Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Common Stock Class A Common Stock	Common Stock Class B Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Hubbell Shareholders' Equity	Non- controlling interest
Beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013			$ 0.1	$ 0.5	$ 236.6	$ 1,740.2	$ (71.0)	$ 1,906.4	$ 8.4
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 327.2					325.3		325.3	1.9
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(93.3)						(93.3)	(93.3)
Stock-based compensation					15.8			15.8
Exercise of stock options					2.4			2.4
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net					9.2			9.2
Acquisition/surrender of common shares					(117.3)			(117.3)
Cash dividends declared						(121.4)		(121.4)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest									(1.7)
End of period at Dec. 31, 2014			0.1	0.5	146.7	1,944.1	(164.3)	1,927.1	8.6
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	282.1					277.3		277.3	4.8
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(59.9)						(59.9)	(59.9)
Stock-based compensation					16.3			16.3
Exercise of stock options					0.0			0.0
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net					0.9			0.9
Acquisition/surrender of common shares					(92.6)			(92.6)
Cash dividends declared						(133.8)		(133.8)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest									(5.0)
Director's deferred compensation					6.8			6.8
Share reclassification		$ 0.6	(0.1)	(0.5)		(201.5)		(201.5)
End of period at Dec. 31, 2015	1,749.0	0.6	0.0	0.0	78.1	1,886.1	(224.2)	1,740.6	8.4
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	297.8					293.0		293.0	4.8
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(78.3)						(78.3)	(78.3)
Stock-based compensation					22.5			22.5
Income tax windfall from stock-based awards, net					4.8			4.8
Acquisition/surrender of common shares					(90.4)	(155.5)		(245.9)
Cash dividends declared						(144.3)		(144.3)
Dividends to noncontrolling interest									2.8
Director's deferred compensation					0.4			0.4
End of period at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 1,603.2	$ 0.6	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 15.4	$ 1,879.3	$ (302.5)	$ 1,592.8	$ 10.4