Mandatorily Redeemable Trust Preferred Securities (Details) In Thousands	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Fresenius Medical Care Capital Trust IV [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Fresenius Medical Care Capital Trust V [Member] EUR (€)
Shares Subject to Mandatory Redemption by Settlement Terms [Line Items]
Stated amount		$ 225,000	€ 300,000
Redemption date	Jun. 15, 2011
Trust Preferred Securities, current	$ 0

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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- Definition

The amount that would be paid, determined under the conditions specified in the contract, if as of the reporting date, the holder of the share has the right to redeem the shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 150
-Paragraph 27
-Subparagraph a

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount that is required to be paid, determined under the conditions specified in the contract, if as of the reporting date, the holder of the share has exercised the right to or the shares are mandatorily redeemable within one year of the reporting date or operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 150
-Paragraph 27
-Subparagraph a

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For a forward contract or an option indexed to the issuer's equity shares, the settlement date or dates of the contract, as applicable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 150
-Paragraph 27
-Subparagraph f

+ Details

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