Reportable Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	$ 2,450,284us-gaap_Revenues	$ 2,366,556us-gaap_Revenues
Segment profit	280,382us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	253,817us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense	(12,351)us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet	(16,394)us-gaap_InterestRevenueExpenseNet
Administrative expenses and other	(74,790)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	(71,346)us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Income before income taxes	193,241	166,077
Paint Stores Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,461,505	1,360,003
Segment profit	176,576	146,265
Income before income taxes	176,576	146,265
Consumer Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	959,228	871,861
Segment profit	55,406	51,088
Income before income taxes	55,406	51,088
Global Finishes Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	471,330	499,052
Segment profit	38,900	46,477
Income before income taxes	38,900	46,477
Latin America Coatings Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	176,300	192,510
Segment profit	9,500	9,987
Income before income taxes	9,500	9,987
Administrative [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	(618,079)	(556,870)
Interest expense	(12,351)	(16,394)
Administrative expenses and other	(74,790)	(71,346)
Income before income taxes	(87,141)	(87,740)
Operating Segments [Member] \| Paint Stores Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,461,505	1,360,003
Operating Segments [Member] \| Consumer Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	351,690	325,299
Operating Segments [Member] \| Global Finishes Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	469,556	497,639
Operating Segments [Member] \| Latin America Coatings Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	166,231	182,388
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] \| Administrative [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,302	1,227
Intersegment Transfers [Member] \| Consumer Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	607,538	546,562
Intersegment Transfers [Member] \| Global Finishes Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,774	1,413
Intersegment Transfers [Member] \| Latin America Coatings Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	10,069	10,122
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] \| Administrative [Member]
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	$ (619,381)	$ (558,097)

The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

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- Definition

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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- Definition

Amount of interest revenue (income derived from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents) net of interest expense (cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

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