Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Class A Common Stock	Class B Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital Member	Retained Earnings Member	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Member	Total Hubbell Shareholders Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Equity, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2008		$ 0.1	$ 0.5	$ 16.3	$ 1,108.0	$ (116.8)	$ 1,008.1	$ 3.0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	181.3				180.1		180.1	1.2
Adjustment to pension and other benefit plans, net of tax						14.3	14.3
Foreign currency translation adjustments						35.3	35.3
Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax						0.3	0.3
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge, including amortization, net of tax						(1.9)	(1.9)
Total comprehensive income							228.1
Stock-based compensation				10.3			10.3
Exercise of stock options	5.7			5.7			5.7
Income tax windfall (shortfall) from stock-based awards, net				0.6			0.6
Issuance of shares related to director's deferred compensation				5.2			5.2
Acquisition and surrender of common shares				(1.7)			(1.7)
Cash dividends declared					(80.1)		(80.1)
Issuance of common stock, net				122.0			122.0
Dividends to noncontrolling interest								(0.4)
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2009		0.1	0.5	158.4	1,208.0	(68.8)	1,298.2	3.8
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, par value	0.6
Net income	218.8				217.2		217.2	1.6
Adjustment to pension and other benefit plans, net of tax						(23.9)	(23.9)
Foreign currency translation adjustments						11.9	11.9
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge, including amortization, net of tax						(0.5)	(0.5)
Total comprehensive income							204.7
Stock-based compensation				11.4			11.4
Exercise of stock options	49.3			49.3			49.3
Income tax windfall (shortfall) from stock-based awards, net				9.4			9.4
Acquisition and surrender of common shares				(27.2)			(27.2)
Cash dividends declared					(86.6)		(86.6)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest								(1.1)
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2010	1,463.5	0.1	0.5	201.3	1,338.6	(81.3)	1,459.2
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, par value	0.6
Net income	270.2				267.9		267.9	2.3
Adjustment to pension and other benefit plans, net of tax						(58.1)	(58.1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments						(12.1)	(12.1)
Unrealized gain on investments, net of tax						0.5	0.5
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedge, including amortization, net of tax						0.6	0.6
Total comprehensive income							198.8
Stock-based compensation				15.1			15.1
Exercise of stock options	21.9			21.9			21.9
Income tax windfall (shortfall) from stock-based awards, net				8.1			8.1
Acquisition and surrender of common shares				(144.6)			(144.6)
Cash dividends declared					(90.7)		(90.7)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest								(0.9)
Equity, end of period at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,473.5	$ 0.1	$ 0.5	$ 101.8	$ 1,515.8	$ (150.4)	$ 1,467.8	$ 5.7