Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Feb. 28, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2011
Jul. 31, 2012
Jul. 26, 2012
Mar. 09, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, amount outstanding $ 850,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit $ 931,300,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit              
Convertible notes initial conversion price $ 86.28us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1                
Additional paid-in capital 409,100,000us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock 323,900,000us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock              
Proceeds received from the issuance of the Convertible notes 1,150,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt                
Long-term debt 1,811,700,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt 931,300,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt              
Interest expense 91,700,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt 26,600,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt 16,700,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt            
Amortization of deferred financing costs 6,800,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 2,600,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts 1,800,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts            
Letters of credit issued but undrawn 36,800,000us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount                
Convertible Senior Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Deferred financing costs         21,500,000us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentGross
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
       
Total principal amount of convertible notes 1,150,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
    1,150,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes issued       1,000,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Additional principal amount of convertible notes       150,000,000hlf_ConvertibleDebtUnderwritersOverAllotmentOptionFullyExercised
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Convertible notes, interest rate       2.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Convertible notes maturity       Aug. 15, 2019          
Convertible notes, conversion feature Holders of the Convertible Notes may convert their notes at their option under the following circumstances: (i) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending March 31, 2014, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common shares for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter exceeds 130% of the conversion price for the Convertible Notes on each applicable trading day; (ii) during the five business-day period immediately after any five consecutive trading day period, or the measurement period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes for each trading day of that measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common shares and the conversion rate for the Convertible Notes for each such day; or (iii) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events. On and after May 15, 2019, holders may convert their Convertible Notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances.                
Convertible notes, number of trading days of threshold limit (whether or not consecutive) 20 days                
Convertible notes, number of trading days of threshold limit in consecutive days 30 days                
Minimum percentage of common share price over conversion price for conversion       130.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdPercentageOfStockPriceTrigger
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Principal amount of convertible notes       1,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Minimum percentage of the product of common share price and conversion rate for convertible notes       98.00%hlf_DebtTradingPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Convertible notes initial conversion rate       11.5908us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Convertible notes initial conversion price       $ 86.28us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Issuance costs         26,600,000us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
       
Additional paid-in capital       219,100,000us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Proceeds received from the issuance of the Convertible notes       1,150,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Long-term debt       930,900,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Effective interest rate on convertible notes       6.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Unamortized debt discount 188,300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
               
Convertible senior notes, carrying value of liability component 961,700,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
               
Fair value of liability to convertible notes 802,800,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtFairValueDisclosures
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
               
Interest expense 55,100,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
               
Non-cash interest expense 30,800,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
               
Amortization of deferred financing costs 3,300,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
               
Convertible senior notes due 2019                
Prepaid forward share repurchase transactions [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Additional paid-in capital         31,900,000us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= hlf_ForwardShareRepurchaseTransactionMember
       
Forward share repurchase transactions amount       685,800,000hlf_AmountPaidRelatedToForwardPurchasingTransactions
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= hlf_ForwardShareRepurchaseTransactionMember
685,800,000hlf_AmountPaidRelatedToForwardPurchasingTransactions
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= hlf_ForwardShareRepurchaseTransactionMember
       
Capped call transactions [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Capped call transactions with financial institutions       123,800,000invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= hlf_CappedCallMember
         
Debt Issuance Costs [Member] | Convertible Senior Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Additional paid-in capital         5,100,000us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_DebtIssuanceCostsMember
       
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, maturity period 5 years                
Credit facility, expiration date Mar. 09, 2016                
Credit facility borrowings used to repay outstanding borrowings           196,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
     
Deferred financing costs           5,700,000us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentGross
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
     
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate 3.04%us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
2.17%us-gaap_LongtermDebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
             
Credit facility, amount borrowed 50,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
763,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
1,428,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLongTermLinesOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
           
Credit facility, amount paid 131,300,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermLinesOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
319,200,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermLinesOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
1,142,500,000us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermLinesOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
           
Credit facility, amount outstanding 850,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
931,300,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
             
Foreign currency borrowings, outstanding 0hlf_DebtOutstandingUnderForeignCurrencyBorrowings
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
0hlf_DebtOutstandingUnderForeignCurrencyBorrowings
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
             
Aggregate annual maturities of credit facility, 2015 100,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextRollingTwelveMonths
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
               
Aggregate annual maturities of credit facility, 2016 750,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInRollingYearTwo
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
               
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Term Loan [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, maximum amount               500,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_TermLoanMember
 
Credit facility borrowings used to repay outstanding borrowings             500,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_TermLoanMember
   
Deferred financing costs             4,500,000us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentGross
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_TermLoanMember
   
Credit facility, amount outstanding 350,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_TermLoanMember
431,300,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_TermLoanMember
             
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Convertible Senior Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Total principal amount of convertible notes       1,150,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
         
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Convertible Notes [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Deferred financing costs       2,300,000us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNoncurrentGross
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleNotesMember
         
Applicable margin payable, percentage       0.50%hlf_DebtInstrumentApplicableMarginPercentage
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= hlf_ConvertibleNotesMember
         
Consolidated leverage ratio 2.50 to 1.00                
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, maximum amount                 700,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
Credit facility, amount outstanding $ 500,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
$ 500,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCredit
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
             
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, unused capacity, commitment fee percentage 0.50%us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
               
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Credit facility, unused capacity, commitment fee percentage 0.25%us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
               
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option one [Member] | Term Loan [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Variable rate basis LIBOR                
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option one [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Term Loan [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest rate spread on variable rate 2.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
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= hlf_SeniorSecuredCreditFacilityMember
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Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option one [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Term Loan [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest rate spread on variable rate 1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
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Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option one [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Variable rate basis LIBOR                
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option one [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest rate spread on variable rate 2.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option one [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest rate spread on variable rate 1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
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Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option two [Member] | Term Loan [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Variable rate basis Base rate                
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option two [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Term Loan [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest rate spread on variable rate 1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option two [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Term Loan [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest rate spread on variable rate 0.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option two [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Variable rate basis The base rate under the Credit Facility represents the highest of the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%, the one-month LIBOR plus 1.00%, and the prime rate offered by Bank of America.                
Base rate in excess of Federal Funds Rate 0.50%hlf_BaseRateInExcessOfFederalFundsRate
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Base rate in excess of one-month LIBOR 1.00%hlf_BaseRateInExcessOfOneMonthLiborRate
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/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
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/ us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis
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Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option two [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member] | Maximum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest rate spread on variable rate 1.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Interest rate option two [Member] | Senior secured revolving credit facility [Member] | Minimum [Member]                  
Debt Instrument [Line Items]                  
Interest rate spread on variable rate 0.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
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