Business Segments - Segment Revenue and Segment Operating Profit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								10 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			22 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
As reported	$ 483.7	$ 420.8	$ 386.1	$ 344.5	$ 405.0	$ 349.6	$ 328.8	$ 267.1		$ 1,635.1	$ 1,350.5	$ 1,107.3
Segment operating profit										189.8	158.3	123.6
Restructuring expense	0.6	0.3	0.7	0.7					$ 12.3	1.7	12.3	0.0	$ 14.6
Net interest expense										13.6	9.4	6.8
Total corporate items										(57.6)	(64.3)	(41.4)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes										132.2	94.0	82.2
Provision for income taxes										50.1	26.0	26.2
Income from continuing operations	19.8	26.4	18.3	17.6	23.4	20.6	18.8	5.2		82.1	68.0	56.0
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(0.4)	(0.6)	(0.4)	(0.2)	(0.3)	0.0	0.0	(0.1)		1.6	0.4	0.1
Net income	$ 19.4	$ 25.8	$ 17.9	$ 17.4	$ 23.1	$ 20.6	$ 18.8	$ 5.1		80.5	67.6	55.9
Intercompany Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
As reported										0.2	0.0	(0.9)
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Corporate expense										(42.3)	(42.6)	(34.6)
Restructuring expense										1.7	12.3	0.0
Net interest expense										13.6	9.4	6.8
JBT FoodTech | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
As reported										1,171.9	928.0	725.1
Segment operating profit										139.1	113.2	85.4
JBT AeroTech | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
As reported										463.0	422.5	383.1
Segment operating profit										$ 50.7	$ 45.1	$ 38.2