Comprehensive income (Details) (USD $) In Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | |
| Amounts attributable to Brink's [Abstract] | ||||
| Net income (loss) | $ 30.8 | $ 23.9 | $ 58.7 | $ 37.2 |
| Benefit plan adjustments | 8.1 | 6.6 | 23.1 | 7.4 |
| Benefit plan settlements | (0.5) | 0 | (1.2) | 0 |
| Foreign currency | (72.5) | 43.0 | (33.8) | 0.1 |
| Available-for-sale securities | (0.9) | 2.0 | (1.6) | 2.3 |
| Other comprehensive loss | (65.8) | 51.6 | (13.5) | 9.8 |
| Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brinks | (35.0) | 75.5 | 45.2 | 47.0 |
| Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests [Abstract] | ||||
| Net income | 4.9 | 3.3 | 14.9 | 9.4 |
| Foreign currency | (2.5) | 2.6 | (1.8) | 3.9 |
| Available-for-sale securities | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.5 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | (2.5) | 2.6 | (1.7) | 4.4 |
| Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 2.4 | 5.9 | 13.2 | 13.8 |
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ (32.6) | $ 81.4 | $ 58.4 | $ 60.8 |