Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Millions	Total	Common shares	Treasury shares	Capital contribution reserve	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Total Pentair Ltd.	Noncontrolling interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 2,047.4	$ 47.5		$ 457.7	$ 1,465.8	$ (37.7)	$ 1,933.3	$ 114.1
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		98.6
Net income	170.1				165.9		165.9	4.2
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	(3.8)					(3.7)	(3.7)	(0.1)
Changes in market value of derivative financial instruments, net of $0.5 and $2.6 tax for the nine months ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively	(5.3)					(5.3)	(5.3)
Dividends declared	(209.2)			(143.0)	(66.2)		(209.2)
Conversion of Stock, Shares Issued		113.6	(2.7)
Conversion of Stock, Amount Issued	4,931.7	65.5	(119.6)	4,985.8			4,931.7
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	20.8	0.4	0.2	20.2			20.8
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)		0.7	0
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations	18.9	0.1	0	18.8			18.9
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)		0.2	0
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	(2.7)	0	0	(2.7)			(2.7)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)		(0.1)	0
Share-based compensation	28.5			28.5			28.5
Ending Balance at Sep. 29, 2012	6,996.4	113.5	(119.4)	5,365.3	1,565.5	(46.7)	6,878.2	118.2
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 29, 2012		213.0	(2.7)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	6,487.8	113.5	(315.5)	5,292.4	1,292.5	(11.6)	6,371.3	116.5
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		213.0	(6.9)
Net income	382.9				378.6		378.6	4.3
Changes in cumulative translation adjustment	(29.1)					(29.8)	(29.8)	0.7
Changes in market value of derivative financial instruments, net of $0.5 and $2.6 tax for the nine months ended September 28, 2013 and September 29, 2012, respectively	(0.3)					(0.3)	(0.3)
Tax benefits of share-based compensation	6.2			6.2			6.2
Dividends declared	(199.6)			(199.6)			(199.6)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(2.0)							(2.0)
Share repurchase	(540.3)		(540.3)				(540.3)
Share repurchase (in shares)			(9.7)
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	83.2		109.8	(26.6)			83.2
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)			2.5
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations			28.9	(28.9)
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)			0.6
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	(12.4)		(10.1)	(2.3)			(12.4)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)			(0.2)
Share-based compensation	25.3			25.3			25.3
Ending Balance at Sep. 28, 2013	$ 6,201.7	$ 113.5	$ (727.2)	$ 5,066.5	$ 1,671.1	$ (41.7)	$ 6,082.2	$ 119.5
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 28, 2013		213.0	(13.7)