Business Segments - Segment Operating Capital Employed and Segment Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 1,391.4	$ 1,187.4	$ 876.1
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Operating capital employed	959.7	780.1	528.8
Segment liabilities included in total segment operating capital employed	405.6	365.2	322.6
Assets	1,365.3	1,145.3	851.4
Intercompany Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	0.0	0.0	(0.6)
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	26.1	42.1	24.7
JBT FoodTech | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Operating capital employed	802.2	654.2	414.7
Assets	1,134.7	950.5	663.1
JBT AeroTech | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Operating capital employed	157.5	125.9	114.1
Assets	$ 230.6	$ 194.8	$ 188.9