Document And Entity Information Document (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 17, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	GENERAL CABLE CORP /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000886035
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K/A
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	true
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		49,764,204
Amendment Description	On October 29, 2012, the General Cable Corporation (the "Company") announced that it had identified historical accounting errors relating to inventory. The accounting errors understated cost of sales and overstated inventory balances for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, for the three months ended March 30, 2012 and for the six months ended June 29, 2012. The company has no evidence that the errors resulted from any fraud or intentional misconduct.
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 2,180.2