Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 366.1	$ 249.9	$ 297.8
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(33.9)	28.9	(35.4)
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement plans, net of taxes of ($6.3), ($1.0) and $18.9	17.8	4.0	(40.3)
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of taxes of $0.4, ($0.2) and $0.1	(1.4)	0.6	(1.2)
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of taxes of ($0.5), $0.4 and $0.5	1.6	(0.8)	(1.4)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(15.9)	32.7	(78.3)
Comprehensive income	350.2	282.6	219.5
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	5.9	6.8	4.8
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO HUBBELL	$ 344.3	$ 275.8	$ 214.7