{"cik":31462,"taxonomy":"us-gaap","tag":"PaymentsToAcquireProductiveAssets","label":"Payments to Acquire Productive Assets","description":"The cash outflow for purchases of and capital improvements on property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets.","entityName":"ECOLAB INC.","units":{"USD":[{"start":"2008-01-01","end":"2008-12-31","val":394500000,"accn":"0001104659-11-010321","fy":2010,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2011-02-25","frame":"CY2008"},{"start":"2009-01-01","end":"2009-12-31","val":297300000,"accn":"0001104659-12-014104","fy":2011,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2012-02-28","frame":"CY2009"},{"start":"2009-01-01","end":"2009-12-31","val":297300000,"accn":"0001104659-11-010321","fy":2010,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2011-02-25"},{"start":"2010-01-01","end":"2010-12-31","val":297700000,"accn":"0001104659-13-014387","fy":2012,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2013-02-26","frame":"CY2010"},{"start":"2010-01-01","end":"2010-12-31","val":297700000,"accn":"0001104659-12-014104","fy":2011,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2012-02-28"},{"start":"2010-01-01","end":"2010-12-31","val":297700000,"accn":"0001104659-11-010321","fy":2010,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2011-02-25"},{"start":"2011-01-01","end":"2011-12-31","val":366000000,"accn":"0001104659-13-014387","fy":2012,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2013-02-26","frame":"CY2011"},{"start":"2011-01-01","end":"2011-12-31","val":366000000,"accn":"0001104659-12-014104","fy":2011,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2012-02-28"},{"start":"2012-01-01","end":"2012-12-31","val":607500000,"accn":"0001104659-13-014387","fy":2012,"fp":"FY","form":"10-K","filed":"2013-02-26","frame":"CY2012"}]}}