117.6	314.0	276.8
Operating Income as a % of Net Sales	16.40%	17.20%	14.70%	14.60%
Electrical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	526.6	490.6	1,490.6	1,358.3
Operating Income	81.5	83.9	208.3	185.1
Operating Income as a % of Net Sales	15.50%	17.10%	14.00%	13.60%
Power [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	237.7	194.4	641.0	543.6
Operating Income	$ 43.8	$ 33.7	$ 105.7	$ 91.7
Operating Income as a % of Net Sales	18.40%	17.30%	16.50%	16.90%

Percentage of net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues to aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process).

Name:	hubb_OperatingIncomePercentageOfSales
Namespace Prefix:	hubb
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration