Retirement Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Pension obligations transferred									$ 70.0
Percentage of Defined Benefit Plan Obligation in US									66.00%
Number of U.S. Timken retirees										8,400
Pension Contributions									$ 15.0	$ 10.8	$ 21.1
Retirement Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Return on plan assets									$ 14.8	10.8
Defined benefit pension plan percentage of fair value of plan assets									66.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Plans with Benefit Obligations in Excess of Plan Assets, Aggregate Benefit Obligation	$ 32.1								$ 32.1
Defined benefit plans are included in the other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets					$ 86.3					86.3
Current liabilities	5.7				9.1				$ 5.7	9.1
Current portion of accrued pension cost relates to unfunded plans and represents the actuarial present value of expected payments									next 12 months
Projected benefit obligation	194.2								$ 194.2
Accumulated benefit obligations	182.5								182.5
Fair value of plan assets	34.7								34.7
Pension accumulated benefit obligation	$ 888.0				890.3				$ 888.0	890.3
Percentage Increase in Value of Pension Assets Due to Investment Performance									8.50%
Company common stock	2,790,811								2,790,811
Fair value of company common stock	$ 110.8								$ 110.8
Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Benefit Obligation										1,100.0	110.0
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets Transferred to (from) Plan										1,200.0
Lump Sum Distributions Paid									55.0	$ 37.2
Canadian Retirees										40
Pension Settlement Charges	16.2	$ 10.3	$ 0.4	$ 1.2	241.8	$ 3.6	$ 4.4	$ 215.2	28.1	$ 465.0	33.7
Professional Fees										2.6
Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation	612.4				589.9				612.4	589.9	$ 1,703.9
Retirement Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Return on plan assets									4.6	4.4
Current liabilities	$ 4.3				$ 4.2				4.3	4.2
Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Actuarial Gain (Loss), before Tax									19.2
Expected amortization of prior service cost									1.4
Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Benefit Obligation									$ 0.0	$ 1,162.8
The Timken Company Canadian Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of Canadian Timken retirees									135
Pension obligations transferred									$ 15.0
Retirement Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Benefit Obligation									7.0
Defined Benefit Plan, Assets Transferred to (from) Plan									15.0
Lump Sum Distributions Paid									19.0
Professional Fees									$ 1.5
U.S. Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Discount rate to defined pension plans									4.69%
Expected long-term return on plan assets									5.78%	6.00%	7.25%
Employee Stock [Member]
Retirement Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Return on plan assets									$ 20.2	$ 22.4	$ 26.1
Dividends									$ 3.7	$ 4.2	$ 4.7
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Discount rate to defined pension plans									4.34%
Expected long-term return on plan assets									5.78%
Maximum [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Discount rate to defined pension plans									4.70%	4.64%	5.00%
Expected long-term return on plan assets									6750000.00%
Minimum [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member]
Retirement Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]
Discount rate to defined pension plans									4.50%	3.98%	5.00%
Expected long-term return on plan assets									5750000.00%