Consolidated Debt as a Percentage of Total Capitalization

No definition available.

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- Definition

Consolidated Net Worth

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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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

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or 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 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ 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

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-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

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

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ 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

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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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

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

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- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt.

+ 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)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

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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 Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

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Debt (Schedule Of Notes Payable And Long-Term Debt Additional Information) (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended									6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Five-Year Revolving Credit Facility Maturing May 9, 2017 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 $200.0 European Revolving Credit Facility, Due March 13, 2014 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Sigma-Aldrich Korea Limited Credit Facility, Due June 30, 2014 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Sigma-Aldrich Korea Limited Credit Facility, Due June 30, 2014 [Member] KRW	Jun. 30, 2013 Sigma-Aldrich Japan Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Sigma-Aldrich Japan Credit Facility [Member] JPY (¥)	Jun. 30, 2013 Other Short-Term Credit Facilities [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2013 Senior Notes, Due November 1, 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 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	$ 20	¥ 2,000	$ 3
Line of Credit Facility, Term					5 years
Debt instrument, maturity date					May 09, 2017	Mar. 13, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	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					14.20%	14.20%
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						2,584
Debt instrument face amount						200
Outstanding					129							300	300	300
Stated interest rate												3.375%
Interest Expense, Debt	$ 2	$ 2	$ 5	$ 4