Entity tax identification number Entity Tax Identification Number Maximum Maximum [Member] Legal Entity [Axis] Legal Entity [Axis] Statistical Measurement [Domain] Statistical Measurement [Domain] EBP, Description of Plan [Table] EBP, Description of Plan [Table] Mutual funds Mutual Fund [Member] Automatic deferral rate, annual increase EBP, Participant Contribution, Automatic, Annual Increase Deferral Rate Annual increase in percentage of eligible compensation contributed for participant automatically enrolled in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) until the contribution reaches maximum threshold. Sales of shares EBP, Investment Sold, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Selling Price EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Table] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Table] Pretax, maximum annual compensation to total compensation, percentage EBP, Participant Contribution, Pretax, Maximum Annual Compensation to Total Compensation, Percentage Total deductions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease Maximum borrowing, amount EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Maximum Borrowing, Amount Fair Value EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Text Block] Total Investments at fair value EBP, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Fair Value Money market fund Money Market Funds [Member] Level 1 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Abstract] Assets: EBP, Asset [Abstract] Statistical Measurement [Axis] Statistical Measurement [Axis] Increases in Net assets available for benefits: EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase [Abstract] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] Payment of Benefits EBP, Payment to Participant [Policy Text Block] Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Contributions from participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Participant Contribution Basis of Accounting EBP, Basis of Accounting [Policy Text Block] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Table] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Table] Shares held (in shares) EBP, Investment, Number of Shares EBP, Description of Plan and Accounting Change [Abstract] Receivables: EBP, Receivable [Abstract] Summary of Investments EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table Text Block] Note receivable from participant, repayment period, years - primary residence EBP, Note Receivable From Participant, Account, Primary Residence, Maximum Borrowing Term EBP, Note Receivable From Participant, Account, Primary Residence, Maximum Borrowing Term Investments [Domain] Investments [Domain] Use of Estimates EBP, Use of Estimate [Policy Text Block] Note receivable from participant, repayment period, years - general loan EBP, Note Receivable From Participant, General Loan, Maximum Borrowing Term EBP, Note Receivable From Participant, General Loan, Maximum Borrowing Term Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held At End of Year) EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Text Block] Cover [Abstract] Minimum Minimum [Member] Interest on Notes receivable from participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest Income on Note Receivable from Participant Investment Type [Axis] Investment Type [Axis] Net realized and unrealized appreciation in fair value of: EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Gain (Loss) on Investment Interest and dividend income on diversified investments EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Interest and Dividend Income on Investment EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items] EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items] Plan number EBP, Plan Number Other income EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) from Other Investment Income (Loss) EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Line Items] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Line Items] Description of the Plan EBP, Description of Plan [Text Block] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Table] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Line Items] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Line Items] The Sherwin-Williams Company common stock EBP, Employer, Common Stock [Member] EBP, Schedule of Asset Held for Investment [Abstract] Basis spread on variable rate EBP, Participant Loan, Basis Spread On Variable Rate EBP, Participant Loan, Basis Spread On Variable Rate EBP, Accounting Policy [Table] EBP, Accounting Policy [Table] Investment, Identifier [Axis] Investment, Identifier [Axis] Fees EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Administrative Expense Total EBP, Asset Held for Investment Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Line Items] Net assets available for benefits: EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) [Abstract] EBP, Employer Contribution, Scenario [Domain] EBP, Employer Contribution, Scenario [Domain] EBP, Employer Contribution, Scenario [Domain] EBP 001 EBP 001 [Member] EBP 001 Participant compensation matched, percentage EBP, Employer Contribution, Participant Compensation Matched, Percentage EBP, Statement of Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit [Abstract] Level 2 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Minimum service period EBP, Requisite Service Period EBP, Requisite Service Period Employee vesting percentage EBP, Employee Contribution Vesting Percentage EBP, Employee Contribution Vesting Percentage Contributions from The Sherwin-Williams Company EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Employer Contribution, Cash and Noncash EBP, Tax Status [Table] EBP, Tax Status [Table] Net increase EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase (Decrease) Transactions with Parties-in-Interest EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Text Block] Diversified investments EBP, Diversified Investments [Member] EBP, Diversified Investments EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Abstract] EBP, Accounting Policy, Accounting Standard Update, and Change in Accounting Principle [Abstract] Total EBP, Receivable Contributions receivable from The Sherwin-Williams Company EBP, Employer Contribution, Receivable Automatic deferral rate EBP, Participant Contribution, Automatic, Deferral Rate EBP, Employer Contribution, Scenario [Axis] EBP, Employer Contribution, Scenario [Axis] EBP, Employer Contribution, Scenario Vesting period EBP, Employer Contribution Vesting Service Period Minimum Vesting service period for company contribution and/ or investment earning to the participant in Company Matching Contributions, Fixed Rate Contributions, Discretionary Profit-Sharing Contributions, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions, and Disability Contributions. Benefits paid directly to participants EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease from Payment to Participant Dividends on The Sherwin-Williams Company common stock EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase from Dividend Income on Investment Investment EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Investment, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Current Value EBP, Hired After January 1, 2017 EBP, Hired After January 1, 2017 [Member] EBP, Hired After January 1, 2017 Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Abstract] EBP, Accounting Policy [Line Items] EBP, Accounting Policy [Line Items] Total additions EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase, Excluding Increase (Decrease) from Gain (Loss) on Investment EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Increase, Excluding Increase (Decrease) from Gain (Loss) on Investment EBP, Tax Status [Abstract] Notes receivable from participants EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Participant Loan, after Deemed Distribution Investment Valuation/Income Recognition EBP, Investment [Policy Text Block] Contributions receivable from participants EBP, Participant Contribution, Receivable Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 [Member] Document Type Document Type Priorities on Termination of the Plan EBP, Plan Termination [Text Block] Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Interest rate EBP, Asset Held for Investment, Participant Loan, Interest Rate Collective trust funds Common Collective Trust [Member] EBP, Tax Status [Line Items] EBP, Tax Status [Line Items] EBP, Subsequent Event [Table] EBP, Subsequent Event [Table] Decreases in Net assets available for benefits: EBP, Change in Net Asset Available for Benefit, Decrease [Abstract] Forfeited nonvested account, decrease from employer contribution EBP, Forfeited Nonvested Account, Decrease from Employer Contribution Notes receivable from participants EBP, Note Receivable from Participant Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Significant Accounting Policies EBP, Summary of Accounting Policy [Text Block] Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Purchases of shares EBP, Investment Acquired, Excluding Plan Interest in Master Trust, Cost EBP, Subsequent Event [Abstract] Subsequent Events EBP, Subsequent Event [Text Block] Income Tax Status EBP, Tax Status [Text Block] Maximum borrowing, to total account, percentage EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Account, Maximum Borrowing, to Total Account, Percentage EBP, Subsequent Event [Line Items] EBP, Subsequent Event [Line Items] EBP, Hired Prior To January 1, 2017 EBP, Hired Prior To January 1, 2017 [Member] EBP, Hired Prior To January 1, 2017 Document Information [Table] Document Information [Table] Notes Receivable from Participants EBP, Note Receivable from Participant [Policy Text Block] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Line Items] EBP, Related Party and Party-in-Interest Transactions [Line Items] Level 3 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Other EBP, Other Receivable Net assets available for benefits Beginning of year End of year EBP, Net Asset Available for Benefit Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Forfeited nonvested account EBP, Forfeited Nonvested Account Employer vesting percentage EBP, Employer Contribution Vesting Percentage Company contribution and/ or investment earning percentage vesting to the participant in Company Matching Contributions, Fixed Rate Contributions, Discretionary Profit-Sharing Contributions, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions, and Disability Contributions, upon completion of minimum service period or attainment of maximum vesting age Matching percentage EBP, Employer Contribution, Matching Percentage NAV Fair Value Measured at Net Asset Value Per Share [Member] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table] EBP, Investment, Fair Value and NAV [Table] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items] EBP, Statement of Net Asset Available for Benefit [Line Items]