Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] EQUITY Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value At January 1 At March 31 At January 1 Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Cash and cash investments Receivables Receivables, Net, Current, Total Receivables, Net, Current Assets [Abstract] ASSETS Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Inventories [Abstract] Inventories: Inventory, Net Total Inventories Inventories Total current assets Assets, Current Total current assets Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Goodwill Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill Other assets Other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Assets Total assets Liabilities [Abstract] LIABILITIES Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Notes payable Notes Payable, Current, Total Notes Payable, Current Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accounts Payable, Current Accrued liabilities Accrued Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Masco Corporation's shareholders' equity: Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common shares, par value $1 per share, Authorized shares: 1,400,000,000; issued and outstanding: 2010 - 348,100,000; 2009 - 350,400,000 Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Value, Issued, Total Preferred shares authorized: 1,000,000; issued and outstanding: 2010 - None; 2009 - None Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Total Masco Corporation's shareholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Ending Balance Begining Balance Total equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and equity Net sales Sales Revenue, Net, Total Sales Revenue, Net Cost of sales Cost of Goods and Services Sold Gross profit Gross Profit, Total Gross Profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Total Selling, General and Administrative Expense Operating Income (Loss) Operating profit (loss) Operating profit Other income (expense), net: Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Interest Expense Interest expense Impairment charge for financial investments Other Asset Impairment Charges Impairment charge for financial investments Impairment charges for financial investments Other, net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total Other income (expense), net Total Other income (expense), net Nonoperating Income (Expense) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income (loss) from continuing operations Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest Net (loss) attributable to Masco Corporation Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net (loss) income Net (loss) income Basic: Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] (Loss) from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Outstanding Share, Total Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Income from discontinued operations, net Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share (Loss) from discontinued operations, net Net (loss) income Earnings Per Share, Basic Net (loss) income Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Diluted: Income (loss) from continuing operations (Loss) from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share Income from discontinued operations, net Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share (Loss) from discontinued operations, net Net (loss) income Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net (loss) income Other intangible assets, net Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Proceeds from disposition of: Proceeds from disposition Abstract Proceeds from disposition. Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Productive Assets, Total Payments to Acquire Productive Assets Capital expenditures Marketable securities Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities, Total Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Marketable Securities Other financial investments, net Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Other Investments, Total Proceeds from Sale and Maturity of Other Investments Property and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired Other, net Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other, net Other, net Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash for investing activities CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash from (for) financing activities Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Cash dividends paid Cash dividends paid Cash dividends paid Purchase of Company common stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Purchase of Company common stock Payment of debt Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Repayments of Long-term Debt Payment of debt Increase in debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt Increase in debt CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Increase (Decrease) in Receivables Increase (Decrease) in Receivables, Total (Increase) in receivables Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total (Increase) decrease in inventories Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, net Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, net Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash for operating activities CASH FLOWS FROM (FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] CASH AND CASH INVESTMENTS: Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Total Decrease for the period Common shares, par value Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common shares, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common shares, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common shares, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Preferred shares, shares authorized Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred shares, shares issued Preferred Stock, Shares Issued, Total Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred shares, shares outstanding Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Beginning Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding, Ending Balance Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Prepaid expenses and other Prepaid expenses and other Prepaid expenses and other. Prepaid expenses and other Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash investments Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Discontinued Operations [Abstract] Discontinued Operations. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets. Earning Per Common Share [Abstract] (Loss) Earnings per common share attributable to Masco Corporation: Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Accounting Policies Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Disclosure [Text Block] Discontinued Operations Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Employee Retirement Plans Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Other Commitments and Contingencies Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Earnings Per Common Share Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Other Income (Expense), Net Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number) Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (actual number) Deferred income taxes and other Deferred income taxes and other Represents the noncurrent portion of deferred income tax and deferred pension liabilities. Derivatives Derivatives, Policy [Text Block] Employee Retirement Plans [Abstract] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Derivatives [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Segment Information [Abstract] Segment Information. Other Income (Expense), Net [Abstract] Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Other Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Other Commitments and Contingencies. Proceeds from Notes Payable Proceeds from Notes Payable, Total Issuance of Notes, net of issuance costs Repayments of Notes Payable Retirement of Notes Retirement of notes Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Income from discontinued operations, net (Loss) from discontinued operations, net Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net (loss) income Net income (loss) (Loss) income from continuing operations (Loss) from continuing operations Income Loss From Continuing Operations (Loss) income from continuing operations Paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Amounts attributable to Masco Corporation: Income Amounts Attributable to Parent, Disclosures [Abstract] Inventory, Finished Goods Inventory, Finished Goods, Total Finished goods Inventory, Raw Materials Inventory, Raw Materials, Total Raw material Inventory, Work in Process Work in process Work in process Defined Benefit Plan, Curtailments Charge for defined-benefit plan curtailment Charge for defined-benefit plan curtailment Cash Provided By Operations Cash provided by operations Cash Provided By Operations. Depreciation and Amortization Expense [Abstract] Depreciation and Amortization Expense Depreciation And Amortization Expense Text Block Depreciation and Amortization Expense Warranty [Abstract] Product Warranty Disclosure [Text Block] Warranty Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Accumulated other comprehensive income Comprehensive Income Note [Text Block] Accumulated Other Comprehansive Income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Document And Entity Information Abstract. Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Debt Abstract. Debt [Abstract] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Fair Value Of Financial Investments And Liabilities Abstract. Fair Value of Financial Investments and Liabilities [Abstract] Fair Value of Financial Investments and Liabilities Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Subsequent Event. Subsequent Event [Abstract] Schedule of Subsequent Events [Text Block] Subsequent Event