Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common shares	Treasury shares	Capital contribution reserve	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Total Pentair plc	Noncontrolling interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 6,217.7	$ 113.5	$ (875.1)	$ 5,071.4	$ 1,829.1	$ (43.6)	$ 6,095.3	$ 122.4
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		213.0	(15.6)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations before noncontrolling interest	214.9				214.9		214.9	0.0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(336.7)					(336.7)	(336.7)	0.0
Tax benefit of share-based compensation	11.4			11.4			11.4
Conversion of Stock, Amount Issued		$ (111.4)		111.4
Dividends declared	(229.5)			(229.5)	0.0		(229.5)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests	(134.7)			(12.3)			(12.3)	(122.4)
Share repurchase (in shares)		(10.6)	(5.8)
Share repurchase	(1,150.0)	$ (0.1)	$ (450.7)	(699.2)			(1,150.0)
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)		0.0	1.3
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	46.5	$ 0.0	$ 60.9	(14.4)			46.5
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)		0.0	0.3
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations	0.0	$ 0.0	$ 19.3	(19.3)			0.0
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)		0.0	(0.1)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	(9.4)	$ 0.0	$ (6.3)	(3.1)			(9.4)
Share-based compensation	33.6			33.6			33.6
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		202.4	(19.9)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	4,663.8	$ 2.0	$ (1,251.9)	4,250.0	2,044.0	(380.3)	4,663.8	0.0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations before noncontrolling interest	(76.4)				(76.4)		(76.4)	0.0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(264.7)					(264.7)	(264.7)	0.0
Tax benefit of share-based compensation	5.7			5.7			5.7
Dividends declared	(174.4)			1.5	(175.9)		(174.4)
Share repurchase (in shares)		(3.1)
Share repurchase	(200.0)			(200.0)			(200.0)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Retired		19.1	19.1
Treasury Stock, Retired, Cost Method, Amount		$ 0.2	$ 1,210.9	1,210.7
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)		0.1	0.7
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	31.1	$ 0.0	$ 34.6	(3.5)			31.1
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)		0.3	0.2
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations	0.0	$ 0.0	$ 9.4	(9.4)			0.0
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)		(0.1)	(0.1)
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	(9.3)	$ 0.0	$ (3.0)	(6.3)	0.0	0.0	(9.3)	0.0
Share-based compensation	33.0			33.0	0.0		33.0	0.0
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		180.5	0.0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	4,008.8	$ 1.8	$ 0.0	2,860.3	1,791.7	(645.0)	4,008.8	0.0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations before noncontrolling interest	522.2				522.2		522.2	0.0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(91.3)					(91.3)	(91.3)	0.0
Tax benefit of share-based compensation	5.5			5.5			5.5
Dividends declared	$ (245.8)			0.0	(245.8)		(245.8)
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment (in shares)	1.0		0.0
Exercise of options, net of shares tendered for payment	$ 31.6		$ 0.0	31.6			31.6
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations (in shares)	0.5		0.0
Issuance of restricted shares, net of cancellations	$ 0.0		$ 0.0	0.0			0.0
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes (in shares)	0.2		0.0
Shares surrendered by employees to pay taxes	$ (10.8)		$ 0.0	(10.8)			(10.8)
Share-based compensation	34.2			34.2			34.2
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		181.8	0.0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 4,254.4	$ 1.8	$ 0.0	$ 2,920.8	$ 2,068.1	$ (736.3)	$ 4,254.4	$ 0.0