Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 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 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Awards Outstanding, Beginning Balance 12,545hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber 11,169hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber 11,169hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber
Granted, Awards     3,181hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsGrantsInPeriod
Exercised, Awards     (1,775)hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisesInPeriod
Forfeited, Awards     (30)hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsForfeituresInPeriod
Awards Outstanding, Ending Balance 12,545hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber   12,545hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingNumber
Awards Exercisable, Ending Balance 5,802hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableNumber   5,802hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableNumber
Weighted Average Exercise Price Outstanding, Beginning Balance $ 37.84hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 37.46hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 37.46hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price     $ 30.46hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price     $ 21.90hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Forfeited, Weighted Average Exercise Price     $ 55.50hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Weighted Average Exercise Price Outstanding, Ending Balance $ 37.84hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice   $ 37.84hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance $ 28.94hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice   $ 28.94hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Outstanding 6 years 9 months 18 days 5 years 4 months 24 days  
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Exercisable 4 years 8 months 12 days    
Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding, Beginning balance $ 141.2hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue $ 110.6hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue $ 110.6hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Aggregate Intrinsic Value Outstanding, Ending balance 141.2hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue   141.2hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Ending Balance $ 101.7hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableIntrinsicValue   $ 101.7hlf_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentsAwardOptionsAndAppreciationRightsExercisableIntrinsicValue
Incentive Plan and Independent Directors Stock Units [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Outstanding and nonvested December 31, 2014, Shares     33us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Granted, Shares     0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Vested, Shares     (1)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Forfeited, Shares     (2)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Outstanding and nonvested at March 31, 2015, Shares 30us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember 		  30us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Outstanding and nonvested December 31, 2014, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 63.67us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 59.98us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Forfeited, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 59.98us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember
Outstanding and nonvested at March 31, 2015, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value $ 63.97us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember 		  $ 63.97us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= hlf_IncentivePlanAndIndependentDirectorsStockUnitsMember