Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Contingent Consideration [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value	$ 38,646	$ 22,510
Additions from acquisitions	24,885
Payments	(9,065)
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings	253
Foreign Currency translation	63
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Assets, fair value	60,724	106,754
Liabilities, fair value	41,138	38,738
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, fair value	9,290	70,000
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, fair value	51,434	36,754
Liabilities, fair value	2,492	16,228
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, fair value	0	0
Liabilities, fair value	38,646	22,510
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	2,492	13,565
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	2,492	13,565
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Interest Rate Contracts [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	0	2,663
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	0	2,663
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Contingent Consideration [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	38,646	22,510
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Contingent Consideration [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Contingent Consideration [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Contingent Consideration [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Liabilities, fair value	38,646	22,510
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Short-Term Investments [Member]
Assets, fair value	54,577	106,077
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Short-Term Investments [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, fair value	9,290	70,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Short-Term Investments [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, fair value	45,287	36,077
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Short-Term Investments [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Assets, fair value	6,147	677
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Assets, fair value	0	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Assets, fair value	6,147	677
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Assets, fair value	$ 0	$ 0

Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Additions from Acquisitions

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	qgen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Payments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	qgen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair values as of the balance sheet date of all assets resulting from contracts that meet the criteria of being accounted for as derivative instruments, net of the effects of master netting arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13495-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FIN39-1

-Paragraph 10A, 10B

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 4, 17

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13433-108611

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Derivative instrument obligations meeting the definition of a liability which the Company is a party to as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph i

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 6

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 15

-Paragraph 83

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6913464&loc=d3e34841-113949

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph c(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6925170&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity).

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

This element represents a liability measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

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