2.2.0.25truefalse1077 - Disclosure - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Additional Information (Detail)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $eol_PE727-----1010-K0008_STD_365_20091231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000060751duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0iso4217_USD_per_sharesDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0YearStandardhttp://www.lubrizol.com/20101231Yearlz0pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalseFair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Nonrecurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]3false0us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse38000003.8falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTangible assets that are held by an entity for use in the production or supply of goods and services, for rental to others, or for administrative purposes and that are expected to provide economic benefit for more than one year; net of accumulated depreciation. Examples include land, buildings, and production equipment net of accumulated depreciation.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 33 falsefalseLong-lived assets4false0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUseus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse1150000011.5falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 26 -Subparagraph b Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 7, 25 falsefalseImpairment loss, long-lived assets5false0us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse9000000.9falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLong-lived assets that are held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold in less than one year.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 33 falsefalseAssets held for sale6false0us-gaap_LongLivedAssetsHeldForSaleImpairmentChargeus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse13000001.3falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe loss recognized for any initial write-down from carrying value to fair value less cost to sell for a classified as held for sale.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 144 -Paragraph 33, 47 falsefalseImpairment loss, assets held for sale7false0us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2000000.2falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents various capitalized rights and intangible assets, excluding goodwill, having a projected indefinite period of benefit.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 33 falsefalseIndefinite-lived intangible assets8false0us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsImpairmentLossesus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse3000000.3falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryImpairment recognized during the period and allocated to the reportable segment that results from the write-down of indefinite-lived intangible assets after comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit indefinite-lived intangible assets with the carrying amount of that indefinite-lived intangible assets, which are assessed at least annually for impairment.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseIndefinite lived intangible assets, impairment charge9false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.lubrizol.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurefairvaluemeasurementsadditionalinformation1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis} : Long Lived Assets 12/31/2009 USD ($) $eol_PE727-----1010-K0008_STD_0_20091231_0_403594x430826http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000060751instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLong Lived Assetsus-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldilz_LongLivedAssetsMemberus-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLong Lived Assets10true0us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalseFair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Nonrecurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]11false0lz_ImpairedAssetOriginalCarryingValueNetlzfalsedebitinstantImpaired Asset Original Carrying Value Netfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse1530000015.3falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryImpaired Asset Original Carrying Value NetNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseImpaired assets, carrying value12false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.lubrizol.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurefairvaluemeasurementsadditionalinformation1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis} : Assets Held-for-sale 12/31/2009 USD ($) $eol_PE727-----1010-K0008_STD_0_20091231_0_403594x400643http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000060751instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseAssets Held-for-saleus-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleMemberus-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAssets Held-for-sale13true0us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalseFair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Nonrecurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]14false0lz_ImpairedAssetOriginalCarryingValueNetlzfalsedebitinstantImpaired Asset Original Carrying Value Netfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse22000002.2falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryImpaired Asset Original Carrying Value NetNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseImpaired assets, carrying value15false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.lubrizol.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurefairvaluemeasurementsadditionalinformation1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis} : Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets 12/31/2009 USD ($) $eol_PE727-----1010-K0008_STD_0_20091231_0_403594x418870http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000060751instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseIndefinite-lived Intangible Assetsus-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldilz_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsMemberus-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseIndefinite-lived Intangible Assets16true0us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalseFair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Nonrecurring Basis, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]17false0lz_ImpairedAssetOriginalCarryingValueNetlzfalsedebitinstantImpaired Asset Original Carrying Value Netfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse5000000.5falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryImpaired Asset Original Carrying Value NetNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseImpaired assets, carrying value116FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue