Total Equity II (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
EQUITY, JANUARY 1			$ 1,935.7	$ 1,914.8
Total comprehensive income	$ 47.2	$ 67.5	185.1	236.8
Stock-based compensation			10.2	9.4
Exercise of stock options				1.1
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net			1.9	7.8
Repurchase/surrender of common shares			(79.8)	(45.0)
Issuance of shares related to directors’ deferred compensation			0.2	0.5
Dividends to noncontrolling interest			(2.5)	(1.7)
Cash dividends declared			(97.2)	(88.7)
EQUITY, SEPTEMBER 30	1,953.6	2,035.0	1,953.6	2,035.0
Hubbell Shareholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
EQUITY, JANUARY 1			1,927.1	1,906.4
Total comprehensive income			181.5	234.2
Stock-based compensation			10.2	9.4
Exercise of stock options				1.1
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net			1.9	7.8
Repurchase/surrender of common shares			(79.8)	(45.0)
Issuance of shares related to directors’ deferred compensation			0.2	0.5
Cash dividends declared			(97.2)	(88.7)
EQUITY, SEPTEMBER 30	1,943.9	2,025.7	1,943.9	2,025.7
Noncontrolling interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
EQUITY, JANUARY 1			8.6	8.4
Total comprehensive income			3.6	2.6
Dividends to noncontrolling interest			(2.5)	(1.7)
EQUITY, SEPTEMBER 30	$ 9.7	$ 9.3	$ 9.7	$ 9.3