Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,108.6	$ 1,204.0	$ 3,148.1	$ 3,487.7
Cost of goods sold	779.0	842.0	2,224.5	2,461.0
Gross profit	329.6	362.0	923.6	1,026.7
Selling & administrative expenses	166.7	189.1	510.4	566.0
Operating income	162.9	172.9	413.2	460.7
Gain on disposition of business (Note 1)	0.0	21.7	0.0	21.7
Pension charge (Note 11, Note 14)	(6.6)	0.0	(6.6)	(22.9)
Interest expense, net	(15.0)	(17.0)	(45.8)	(51.7)
Other expense, net	(2.3)	(9.6)	(8.9)	(18.2)
Total other expense	(23.9)	(4.9)	(61.3)	(71.1)
Income before income taxes	139.0	168.0	351.9	389.6
Provision for income taxes	30.4	35.4	78.5	85.3
Net income	108.6	132.6	273.4	304.3
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1.5	1.9	3.1	5.3
Net income attributable to Hubbell Incorporated	$ 107.1	$ 130.7	$ 270.3	$ 299.0
Earnings per share
Basic (USD per share)	$ 1.97	$ 2.40	$ 4.97	$ 5.48
Diluted (USD per share)	1.96	2.38	4.95	5.45
Cash dividends per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.91	$ 0.84	$ 2.73	$ 2.52