Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Net sales		$ 1,444,453	$ 1,317,299		$ 1,460,919
Costs of goods sold		930,347	857,349		944,700
Gross profit		514,106	459,950		516,219
Operating expenses:
Selling and service		164,607	130,242		120,408
Research and development		37,229	32,922		31,494
General and administrative		74,700	52,947		54,795
Amortization of intangibles		32,953	23,591		21,024
Tradename and goodwill impairment		0	40,687	[1]	0
Gain on remeasurement of contingent consideration					(4,877)
Total operating expenses		309,489	280,389		222,844
Income from operations		204,617	179,561		293,375
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense		(44,568)	(42,843)		(47,215)
Investment income		44	123		130
Loss on extinguishment of debt	[2]	(574)	(4,795)		(2,084)
Gain (loss) on change in contractual interest rate	[3]	(2,957)	(2,381)		16,014
Costs related to acquisition		(1,082)	(1,195)		(396)
Other, net		902	(5,487)		(1,462)
Total other expense, net		(48,235)	(56,578)		(35,013)
Income before provision for income taxes		156,382	122,983		258,362
Provision for income taxes		57,570	45,236		83,749
Net income		98,812	77,747		174,613
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		24
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.		$ 98,788	$ 77,747		$ 174,613
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share - basic: (in dollars per share)		$ 1.51	$ 1.14		$ 2.55
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic: (in shares)		64,905,793	68,096,051		68,538,248
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share - diluted: (in dollars per share)		$ 1.50	$ 1.12		$ 2.49
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted: (in shares)		65,382,774	69,200,297		70,171,044
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment		$ (18,545)	$ (7,624)		$ (3,082)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives		535	(965)		(1,420)
Pension liability adjustment		322	1,881		(8,850)
Other comprehensive loss		(17,688)	(6,708)		(13,352)
Total comprehensive income		81,124	71,039		161,261
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(973)
Comprehensive income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.		$ 82,097	$ 71,039		$ 161,261

[1] Represents the 2015 impairment of certain tradenames due to a change in brand strategy to transition and consolidate various brands to the Generac tradename ($36,076) and the impairment of goodwill related to the Ottomotores reporting unit ($4,611)

[2] Represents the write-off of original issue discount and capitalized debt issuance costs due to voluntary debt prepayments.

[3] For the year ended December 31, 2016, represents a non-cash loss in the third quarter 2016 relating to the continued 25 basis point increase in borrowing costs as a result of the credit agreement leverage ratio remaining above 3.0 times and expected to remain above 3.0 based on current projections. For the year ended December 31, 2015, represents a non-cash loss relating to a 25 basis point increase in borrowing costs as a result of the credit agreement leverage ratio rising above 3.0 times effective third quarter 2015 and expected to remain above 3.0 times based on projections at the time. For the year ended December 31, 2014 represents a non-cash gain relating to a 25 basis point reduction in borrowing costs as a result of the credit agreement leverage ratio falling below 3.0 times effective second quarter 2014 and expected to remain below 3.0 times based on projections at the time.