Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Trading Symbol Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME Net sales Sales Revenue, Net, Total Expenses Cost of products sold Cost of Goods Sold, Total Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Total Intangible amortization Amortization of Intangible Assets, Total Restructuring costs Restructuring Charges, Total Operating profit Operating profit Other income (expense) Represents the net gain or loss, both realized & unrealized, on hedges & mark-to-market on foreign currency provisions, gains & losses on certain asset sales, certain legal settlements & fees, debt issuance costs, interest & dividend income and various smaller miscellaneous income & expense items. Other Income Expense Net Interest and sundry income (expense) Interest Expense Interest expense Interest Expense, Total Earnings before income taxes and other items Earnings before income taxes and other items Income tax benefit Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Net earnings Net earnings Less: Net earnings available to noncontrolling interests Less: Net earnings available to noncontrolling interests Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Net earnings available to Whirlpool common stockholders Net earnings available to Whirlpool common stockholders Per share of common stock Basic net earnings available to Whirlpool common stockholders Earnings Per Share, Basic, Total Diluted net earnings available to Whirlpool common stockholders Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Total Dividends Weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions) Basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS Assets Current assets Cash and equivalents Cash and equivalents at end of period Cash and equivalents at beginning of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Accounts receivable, net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of $64 and $76 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Inventory, Net Inventory, Net, Total Inventories Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Other current assets Total current assets Total current assets Total Other Assets [Abstract] Total Other Assets [Abstract] Other assets Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Other intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $153 and $132 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill), Total Other Assets, Noncurrent Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Other assets Total other assets Total Other Assets Total other assets Property, plant and equipment Land Buildings Buildings and Improvements, Gross, Total Machinery and equipment Machinery and Equipment, Gross, Total Accumulated depreciation Accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Total property, plant and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Total property, plant and equipment, net Total assets Total assets Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities Accounts Payable, Current Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accounts payable Accrued expenses Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Accrued advertising and promotions Employee-related Liabilities, Current Employee-related Liabilities, Current, Total Employee compensation Notes payable Notes Payable, Current, Total Current maturities of long-term debt Long-term Debt, Current Maturities, Total Other current liabilities Other Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Noncurrent liabilities Long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities, Total Pension benefits Postretirement benefits Other liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Total noncurrent liabilities Total noncurrent liabilities Commitments and contingencies (see Note 5) Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Stockholders' equity Common stock, $1 par value, 250 million shares authorized, 106 million and 105 million shares issued at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, 76 million and 75 million shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Total Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss Treasury stock, 30 million shares at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 Treasury stock, 30 million shares at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Total Whirlpool stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total Whirlpool stockholders' equity Noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Total stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Accounts receivable, allowance for uncollectible accounts Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Ending Balance Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current, Beginning Balance Other intangibles, accumulated amortization Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Ending Balance Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding, Beginning Balance Treasury stock, shares Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS Operating activities Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Curtailment gain Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense, Total The net change in the amount which reflects the difference between (a) inventory at the lower of LIFO cost or market and (b) inventory at the lower of FIFO or market. Decrease In Inventory L I F O Reserve Decrease in LIFO inventory reserve Loss (gain) on disposition of assets Loss (gain) on disposition of assets Changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable, Total Accounts payable The net charge against earnings in the period for incurred and estimated costs associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructurings pursuant to a duly authorized plan net of cash paid, excluding asset retirement obligations. Such costs could include costs associated with business exit activities, recapitalizations, severance, and other restructuring charges, and may be allocated to income (loss) from continuing operations or discontinued operations, as appropriate. Includes such charges attributable to a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period. Increase Decrease In Restructuring Charges Restructuring charges, net of cash paid Taxes deferred and payable, net Accrued pension Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities, Total Employee compensation Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net Other Cash provided by (used in) operating activities Cash provided by operating activities Investing activities Capital expenditures Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Acquisition of brand Acquisition of brand Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired, Total Investment in related businesses Investment in related businesses Payments to Acquire Interest in Subsidiaries and Affiliates, Total Proceeds from sale of assets Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets, Total Cash used in investing activities Cash used in investing activities Financing activities Repayments of Long-term Debt Repayments of long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total Common stock issued Dividends paid Dividends paid Payments of Dividends, Total Purchase of noncontrolling interest shares Purchase of noncontrolling interest shares Net repayments of short-term borrowings Proceeds from (Repayments of) Short-term Debt, Total Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Total Other Cash (used in) provided by financing activities Cash (used in) provided by financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents, Total (Decrease) increase in cash and equivalents (Decrease) increase in cash and equivalents Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Notes To Financial Statements BASIS OF PRESENTATION Schedule of Goodwill [Text Block] GOODWILL FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] INVENTORIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES HEDGES AND DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY RESTRUCTURING CHARGES INCOME TAXES PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION