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Significant Accounting Policies - Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Publicly Traded Debt [Member]      
Financial Instruments      
Carrying Amount $ 1,120,924us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember		 $ 1,620,646us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember		 $ 1,630,056us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember
Fair Value 1,160,280us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember		 1,614,739us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember		 1,706,487us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_PubliclyTradedDebtMember
Non-Traded Debt [Member]      
Financial Instruments      
Carrying Amount 5,056us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_NonTradedDebtMember		 4,675us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_NonTradedDebtMember		 5,798us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_NonTradedDebtMember
Fair Value $ 4,812us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_NonTradedDebtMember		 $ 4,430us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_NonTradedDebtMember		 $ 5,600us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= shw_NonTradedDebtMember