Cash debt pooling arrangements, amount netted

No definition available.

Name:	ipg_CashDebtPoolingArrangementsAmountNetted
Namespace Prefix:	ipg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Early Redemption Premium

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Repayment of Long Term Debt, Including Accrued and Unpaid Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ipg_RepaymentOfLongTermDebtIncludingAccruedAndUnpaidInterest
Namespace Prefix:	ipg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Repurchase price of notes as a percent of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest of the debt, if there is a change of control as specified in the applicable notes' indenture.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ipg_RepurchasePricePercentageDueToChangeOfControl
Namespace Prefix:	ipg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Earliest date before maturity when the issuer can call the outstanding debt instrument for repayment or conversion to equity, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the debt agreement requires the first payment to be made, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDateOfFirstRequiredPayment1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the frequency of periodic payments (monthly, quarterly, annual).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The remaining balance of debt issuance expenses that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues. This does not include the amounts capitalized as part of the cost of the utility plant or asset.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Debt and Credit Arrangements Debt Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 10.00% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2017	Dec. 31, 2012 2.25% Senior Notes due 2017	Nov. 08, 2012 2.25% Senior Notes due 2017	Dec. 31, 2012 3.75% Senior Notes due 2023	Nov. 08, 2012 3.75% Senior Notes due 2023	Aug. 31, 2011 7.25% Senior Notes due 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 4.00% Senior Notes due 2022	Mar. 02, 2012 4.00% Senior Notes due 2022	Mar. 31, 2012 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount								$ 36.3			$ 400.0
Repayment of Long Term Debt, Including Accrued and Unpaid Interest								37.6
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment				semi-annually		semi-annually			semi-annually
Debt Instrument, Date of First Required Payment				May 15, 2013		Aug. 15, 2013			Sep. 15, 2012
Repurchase Price Percentage Due to Change of Control				101.00%		101.00%			101.00%
Long-term Debt, Fair Value					299.3		498.5			246.8
Unamortized debt issuance costs	27.5	25.5			2.1		3.8			2.5
Debt Instrument, Call Date, Earliest			Jul. 15, 2013
Debt Early Redemption Premium			105.00%
Cash debt pooling arrangements, amount netted	$ 1,166.3	$ 1,106.6