Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 297.8	$ 282.1	$ 327.2
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(35.4)	(45.5)	(35.7)
Pension and post retirement benefit plans’ service costs and net actuarial (losses) gains, net of taxes of $18.9, $10.7 and $33.9	(40.3)	(15.5)	(57.7)
Unrealized loss on investments, net of taxes of $0.1, $0.2 and $0.0	(1.2)	(0.3)	(0.1)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of taxes of $0.5, ($0.3) and ($0.1)	(1.4)	1.4	0.2
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(78.3)	(59.9)	(93.3)
Comprehensive income	219.5	222.2	233.9
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	4.8	4.8	1.9
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO HUBBELL	$ 214.7	$ 217.4	$ 232.0