Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 7,824.1	$ 7,683.9	$ 5,997.8
Cost of products sold, excluding intangible asset amortization	2,132.9	2,381.8	1,800.6
Intangible asset amortization	603.9	565.9	337.4
Research and development	367.4	365.6	268.8
Selling, general and administrative	2,973.9	2,932.9	2,284.2
Goodwill impairment	304.7
Special items (Note 2)	633.1	611.8	839.5
Operating expenses	7,015.9	6,858.0	5,530.5
Operating Profit	808.2	825.9	467.3
Other expense, net	(18.3)	(71.3)	(36.9)
Interest income	2.2	2.9	9.4
Interest expense	(327.5)	(357.9)	(286.6)
Earnings before income taxes	464.6	399.6	153.2
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(1,348.8)	95.0	7.0
Net earnings	1,813.4	304.6	146.2
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.4)	(1.3)	(0.8)
Net Earnings of Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.	$ 1,813.8	$ 305.9	$ 147.0
Earnings Per Common Share - Basic	$ 8.98	$ 1.53	$ 0.78
Earnings Per Common Share - Diluted	$ 8.90	$ 1.51	$ 0.77
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding
Basic	201.9	200.0	187.4
Diluted	203.7	202.4	189.8
Cash Dividends Declared Per Common Share	$ 0.96	$ 0.96	$ 0.88