2.2.0.25truefalse4060 - Disclosure - Short-term Borrowings and Other Financial Liabilities and Short-term Borrowings from Related Parties (Details)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011 USD ($) $AS_OF_Mar31_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001333141instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 USD ($) $AS_OF_Dec31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001333141instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis} : Fresenius SE [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 FROM_Jan01_2011_TO_Mar31_2011_us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis_FreseniusSeMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001333141duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseFresenius SE [Member]us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifms_FreseniusSeMemberus-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli04falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis} : General Partner [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 FROM_Jan01_2011_TO_Mar31_2011_us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis_GeneralPartnerMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001333141duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseGeneral Partner [Member]us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_GeneralPartnerMemberus-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli02true0fms_ShortTermBorrowingsOtherFinancialLiabilitiesAndShortTermBorrowingsFromRelatedPartiesDetailsAbstractfmsfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseShort Term Borrowings Other Financial Liabilities And Short Term Borrowings From Related Parties (Details) [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_LinesOfCreditCurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse121628000121628falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse131791000131791falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20 -Article 5 falsefalseBorrowings under lines of credit4false0fms_AccountsReceivableFacilityfmsfalsecreditinstantCarrying value as of the balance sheet date of certain receivables sold to a wholly-owned subsidiary.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse510000000510000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying value as of the balance sheet date of certain receivables sold to a wholly-owned subsidiary.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseAccounts receivable facility5false0us-gaap_OtherShortTermBorrowingsus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse1013500010135falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2888000028880falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of the carrying amounts at the balance sheet date of short-term borrowings not otherwise specified in the taxonomy having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Article 5 falsefalseOther financial liabilities6false0us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionRateus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.0020270.002027falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truetruefalse0.013350.01335falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureIdentify the stated interest rate per the agreement, for example, leasing and debt arrangements between related parties.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseRelated Party Transaction Rate7false0us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowingsus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse131763000131763falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse670671000670671falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph 2, 3 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(1) -Article 7 truefalseShort-term borrowings and other financial liabilities8false0fms_ShortTermBorrowingsDueToRelatedPartiesCurrentfmsfalsecreditinstantReflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse3572600035726falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse96830009683falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, from the following types of related parties: a parent company and its subsidiaries, subsidiaries of a common parent, an entity and trust for the benefit of employees, such as pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entities' management, an entity and its principal owners, management, or member of their immediate families, affiliates, or other parties with the ability to exert significant influence.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseShort Term Borrowings Due To Related Parties Current9false0us-gaap_DebtCurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse167489000167489falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse680354000680354falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying value as of the balance sheet date of the sum of short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, which are due within one year (or one business cycle if longer).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Article 5 truefalseShort-term borrowings, Other financial liabilities and Short-term borrowings from related parties48Short-term Borrowings and Other Financial Liabilities and Short-term Borrowings from Related Parties (Details) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue