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Inventories (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]      
Impact on Net income of liquidations $ (196)us-gaap_EffectOfLIFOInventoryLiquidationOnIncome $ (169)us-gaap_EffectOfLIFOInventoryLiquidationOnIncome $ 160us-gaap_EffectOfLIFOInventoryLiquidationOnIncome
Inventories      
Percentage of total inventories on LIFO 76.00%us-gaap_PercentageOfLIFOInventory 75.00%us-gaap_PercentageOfLIFOInventory 75.00%us-gaap_PercentageOfLIFOInventory
Excess of FIFO over LIFO 331,867shw_ExcessOfFifoOverLifo 337,214shw_ExcessOfFifoOverLifo 357,303shw_ExcessOfFifoOverLifo
Increase in net income due to LIFO $ 3,230us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserveEffectOnIncomeNet $ 12,299us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserveEffectOnIncomeNet $ 13,365us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserveEffectOnIncomeNet
Increase in net income per common share due to LIFO (in dollars per share) $ 0.03shw_IncreaseDecreaseInNetIncomePerCommonShareDueToLifo $ 0.12shw_IncreaseDecreaseInNetIncomePerCommonShareDueToLifo $ 0.13shw_IncreaseDecreaseInNetIncomePerCommonShareDueToLifo