Notes to the consolidated statements of income - Net interest (Details) - EUR (€) € in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Notes to the consolidated statements of income
Net interest	€ 429,444	€ 301,062	€ 364,824
Interest expense	491,061	448,471	416,199
Interest income	€ 61,617	€ 147,409	€ 51,375

No definition available.

Name:	fms_DisclosureOfNotesToConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	fms_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of costs associated with financing activities of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 82
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_82_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_FinanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of income associated with interest and other financing activities of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 85
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_85&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_FinanceIncome
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of income or cost associated with interest and other financing activities of the entity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_FinanceIncomeCost
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration