Business Segment Information (Schedule Of Segment Revenue And Segment Operating Profit) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 1,646.0		$ 1,396.6
Total segment operating profit	166.6		162.4
Net interest expense	(8.1)		(3.5)
Total corporate items	(35.4)		(32.9)
Income before income taxes attributable to FMC Technologies, Inc.	131.2		129.5
Subsea Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	1,092.2		894.9
Total segment operating profit	99.4		75.1
Surface Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	421.7		377.8
Total segment operating profit	57.3		78.0
Energy Infrastructure [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	135.6		137.0
Total segment operating profit	10.1		9.3
Intercompany Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total segment operating profit	(0.2)
Other Revenue And Intercompany Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	(3.5)	[1]	(13.1)	[1]
Corporate Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total corporate items	(10.3)	[2]	(8.5)	[2]
Other Revenue And Other Expense, Net [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total corporate items	$ (17.0)	[1],[3]	$ (20.9)	[1],[3]

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

[2] Corporate expense primarily includes corporate staff expenses.

[3] 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.