Consolidated Debt as a Percentage of Total Capitalization

No definition available.

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- Definition

Consolidated Net Worth

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Covenant, Consolidated Net Worth

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Covenant Ratio, Consolidated Debt Plus Subsidiary Debt as a Percentage of Total Net Worth

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Covenant, Ratio of Consolidated Debt Plus Subsidiary Debt to Net Worth

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Covenant, Ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total Capitalization

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Covenant, Ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total Net Worth

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Subsidiary Debt Plus Consolidated Secured Debt, as a Percent of Total Net Worth

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 31

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-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.

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- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-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.

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- Definition

Represents the portion of interest incurred in the period on debt arrangements that was charged against earnings.

+ 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 210.5-03.8)

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

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 34

-Paragraph 21

-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.

+ Details

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- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-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 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

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Debt (Schedule Of Notes Payable And Long-Term Debt Additional Information) (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Five-Year Revolving Credit Facility Maturing May 9, 2017 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 $200.0 European Revolving Credit Facility, Due March 13, 2014 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Sigma-Aldrich Korea Limited Credit Facility, Due June 30, 2013 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Sigma-Aldrich Korea Limited Credit Facility, Due June 30, 2013 [Member] KRW	Mar. 31, 2013 Sigma-Aldrich Japan Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Sigma-Aldrich Japan Credit Facility [Member] JPY (¥)	Mar. 31, 2013 Other Short-Term Credit Facilities [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Long-Term Debt [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Long-Term Debt [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 Long-Term Debt [Member] Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Long-Term Debt [Member] Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2020 [Member] USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity			$ 600		$ 18	20,000	$ 21	¥ 2,000	$ 3
Line of Credit Facility, Term			5 years
Debt instrument, maturity date			May 09, 2017	Mar. 13, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014		Nov. 01, 2020
Debt instrument covenant ratio of consolidated debt to total capitalization, maximum			65.00%	55.00%
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Ratio of Consolidated Debt Plus Subsidiary Debt to Net Worth				25.00%
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total Net Worth			25.00%
Consolidated debt as percentage of total capitalization			13.40%	13.40%
Subsidiary Debt Plus Consolidated Secured Debt, as a Percent of Total Net Worth				0.00%
Debt Instrument, Covenant Ratio, Consolidated Debt Plus Subsidiary Debt as a Percentage of Total Net Worth			0.00%
Debt instrument covenant consolidated net worth, minimum				750
Consolidated net worth				2,511
Debt instrument face amount				200
Outstanding			89							300	300	300	300	300
Stated interest rate										3.375%
Interest Expense, Debt	$ 2	$ 2