Earnings Per Share (Reconciliation Of Number Of Shares Used For Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share ("EPS") Calculation ) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to FMC Technologies, Inc.																	$ 430.0	$ 399.8	$ 375.9
Weighted average number of shares outstanding																	239.7	241.2	243.0
Dilutive effect of restricted stock units and stock options																	1.2	2.0	2.3
Total shares and dilutive securities																	240.9	243.2	245.3
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to FMC Technologies, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 0.47	[1]	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.35	[1]	$ 1.79	$ 1.66	$ 1.55
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to FMC Technologies, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 0.41	[1]	$ 0.50	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.35	[1]	$ 1.78	$ 1.64	$ 1.53

[1] Basic and diluted EPS are computed independently for each of the periods presented. Accordingly, the sum of the quarterly EPS amounts may not agree to the annual total.