Notes to the consolidated statements of income - Earnings per share (Details) - EUR (€) € / shares in Units, € in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Numerators:
Net income attributable to shareholders of FMC-AG & Co. KGaA	€ 353,502	€ 332,584	€ 987,193	€ 857,113
Denominators:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	292,817,296	301,440,412	294,458,296	303,832,868
Potentially dilutive shares	251,979		230,751	83,518
Basic earnings per share	€ 1.21	€ 1.10	€ 3.35	€ 2.82
Diluted earnings per share	€ 1.21	€ 1.10	€ 3.35	€ 2.82

n/a

No definition available.

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

- Definition

n/a

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of profit (loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent entity (the numerator) divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period (the denominator).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 33
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 66
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=33&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_66&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BasicEarningsLossPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of profit (loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent entity (the numerator), divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period (the denominator), both adjusted for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. [Refer: Ordinary shares [member]; Weighted average [member]]

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DilutedEarningsLossPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of dilutive potential ordinary shares that relate to the assumed exercise of the entity's share options.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 33
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 70
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=33&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_70_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_DilutiveEffectOfShareOptionsOnNumberOfOrdinaryShares
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The profit (loss) from continuing and discontinued operations attributable to owners of the parent. [Refer: Profit (loss)]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 81B
-Subparagraph a
-Clause ii
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_81B_a_ii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of ordinary shares outstanding at the beginning of the period, adjusted by the number of ordinary shares bought back or issued during the period multiplied by a time-weighting factor.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 33
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 70
-Subparagraph b
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=33&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_70_b&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_WeightedAverageShares
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration