Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture			$ 5.0		$ 6.9
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax	$ 0.0	$ 1.2	(1.6)	$ 0.9
Common Stock, Value, Issued	53.1		53.1		53.1
Treasury Stock, Value	878.9		878.9		804.3
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	26.7		26.7		20.1
Shareholding pattern
Beginning Balance			1,344.6
Net income	21.0	64.5	128.8	(32.6)
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0.4	1.1	0.3	2.5
Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, net of Tax, net of Spinoff			(1.4)
Net Income (loss) attributable to The Timken Company	20.6	63.4	128.5	(35.1)
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment (net of the income tax benefit of $1.5 million)	15.0	13.0	27.0	120.5
Dividends - $0.26 per share			(61.4)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Deficiency from Share-based Compensation			(1.0)
Stock-based compensation expense			10.9
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock			(83.3)	(227.9)
Stock option exercise activity			0.7
Restricted shares surrendered (issued)			0.0
Shares surrendered for taxes			(1.6)
Ending Balance	1,366.2		1,366.2		1,344.6
Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock	905.4		905.4		905.1
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	1,524.7		1,524.7		1,457.6
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(264.8)	$ (411.6)	(264.8)	$ (411.6)	(287.0)	$ (281.5)	$ (396.0)	$ (482.5)
Stated Capital [Member]
Shareholding pattern
Ending Balance	53.1		53.1
Other Paid-In Capital [Member]
Shareholding pattern
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Deficiency from Share-based Compensation			(1.0)
Stock-based compensation expense			10.9
Stock option exercise activity			(1.0)
Restricted shares surrendered (issued)			(8.6)
Ending Balance	905.4		905.4
Earnings Invested in the Business [Member]
Shareholding pattern
Dividends - $0.26 per share			(61.4)
Ending Balance	1,524.7		1,524.7
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) [Member]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax			(1.6)
Shareholding pattern
Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, net of Tax, net of Spinoff			(3.2)
Pension and postretirement liability adjustment (net of the income tax benefit of $1.5 million)			27.0
Ending Balance	(264.8)		(264.8)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Shareholding pattern
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock			(83.3)
Stock option exercise activity			1.7
Restricted shares surrendered (issued)			8.6
Shares surrendered for taxes			(1.6)
Ending Balance	(878.9)		(878.9)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders			(0.3)
Shareholding pattern
Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, net of Tax, net of Spinoff			1.8
Ending Balance	$ 26.7		26.7
Holme Service Limited [Member]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture			4.8		$ 6.6
Holme Service Limited [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Payments to Acquire Interest in Joint Venture			$ 4.8