Debt Disclosure [Line Items]

No definition available.

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- Definition

Leverage Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73531572&loc=d3e1043-128460

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of short-term borrowings using unsecured obligations issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers to investors. The maturities of these money market securities generally do not exceed 270 days.

+ 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(19)(a)(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(13)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

States whether the entity was in compliance with the debt covenants throughout the reporting period, and describes facts and circumstances of any compliance failure.

+ References

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the aggregate of total long-term debt, including current maturities and short-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ 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 FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
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-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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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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- Details

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Debt - Additional Information (Detail) € in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 26, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 26, 2015 EUR (€)	Sep. 02, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2014 USD ($)
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Commercial Paper		$ 179.5
Compliance with debt agreement financial covenants	we were in compliance with all financial covenants in our debt agreements.
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 4,279.2	4,685.8
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense	(17.8)	(23.5)
Other Credit Facilities
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity	49.4
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding	$ 0.0
Minimum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt agreement financial covenant, leverage ratio	3.50
Maximum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Cost and expenses incurred in connection with acquisition	$ 25.0
Debt agreement financial covenant, leverage ratio	3.00
Commercial Paper
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.754%
Commercial Paper	$ 398.7	179.5
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 0.8	0.0
Senior Notes One Point Eight Seven Five Percent Due Twenty Seventeen [Member] \| Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	1.875%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 350.0	350.0
Senior Notes Two Point Nine Percent Due Twenty Eighteen [Member] \| Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.90%		2.90%	2.90%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 500.0	500.0	$ 500.0
Senior Notes 2.650% due 2019 \| Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.65%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 250.0	250.0
Senior Notes Two Point Four Five Percent Due Twenty Nineteen [Member] \| Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.45%		2.45%	2.45%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 520.7	548.4		€ 500.0
Senior Notes Three Point Six Two Five Percent Due Twenty Twenty [Member] \| Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	3.625%		3.625%	3.625%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 400.0	400.0	$ 400.0
Senior Notes, 5.000% Due 2021 \| Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	5.00%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 500.0	500.0
Senior Notes 3.150% due 2022 \| Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	3.15%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 550.0	550.0
Senior Notes Four Point Six Five Percent Due Twenty Twenty Five [Member] \| Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	4.65%		4.65%	4.65%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 250.0	250.0	$ 250.0
Subsidiary Issuer \| Senior Notes One Point Eight Seven Five Percent Due Twenty Seventeen [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, interest rate	1.875%
Subsidiary Issuer \| Senior Notes 2.650% due 2019
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, interest rate	2.65%
Subsidiary Issuer \| Senior Notes, 5.000% Due 2021
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, interest rate	5.00%
Subsidiary Issuer \| Senior Notes 3.150% due 2022
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, interest rate	3.15%
Pentair, Inc [Member] \| Senior Notes, 5.000% Due 2021
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount	$ 127.0
Pentair Finance S.A. [Member] \| Senior Notes, 5.000% Due 2021
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount	373.0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Remaining availability under Credit Facility	1,524.5
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity					$ 2,500.0	$ 2,100.0
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Remaining availability under Credit Facility	$ 803.5
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Long Term Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	2.192%
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount	$ 576.8	$ 1,181.4