Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Sales, EBIT, assets, depreciation and amortization and capital spending of operations by reportable segment
Sales	$ 789.6	$ 870.5	$ 870.8	$ 693.6	$ 626.9	$ 665.9	$ 687.6	$ 547.3	$ 3,224.5	$ 2,527.7	$ 2,258.1
EBIT	52.7	81.8	85.4	55.2	26.8	66.5	64.0	38.8	275.1	196.1	211.9
Assets	3,115.2				2,527.9				3,115.2	2,527.9	1,877.3
Depreciation and Amortization									88.0	70.5	64.7
Capital Spending									79.6	64.2	47.0
Reconciliation of segmental assets to total assets
Assets per table above	3,115.2				2,527.9				3,115.2	2,527.9	1,877.3
Assets held for sale of discontinued operations (Note 4)	22.7				1.6				22.7	1.6
TOTAL ASSETS	3,137.9				2,529.5				3,137.9	2,529.5
Reconciliation of depreciation and amortization and capital spending
Depreciation and amortization as per table above									88.0	70.5	64.7
Depreciation and amortization of discontinued operations										1.4	2.8
Total depreciation and amortization									88.0	71.9	67.5
Capital spending as per table above									79.6	64.2	47.0
Capital spending of discontinued operations										0.4	1.2
Total capital spending									79.6	64.6	48.2
Carlisle Construction Materials
Sales, EBIT, assets, depreciation and amortization and capital spending of operations by reportable segment
Sales									1,484.0	1,223.6	1,125.9
EBIT									177.9	159.2	155.2
Assets	774.4				594.6				774.4	594.6	572.4
Depreciation and Amortization									23.7	23.4	24.9
Capital Spending									21.1	4.6	6.9
Reconciliation of segmental assets to total assets
Assets per table above	774.4				594.6				774.4	594.6	572.4
Reconciliation of depreciation and amortization and capital spending
Depreciation and amortization as per table above									23.7	23.4	24.9
Capital spending as per table above									21.1	4.6	6.9
Carlisle Transportation Products
Sales, EBIT, assets, depreciation and amortization and capital spending of operations by reportable segment
Sales									732.1	684.8	633.5
EBIT									9.1	21.7	53.4
Assets	584.9				554.5				584.9	554.5	489.4
Depreciation and Amortization									20.3	18.6	14.0
Capital Spending									21.6	39.3	27.9
Reconciliation of segmental assets to total assets
Assets per table above	584.9				554.5				584.9	554.5	489.4
Reconciliation of depreciation and amortization and capital spending
Depreciation and amortization as per table above									20.3	18.6	14.0
Capital spending as per table above									21.6	39.3	27.9
Carlisle Brake & Friction
Sales, EBIT, assets, depreciation and amortization and capital spending of operations by reportable segment
Sales									473.0	129.4	74.6
EBIT									77.2	(0.9)	0.8
Assets	665.8				662.0				665.8	662.0	82.5
Depreciation and Amortization									20.2	6.2	4.6
Capital Spending									16.8	5.7	2.4
Reconciliation of segmental assets to total assets
Assets per table above	665.8				662.0				665.8	662.0	82.5
Reconciliation of depreciation and amortization and capital spending
Depreciation and amortization as per table above									20.2	6.2	4.6
Capital spending as per table above									16.8	5.7	2.4
Carlisle Interconnect Technologies
Sales, EBIT, assets, depreciation and amortization and capital spending of operations by reportable segment
Sales									299.6	251.1	180.5
EBIT									41.9	30.9	14.3
Assets	782.1				398.8				782.1	398.8	391.9
Depreciation and Amortization									12.9	11.4	10.0
Capital Spending									14.8	10.3	4.4
Reconciliation of segmental assets to total assets
Assets per table above	782.1				398.8				782.1	398.8	391.9
Reconciliation of depreciation and amortization and capital spending
Depreciation and amortization as per table above									12.9	11.4	10.0
Capital spending as per table above									14.8	10.3	4.4
Carlisle FoodService Products
Sales, EBIT, assets, depreciation and amortization and capital spending of operations by reportable segment
Sales									235.8	238.8	243.6
EBIT									13.2	24.3	24.7
Assets	206.8				212.4				206.8	212.4	218.4
Depreciation and Amortization									9.2	9.5	9.7
Capital Spending									5.1	3.9	5.0
Reconciliation of segmental assets to total assets
Assets per table above	206.8				212.4				206.8	212.4	218.4
Reconciliation of depreciation and amortization and capital spending
Depreciation and amortization as per table above									9.2	9.5	9.7
Capital spending as per table above									5.1	3.9	5.0
Corporate
Sales, EBIT, assets, depreciation and amortization and capital spending of operations by reportable segment
EBIT									(44.2)	(39.1)	(36.5)
Assets	101.2				105.6				101.2	105.6	122.7
Depreciation and Amortization									1.7	1.4	1.5
Capital Spending									0.2	0.4	0.4
Reconciliation of segmental assets to total assets
Assets per table above	101.2				105.6				101.2	105.6	122.7
Reconciliation of depreciation and amortization and capital spending
Depreciation and amortization as per table above									1.7	1.4	1.5
Capital spending as per table above									$ 0.2	$ 0.4	$ 0.4