Business Segment Information (Schedule Of Segment Revenue And Segment Operating Profit) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, 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
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 1,840.9	$ 1,419.0	$ 1,494.9	$ 1,396.6	$ 1,500.5	$ 1,287.2	$ 1,229.4	$ 1,081.9	$ 6,151.4		$ 5,099.0		$ 4,125.6
Total segment operating profit									784.7		619.3		633.4
Total corporate items									(188.3)		(70.2)		(97.9)
Net interest expense									(26.6)		(8.2)		(8.8)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes attributable to FMC Technologies, Inc.									596.4		549.1		535.5
Subsea Technologies
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue									4,005.5	[1]	3,288.1	[1]	2,730.9	[1]
Total segment operating profit									451.5		319.9		422.2
Number of customers in business segment									1		2
Surface Technologies
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue									1,598.1		1,310.8		954.3
Total segment operating profit									284.3		250.1		173.4
Energy Infrastructure
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue									576.2		503.4		454.4
Total segment operating profit									48.9		49.3		37.8
Other revenue and intercompany eliminations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue									(28.4)	[2]	(3.3)	[2]	(14.0)	[2]
Corporate expense
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total corporate items									(41.8)	[3]	(39.4)	[3]	(40.2)	[3]
Other revenue and other expense, net
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total corporate items									(119.9)	[2],[4]	(22.6)	[2],[4]	(48.9)	[2],[4]
Major customer one | Subsea Technologies
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue									625.9		633.5		535.8
Major customer two | Subsea Technologies
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue											$ 540.7		$ 430.8

[1] We had one customer in our Subsea Technologies segment that comprised approximately $625.9 million of our consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012. We had two customers in our Subsea Technologies segment that comprised approximately $633.5 million and $540.7 million of our consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2011, and $535.8 million and $430.8 million of our consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2010.

[2] Other revenue comprises certain unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments related to unexecuted sales contracts.

[3] Corporate expense primarily includes corporate staff expenses.

[4] Other expense, net, generally includes stock-based compensation, other employee benefits, LIFO adjustments, certain foreign exchange gains and losses, and the impact of unusual or strategic transactions not representative of segment operations.