2.4.0.82103100 - Disclosure - New Accounting Pronouncementstruefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000090185duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1sial_NewAccountingPronouncementsAbstractsial_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_DescriptionOfNewAccountingPronouncementsNotYetAdoptedus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">New Accounting Pronouncements</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, "Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" that requires entities to disclose either on the face of or in the notes to the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of AOCI. For items reclassified out of AOCI and into net income in their entirety, entities must disclose the effect of the reclassification on each affected net income item. For items that are not reclassified in their entirety into net income, entities must provide a cross reference to other required U.S. GAAP disclosures. This ASU does not change the items currently reported in other comprehensive income and is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and interim periods within those years. The adoption of these provisions did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Company. </font></div></div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for a new accounting pronouncement that has been issued but not yet adopted.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 250 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 11.M) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26874127&loc=d3e31137-122693 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 11 -Section M false0Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block]falseNew Accounting PronouncementsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.sigmaaldrich.com/role/NewAccountingPronouncements12