Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to The Timken Company	$ 113.5	$ 64.2	$ 92.5	$ 91.9	$ 60.0	$ 71.6	$ 91.0	$ 80.2	$ 362.1	$ 302.8	$ 203.4
Numerator:
Less: undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested stock									$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share									$ 362,100,000	$ 302,800,000	$ 203,400,000
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding - basic									75,758,123	77,119,602	77,736,398
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and awards - based on the treasury stock method (in shares)									1,138,442	1,217,879	1,174,751
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding, assuming dilution of stock options and awards									76,896,565	78,337,481	78,911,149
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 1.51	$ 0.85	$ 1.22	$ 1.21	$ 0.78	$ 0.93	$ 1.18	$ 1.03	$ 4.78	$ 3.93	$ 2.62
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 1.48	$ 0.84	$ 1.20	$ 1.19	$ 0.77	$ 0.91	$ 1.16	$ 1.02	$ 4.71	$ 3.86	$ 2.58