Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Table Text Block [Abstract]

Schedule Of Total Equity [TableTextBlock]

		March 31,		December 31,
		2012		2011
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 52.0 and 52.0 shares		0.5		0.5
Additional paid-in-capital			81.9		101.8
Retained earnings			1,554.6		1,515.8
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
	Pension and post retirement benefit plan adjustment, net of tax		(151.0)		(153.7)
	Cumulative translation adjustment		15.0		2.5
	Unrealized gain on investment, net of tax		0.8		1.0
	Cash flow hedge loss, net of tax		(0.5)		(0.2)
Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(135.7)		(150.4)
Hubbell shareholders' equity			1,501.4		1,467.8
Noncontrolling interest			5.7		5.7
Total equity		$	1,507.1	$	1,473.5

Schedule of Changes in Total Equity [TableTextBlock]

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2012						2011
	Hubbell Shareholders' Equity		Noncontrolling interest		Total Equity		Hubbell Shareholders' Equity		Noncontrolling interest		Total Equity
Equity, January 1,	$	1,467.8	$	5.7	$	1,473.5	$	1,459.2	$	4.3	$	1,463.5
Total comprehensive income		77.9		0.4		78.3		60.7		0.4		61.1
Stock-based compensation		2.8		-		2.8		2.5		-		2.5
Exercise of stock options		18.3		-		18.3		16.4		-		16.4
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net		8.6		-		8.6		3.5		-		3.5
Acquisition/surrender of common shares		(49.8)		-		(49.8)		(61.9)		-		(61.9)
Issuance of shares related to director's deferred compensation		0.2		-		0.2		0.8		-		0.8
Dividends to noncontrolling interest		-		(0.4)		(0.4)		-		(0.3)		(0.3)
Cash dividends declared		(24.4)		-		(24.4)		(23.0)		-		(23.0)
Equity, March 31,	$	1,501.4	$	5.7	$	1,507.1	$	1,458.2	$	4.4	$	1,462.6