Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Share-Based Compensation - Summary of Activity Under Share-Based Compensation Plans (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Share-Based Compensation - Summary of Activity Under Share-Based Compensation Plans (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Awards Outstanding, Beginning Balance 11,169hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber 12,143hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber 12,143hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber
Granted, Awards     1,642hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsGrantsInPeriod
Exercised, Awards     (1,604)hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisesInPeriod
Forfeited, Awards     (1,012)hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsForfeituresInPeriod
Awards Outstanding, Ending Balance 11,169hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber   11,169hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber
Awards Exercisable, Ending Balance 7,463hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableNumber   7,463hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableNumber
Weighted Average Exercise Price Outstanding, Beginning Balance $ 37.46hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 33.24hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 33.24hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price     $ 59.19hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price     $ 14.80hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Forfeited, Weighted Average Exercise Price     $ 58.08hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Weighted Average Exercise Price Outstanding, Ending Balance $ 37.46hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice   $ 37.46hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance $ 27.37hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice   $ 27.37hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Outstanding 5 years 4 months 24 days 5 years 3 months 18 days  
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Exercisable 3 years 9 months 18 days    
Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding, Beginning balance $ 110.6hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue $ 552.9hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue $ 552.9hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding, Ending balance 110.6hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue   110.6hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Ending Balance $ 108.6hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableIntrinsicValue   $ 108.6hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableIntrinsicValue
Incentive Plan and Independent Directors Stock Units [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Outstanding and nonvested at December 31, 2013, Shares     145us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Granted, Shares     28us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Vested, Shares     (136)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Forfeited, Shares     (4)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Outstanding and nonvested at December 31, 2014, Shares 33us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember 		  33us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Outstanding and nonvested at December 31, 2013, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 14.36us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 59.98us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 10.95us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Forfeited, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 38.58us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Outstanding and nonvested at December 31, 2014, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 63.67us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember 		  $ 63.67us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember