CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net earnings	$ 1,102.5	$ 938.1	$ 4.9
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	9.6	(42.6)	(3.2)
Reclassification adjustment for foreign currency translation gains included in net earnings from the substantially complete liquidation of an investment in a foregin subsidiary	0	(9.4)	0
Amortization of deferred holding gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges included in net earnings, net of tax benefit of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(0.7)	(0.8)	(0.8)
Pension and postretirement benefit plan adjustments:
Net loss, net of tax benefit of $1.1 million, $24.9 million and $20.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	(35.9)	(62.7)	(53.5)
Net gain on remeasurement of postretirement benefit plan liability, net of tax expense of $7.4 million	0	13.1	0
Amortization, net of tax expense of $0.8 million, $5.1 million and $3.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively	25.1	12.7	8.2
Other comprehensive loss	(1.9)	(89.7)	(49.3)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	1,100.6	848.4	(44.4)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	5.0	2.4	5.1
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Allergan, Inc.	$ 1,095.6	$ 846.0	$ (49.5)