Reportable Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	$ 4,731,470	$ 4,507,020	$ 13,470,272	$ 11,004,224
Segment profit	766,547	655,619	2,073,927	1,744,965
California litigation expense	136,333		136,333
Interest expense	(92,281)	(91,593)	(277,335)	(174,017)
Administrative expenses and other	(121,980)	(136,304)	(402,634)	(327,618)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	415,953	427,722	1,257,625	1,243,330
Administrative
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	685	2,087	2,791	4,535
Segment profit
California litigation expense	136,333		136,333
Interest expense	(92,281)	(91,593)	(277,335)	(174,017)
Administrative expenses and other	(121,980)	(136,304)	(402,634)	(327,618)
Intersegment transfers
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	(940,988)	(866,074)	(2,675,008)	(2,441,640)
Segment Reconciling Items
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	(940,303)	(863,987)	(2,672,217)	(2,437,105)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(350,594)	(227,897)	(816,302)	(501,635)
The Americas Group
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	2,665,663	2,539,256	7,371,135	6,928,657
The Americas Group | Operating Segments
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	2,665,896	2,540,440	7,371,641	6,934,201
Segment profit	577,738	525,577	1,485,027	1,363,488
California litigation expense
Interest expense
Administrative expenses and other
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	577,738	525,577	1,485,027	1,363,488
The Americas Group | Intersegment transfers
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	233	1,184	506	5,544
Consumer Brands Group
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	770,543	723,341	2,204,668	1,583,148
Consumer Brands Group | Operating Segments
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,706,824	1,583,522	4,862,282	4,003,504
Segment profit	83,941	70,427	249,072	202,405
California litigation expense
Interest expense
Administrative expenses and other
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	83,941	70,427	249,072	202,405
Consumer Brands Group | Intersegment transfers
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	936,281	860,181	2,657,614	2,420,356
Performance Coatings Group
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,294,579	1,242,336	3,891,678	2,487,884
Performance Coatings Group | Operating Segments
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,299,053	1,247,045	3,908,566	2,503,624
Segment profit	104,868	59,615	339,828	179,072
California litigation expense
Interest expense
Administrative expenses and other
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	104,868	59,615	339,828	179,072
Performance Coatings Group | Intersegment transfers
Reportable segment information
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	$ 4,474	$ 4,709	$ 16,888	$ 15,740