Total Equity II (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,749.0	$ 1,935.7
Total comprehensive income	62.7	42.0
Stock-based compensation	4.6	3.7
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net	0.8	1.3
Repurchase/surrender of common shares	(205.2)	(78.6)
Issuance of shares related to directors’ deferred compensation, net	0.1	0.2
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	(0.7)	(0.6)
Cash dividends declared	(35.6)	(32.5)
Ending balance	1,575.7	1,871.2
Hubbell Shareholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,740.6	1,927.1
Total comprehensive income	61.6	41.0
Stock-based compensation	4.6	3.7
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net	0.8	1.3
Repurchase/surrender of common shares	(205.2)	(78.6)
Issuance of shares related to directors’ deferred compensation, net	0.1	0.2
Cash dividends declared	(35.6)	(32.5)
Ending balance	1,566.9	1,862.2
Noncontrolling interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	8.4	8.6
Total comprehensive income	1.1	1.0
Dividends to noncontrolling interest	(0.7)	(0.6)
Ending balance	$ 8.8	$ 9.0