Reportable Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Reportable segment information
Net external sales	$ 2,484,920	$ 2,172,259	$ 6,695,257	$ 5,880,805
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	2,484,920	2,172,259	6,695,257	5,880,805
Segment profit	321,417	316,703	782,246	757,536
Interest expense	(10,452)	(11,310)	(32,874)	(49,219)
Administrative expenses and other	(50,689)	(50,014)	(137,367)	(134,231)
Income before income taxes	260,276	255,379	612,005	574,086
Paint Stores Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Net external sales	1,417,765	1,286,063	3,646,079	3,381,955
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	1,417,765	1,286,063	3,646,079	3,381,955
Segment profit	236,886	225,079	512,374	484,795
Income before income taxes	236,886	225,079	512,374	484,795
Consumer Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Net external sales	351,579	340,365	1,022,143	1,042,731
Intersegment transfers	615,307	519,186	1,609,877	1,388,908
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	966,886	859,551	2,632,020	2,431,639
Segment profit	41,023	59,699	143,484	177,859
Income before income taxes	41,023	59,699	143,484	177,859
Global Finishes Group [Member]
Reportable segment information
Net external sales	714,351	544,548	2,023,388	1,452,194
Intersegment transfers	8,174	4,689	20,666	13,688
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	722,525	549,237	2,044,054	1,465,882
Segment profit	43,508	31,925	126,388	94,882
Income before income taxes	43,508	31,925	126,388	94,882
Administrative [Member]
Reportable segment information
Net external sales	1,225	1,283	3,647	3,925
Intersegment transfers	(623,481)	(523,875)	(1,630,543)	(1,402,596)
Total net sales and intersegment transfers	(622,256)	(522,592)	(1,626,896)	(1,398,671)
Interest expense	(10,452)	(11,310)	(32,874)	(49,219)
Administrative expenses and other	(50,689)	(50,014)	(137,367)	(134,231)
Income before income taxes	$ (61,141)	$ (61,324)	$ (170,241)	$ (183,450)

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.

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 210.5-03.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 4

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 1(i)

Reference 2: 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=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

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- Definition

Amount of interest revenue net of interest expense for the reportable segment. Reporting interest revenue net of interest expense is permitted only when a majority of the segment's revenues are from interest and the chief operating decision maker relies primarily on net interest revenue to assess the performance of the segment and make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment.

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- Definition

Amount of revenue from external customers for the reportable segment. Such disclosure is presented if the amount is: (a) included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief operating decision maker or (b) otherwise regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker, even if not included in that measure of segment profit or loss.

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Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

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Amount of total revenue for the reportable segments, including revenue from external customers, transactions with other operating segments of the same entity, and (gross) interest revenue. All considered to be "operating revenue" for purposes of the taxonomy.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph a, b, c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 22

-Subparagraph (a),(b),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e8736-108599

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