Note 2 - Summary of Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Notes Tables

Property Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives [Table Text Block]

<div style="display: inline; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 10pt"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin-right: 20%; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; text-indent: 0px; min-; min-width: 700px;"> <tr style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204, 238, 255);"> <td style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 86%;"> <div style=" font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Land improvements</div> </td> <td style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;"> 8</div></td> <td style="width: 2%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">–</td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;">20</div></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <td style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 86%;"> <div style=" font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Buildings and improvements</div> </td> <td style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;"> 10</div></td> <td style="width: 2%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">–</td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;">40</div></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204, 238, 255);"> <td style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 86%;"> <div style=" font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Machinery and equipment</div> </td> <td style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;"> 3</div></td> <td style="width: 2%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">–</td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;">15</div></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <td style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 86%;"> <div style=" font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Dies and tools</div> </td> <td style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;"> 3</div></td> <td style="width: 2%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">–</td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;">10</div></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204, 238, 255);"> <td style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 86%;"> <div style=" font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Vehicles</div> </td> <td style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;"> 3</div></td> <td style="width: 2%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">–</td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;">6</div></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <td style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 86%;"> <div style=" font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Office equipment and systems</div> </td> <td style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;"> 3</div></td> <td style="width: 2%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">–</td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;">15</div></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align: bottom; background-color: rgb(204, 238, 255);"> <td style="font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; width: 86%;"> <div style=" font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Leasehold improvements</div> </td> <td style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt;"> </td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;"> 2</div></td> <td style="width: 2%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">–</td> <td style="width: 5%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="display: inline; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; font-style: normal;">20</div></td> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="width: 1%; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 10pt; margin-left: 0pt;"> </td> </tr> </table></div>

Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Table Text Block]

Consolidated Balance Sheets	December 31, 2017
	As Reported		Impact of Adoption			As Adjusted
Accounts receivable	$	280,002	$	(707	)	$	279,295
Inventories		380,341		6,708			387,049
Other accrued liabilities		105,067		7,551			112,618
Deferred income taxes		43,789		(1,937	)		41,852
Other long-term liabilities		76,995		5,898			82,893
Retained earnings	$	616,347	$	(5,511	)	$	610,836

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	As Reported			Impact of Adoption			As Adjusted
Net sales	$	1,672,445		$	6,928		$	1,679,373
Cost of goods sold		1,090,328			4,259			1,094,587
Selling and service expenses		171,755			3,086			174,841
Research and development expenses		42,925			(56	)		42,869
General and administrative expenses		87,512			69			87,581
Other, net		(4,007	)		(559	)		(4,566	)
Provision for income taxes		43,553			589			44,142
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	159,386		$	(1,578	)	$	157,808
Earnings per share
Basic	$	2.58		$	(0.02	)	$	2.56
Diluted	$	2.56		$	(0.03	)	$	2.53
Comprehensive income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	174,551		$	(1,578	)	$	172,973

	Year Ended December 31, 2016
	As Reported			Impact of Adoption			As Adjusted
Net sales	$	1,444,453		$	3,290		$	1,447,743
Cost of goods sold		930,347			4,975			935,322
Selling and service expenses		164,607			253			164,860
Research and development expenses		37,229			(66	)		37,163
General and administrative expenses		74,700			(7	)		74,693
Other, net		(180	)		(820	)		(1,000	)
Provision for income taxes		57,570			(1,051	)		56,519
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	98,788		$	(1,634	)	$	97,154
Earnings per share
Basic	$	1.51		$	(0.03	)	$	1.48
Diluted	$	1.50		$	(0.03	)	$	1.47
Comprehensive income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.	$	82,097		$	(1,634	)	$	80,463

Consolidated Statement of Stock holders' Equity	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	As Reported		Impact of Adoption			As Adjusted
Retained earnings at December 31, 2016	$	456,052	$	(3,933	)	$	452,119
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.		159,386		(1,578	)		157,808
Retained earnings at December 31, 2017	$	616,347	$	(5,511	)	$	610,836

	Year Ended December 31, 2016
	As Reported		Impact of Adoption			As Adjusted
Retained earnings at December 31, 2015	$	358,173	$	(2,299	)	$	355,874
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.		98,788		(1,634	)		97,154
Retained earnings at December 31, 2016	$	456,052	$	(3,933	)	$	452,119

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	As Reported			Impact of Adoption			As Adjusted
Net income	$	161,135		$	(1,578	)	$	159,557
Deferred income taxes		21,439			(1,937	)		19,502
Accounts receivable		(29,771	)		(3,086	)		(32,857	)
Inventories		(16,278	)		(6,708	)		(22,986	)
Other accrued liabilities		27,514			9,515			37,029
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	261,116		$	(3,794	)	$	257,322
Proceeds from beneficial interests in securitization transactions	$	-		$	3,794		$	3,794
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(31,922	)	$	3,794		$	(28,128	)

	Year Ended December 31, 2016
	As Reported			Impact of Adoption			As Adjusted
Net income	$	98,812		$	(1,634	)	$	97,178
Deferred income taxes		39,347			(1,050	)		38,297
Accounts receivable		(9,082	)		(12,141	)		(21,223	)
Inventories		15,514			(834	)		14,680
Other accrued liabilities		6,719			3,372			10,091
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	253,409		$	(12,287	)	$	241,122
Proceeds from beneficial interests in securitization transactions	$	-		$	12,287		$	12,287
Net cash used in investing activities	$	(105,822	)	$	12,287		$	(93,535	)