Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,003.0	$ 944.9	$ 2,960.4	$ 2,811.4
Operating profit	61.0	45.7	112.3	125.9
Amounts Attributable To Brink's Income (Loss) From [Abstract]
Continuing operations	31.1	21.3	47.8	78.6
Discontinued operations	(7.3)	(7.8)	(31.9)	(17.6)
Net income attributable to Brink's	23.8	13.5	15.9	61.0
Depreciation and amortization			132.6	121.4
Capital expenditures			124.3	117.3
Diluted:
Continuing operations	$ 0.63	$ 0.44	$ 0.98	$ 1.62
Discontinued operations	$ (0.15)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.65)	$ (0.36)
Net income (loss)	$ 0.49	$ 0.28	$ 0.32	$ 1.26
Basic:
Continuing operations	$ 0.64	$ 0.44	$ 0.98	$ 1.63
Discontinued operations	$ (0.15)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.66)	$ (0.37)
Net income (loss)	$ 0.49	$ 0.28	$ 0.33	$ 1.26
Tax benefit Related to a Change in Retiree Healthcare Funding Strategy				$ 21.0