Business Segment Information (Schedule Of Segment Revenue And Segment Operating Profit) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 1,494.9		$ 1,229.4		$ 2,891.5		$ 2,311.3
Total segment operating profit	203.0		151.2		365.4		277.1
Net interest expense	(6.4)		(2.1)		(9.9)		(3.6)
Total corporate items	(46.5)		(14.7)		(79.4)		(32.8)
Income before income taxes attributable to FMC Technologies, Inc.	156.5		136.5		286.0		244.3
Subsea Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	945.8		801.0		1,840.7		1,490.5
Total segment operating profit	109.7		84.0		184.8		154.0
Surface Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	413.8		310.3		791.6		601.6
Total segment operating profit	84.2		56.5		162.2		107.9
Energy Infrastructure [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	139.4		120.2		276.4		223.2
Total segment operating profit	9.1		10.7		18.4		15.2
Other Revenue And Intercompany Eliminations [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total revenue	(4.1)	[1]	(2.1)	[1]	(17.2)	[1]	(4.0)	[1]
Corporate Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total corporate items	(10.4)	[2]	(10.6)	[2]	(18.9)	[2]	(19.0)	[2]
Other Revenue And Other Expense, Net [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Total corporate items	$ (29.7)	[1],[3]	$ (2.0)	[1],[3]	$ (50.6)	[1],[3]	$ (10.2)	[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.