Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	SPX Corporation Shareholders' Equity	Common Stock	Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Accum. Other Comprehensive Income	Common Stock In Treasury	Noncontrolling Interests	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 2,184.2	$ 993.6	$ 1,502.2	$ 2,008.9	$ 189.8	$ (2,510.3)	$ 10.0	$ 2,194.2
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	180.4			180.4			2.8	183.2
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	95.0				95.0		0.6	95.6
Dividends declared ($1.50, $1.00, and $1.00 for the years 2014, 2013, and 2012)	(50.9)			(50.9)				(50.9)
Exercise of stock options and other incentive plan activity	25.0	4.4	20.6					25.0
Stock based compensation expense, including $0.6, and $1.5 related to discontinued operations for the years ended 2013 and 2012, respectively	40.4		40.4					40.4
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit vesting, including related tax benefit of $6.7,$1.7 and $0.5 for 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively, net of tax withholdings	(4.3)	0.9	(9.5)			4.3		(4.3)
Common stock repurchases	(245.6)					(245.6)		(245.6)
Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interests							(0.7)	(0.7)
Other changes in noncontrolling interests							(1.4)	(1.4)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	2,224.2	998.9	1,553.7	2,138.4	284.8	(2,751.6)	11.3	2,235.5
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	210.2			210.2			2.4	212.6
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	2.7				2.7		(0.6)	2.1
Dividends declared ($1.50, $1.00, and $1.00 for the years 2014, 2013, and 2012)	(45.5)			(45.5)				(45.5)
Exercise of stock options and other incentive plan activity	16.9	2.2	14.7					16.9
Stock based compensation expense, including $0.6, and $1.5 related to discontinued operations for the years ended 2013 and 2012, respectively	33.5		33.5					33.5
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit vesting, including related tax benefit of $6.7,$1.7 and $0.5 for 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively, net of tax withholdings	(20.8)	3.4	(27.4)			3.2		(20.8)
Common stock repurchases	(260.2)					(260.2)		(260.2)
Other changes in noncontrolling interests	(3.0)		(3.0)				0.9	(2.1)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	2,158.0	1,004.5	1,571.5	2,303.1	287.5	(3,008.6)	14.0	2,172.0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)	397.9			397.9			(9.5)	388.4
Other comprehensive income (loss), net	(224.9)				(224.9)			(224.9)
Dividends declared ($1.50, $1.00, and $1.00 for the years 2014, 2013, and 2012)	(63.2)			(63.2)				(63.2)
Exercise of stock options and other incentive plan activity	16.4	1.6	14.8					16.4
Stock based compensation expense, including $0.6, and $1.5 related to discontinued operations for the years ended 2013 and 2012, respectively	38.4		38.4					38.4
Restricted stock and restricted stock unit vesting, including related tax benefit of $6.7,$1.7 and $0.5 for 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively, net of tax withholdings	(15.9)	2.1	(23.9)			5.9		(15.9)
Common stock repurchases	(488.8)					(488.8)		(488.8)
Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interests							(0.5)	(0.5)
Other changes in noncontrolling interests							(0.8)	(0.8)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,817.9	$ 1,008.2	$ 1,600.8	$ 2,637.8	$ 62.6	$ (3,491.5)	$ 3.2	$ 1,821.1