Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TIMKEN CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000098362
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date		--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 2,097,179,228
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	77,565,732