Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Oct. 15, 2015
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	HUBBELL INCORPORATED
Entity Central Index Key	0000048898
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Class A Common Stock
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		7,167,506
Class B Common Stock
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		50,714,255