Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail)
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
sqft
Dec. 31, 2013
VEF
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
VEF
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
VEF
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
sqft
Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2014
New CADIVI rate [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Alternative Bolivar Exchange Mechanisms [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Alternative Bolivar Exchange Mechanisms [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Alternative Bolivar Exchange Mechanisms [Member]
VEF
Mar. 31, 2013
Remeasurement of assets and liabilities using new CADIVI rate [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Devaluation of Bolivar Denominated Cash [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
CADIVI rate [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Buildings [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Buildings [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Land [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Land [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum [Member]
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum [Member]
Building Improvements [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Maximum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Maximum [Member]
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Maximum [Member]
Building Improvements [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Venezuela [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Venezuela [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Venezuela [Member]
Jan. 31, 2014
Venezuela [Member]
SITME [Member]
USD ($)
Feb. 28, 2013
Venezuela [Member]
SITME rate [Member]
Feb. 28, 2013
Venezuela [Member]
New CADIVI rate [Member]
Feb. 28, 2013
Venezuela [Member]
Previous CADIVI rate [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Venezuela [Member]
Minimum [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Venezuela [Member]
Maximum [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
SICAD [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
SICAD [Member]
CADIVI rate [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
SICAD [Member]
CADIVI rate [Member]
VEF
Sep. 30, 2014
SICAD II [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
SICAD II [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
SICAD II [Member]
VEF
Dec. 31, 2014
SICAD II [Member]
Sep. 30, 2014
SICAD II [Member]
Sep. 30, 2014
SICAD II [Member]
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member]
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2014
SICAD I [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2014
SICAD I [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
SICAD I [Member]
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2014
SICAD I [Member]
Selling, general and administrative expenses [Member]
USD ($)
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]                                                                                                  
Foreign currency transaction losses       $ 219,000,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax   $ 37,900,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax   $ 16,700,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax       $ 700,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
$ 4,800,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
  $ 15,100,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_RemeasurementOfAssetsAndLiabilitiesUsingNewCadiviRateMember
$ 16,900,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_DevaluationOfBolivarDenominatedCashMember
                                        $ 500,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadMember
    $ 98,000,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
$ 700,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
        $ 17,100,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadOneMember
$ 200,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadOneMember
  $ 86,100,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadOneMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Cash and cash equivalents   333,500,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue   645,400,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue   973,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue   333,500,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue 258,800,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue                                     36,400,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
215,900,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
                                       
Receivables from credit card company       57,600,000us-gaap_CreditCardReceivables   72,800,000us-gaap_CreditCardReceivables                                                                                      
Bad-debt expense       2,200,000us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts   2,100,000us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts   2,900,000us-gaap_ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts                                                                                  
Allowance for doubtful accounts       1,900,000us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent   2,200,000us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent                                                                                      
Amortization expense related to deferred financing costs       6,800,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts   2,600,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts   1,800,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts                                                                                  
Square footage of facility purchased   800,000us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty           800,000us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty                                                                                  
Purchase price of facility   22,200,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireRealEstate                                                                                              
Purchase price of facility                                   18,800,000us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BuildingMember
18,800,000us-gaap_BuildingsAndImprovementsGross
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_BuildingMember
                                                           
Purchase price of facility                                       3,400,000us-gaap_Land
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
3,400,000us-gaap_Land
/ us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember
                                                       
Estimated useful life                                   40 years         3 years 10 years   10 years 15 years                                            
Capitalized internal-use software costs       158,800,000hlf_CapitalizedComputerHardwareAndSoftwareNet   140,600,000hlf_CapitalizedComputerHardwareAndSoftwareNet                                                                                      
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment       81,500,000us-gaap_Depreciation   81,100,000us-gaap_Depreciation   70,900,000us-gaap_Depreciation                                                                                  
Marketing related intangible assets   310,000,000us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill   310,000,000us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill   310,000,000us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill   310,000,000us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill                                                                                  
Goodwill       102,200,000us-gaap_Goodwill   105,500,000us-gaap_Goodwill                                                                                      
Additions to goodwill or marketing related intangible assets       0hlf_IncreaseDecreaseInGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets   0hlf_IncreaseDecreaseInGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets   0hlf_IncreaseDecreaseInGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets                                                                                  
Impairments of goodwill or marketing related intangible assets       0us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment   0us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment   0us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment                                                                                  
Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their expected lives       2 years 2 years                                                                                        
Intangible assets with finite lives       400,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet   700,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet                                                                                      
Amortization expense for finite life intangible assets       300,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets   400,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets   600,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets                                                                                  
Future amortization expense for 2015       300,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths                                                                                          
Future amortization expense for 2016       100,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo                                                                                          
Advertising costs       69,700,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense   57,900,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense   42,300,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense                                                                                  
Equity grants with anti-dilutive effect       2.7us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount 2.7us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount 3.0us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount 3.0us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount 4.0us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount                                                                                  
Convertible notes initial conversion price       $ 86.28us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1                                                                                          
Period of receiving anticipated returns       12 months 12 months                                                                                        
Allowance for product returns       4,300,000us-gaap_SalesAllowancesGoods   4,700,000us-gaap_SalesAllowancesGoods   3,900,000us-gaap_SalesAllowancesGoods                                                                                  
Product returns       7,300,000us-gaap_SalesReturnsGoods   9,700,000us-gaap_SalesReturnsGoods   11,100,000us-gaap_SalesReturnsGoods                                                                                  
SITME could only be used for amount per day                                                             50,000hlf_CurrencyLimitAmountPerDay
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_SitmeMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
                                   
SITME could only be used for amount per month                                                             350,000hlf_CurrencyLimitAmountPerMonth
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_SitmeMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
                                   
Period to use denominated bonds                                                             90 days                                    
Foreign currency exchange rate, Bolivars per USD                                           180.0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
    200.0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
            5.3us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_SitmeRateMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
6.3us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_NewCadiviRateMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
4.3us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_PreviousCadiviRateMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
    11.3us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadMember
      56.2us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
56.2us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
50.0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
50.0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
      10.7us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadOneMember
 
Percentage of cumulative inflation rate                   100.00%hlf_PercentageOfCumulativeInflationRate                                                                              
Percent by which alternative legal exchange mechanism was less favorable than SITME                         43.00%hlf_LessFavorableMechanismRateThanSitmeRate
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
43.00%hlf_LessFavorableMechanismRateThanSitmeRate
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
                                                                     
SITME rate for remeasurement                         5.3hlf_SystemOfForeignCurrencyTransactionsRateForRemeasurement
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
5.3hlf_SystemOfForeignCurrencyTransactionsRateForRemeasurement
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
                                                                     
Currency exchanged through alternative legal exchange mechanisms           200,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions 5,600,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions           6,400,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
59,200,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
                                            600,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadMember
1,100,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadMember
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_CadiviRateMember
6,800,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadMember
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_CadiviRateMember
  100,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
5,300,000hlf_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyTransactions
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
             
Percent by which new CADIVI rate being less favorable than SITME 16.00%hlf_PercentByWhichNewCadiviRateBeingLessFavorableThanSitme                                                                                                
CADIVI rate for remeasurement                     6.3us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasurement1
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_NewCadiviRateMember
                                                                           
Percent by which alternative legal exchange mechanism was less favorable than new CADIVI rate                       75.00%hlf_PercentByWhichAlternativeLegalExchangeMechanismWasLessFavorableThanNewCadivi
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_AlternativeBolivarExchangeMechanismsMember
                                                                         
Reduction in cash and cash equivalents       (248,200,000)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents   (13,300,000)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents   3,100,000us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents                                                     (26,300,000)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
(27,300,000)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
      (102,500,000)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
              (96,000,000)us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadOneMember
 
Inventory write-downs in cost of sales       24,500,000us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown   29,800,000us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown   11,400,000us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown                                                                         7,600,000us-gaap_InventoryWriteDown
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
       
Long lived asset impairments                                                                                         7,000,000us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse
/ us-gaap_CurrencyAxis
= hlf_SicadTwoMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
       
Net monetary Bolivar denominated assets and liabilities                                                       35,100,000hlf_NetAssetsLiabilitiesDenominatedInForeignCurrency
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
186,900,000hlf_NetAssetsLiabilitiesDenominatedInForeignCurrency
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
                                       
Purchase price of bonds invested in Bolivar denominated bonds     25,500,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt 12,600,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt 144,600,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt 4,100,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt                     4,100,000us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt
/ us-gaap_IntercompanyForeignCurrencyBalanceByDescriptionAxis
= hlf_CadiviRateMember
                                                               
Other-than-temporary impairments relating to available-for-sale securities       $ 13,000,000us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableforsaleSecurities   $ 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNetAvailableforsaleSecurities                                                                                      
Subsidiary's net sales to Company's consolidated net sales, percentage                                                       3.00%hlf_PercentageOfConsolidatedNetSalesEarnedFromSubsidiary
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
6.00%hlf_PercentageOfConsolidatedNetSalesEarnedFromSubsidiary
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
4.00%hlf_PercentageOfConsolidatedNetSalesEarnedFromSubsidiary
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
                                     
Subsidiary asset as percentage of consolidated assets                                                       2.00%hlf_NetAssetsOfSubsidiariesAsPercentageOfConsolidatedNetAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE
10.00%hlf_NetAssetsOfSubsidiariesAsPercentageOfConsolidatedNetAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_VE