Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Net sales		$ 2,204,336	$ 2,023,464	$ 1,679,373
Costs of goods sold		1,406,584	1,298,424	1,094,587
Gross profit		797,752	725,040	584,786
Operating expenses:
Selling and service		217,683	191,887	174,841
Research and development		68,394	50,019	42,869
General and administrative		110,868	103,841	87,581
Amortization of intangibles		28,644	22,112	28,861
Total operating expenses		425,589	367,859	334,152
Income from operations		372,163	357,181	250,634
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense		(41,544)	(40,956)	(42,667)
Investment income		2,767	1,893	298
Loss on extinguishment of debt	[1]	(926)	(1,332)	0
Loss on pension settlement	[2]	(10,920)	0	0
Other, net		(1,933)	(5,710)	(4,566)
Total other expense, net		(52,556)	(46,105)	(46,935)
Income before provision for income taxes		319,607	311,076	203,699
Provision for income taxes		67,299	69,856	44,142
Net income		252,308	241,220	159,557
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		301	2,963	1,749
Net income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.		252,007	238,257	157,808
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment		2,210	(5,976)	15,191
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives		(13,855)	2,924	3,712
Pension liability adjustment		10,541	437	62
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(1,104)	(2,615)	18,965
Total comprehensive income		251,204	238,605	178,522
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(635)	1,647	5,549
Comprehensive income attributable to Generac Holdings Inc.		$ 251,839	$ 236,958	$ 172,973
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share - basic: (in dollars per share)		$ 4.09	$ 3.57	$ 2.56
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic: (in shares)		61,926,986	61,662,031	62,040,704
Net income attributable to common shareholders per common share - diluted: (in dollars per share)		$ 4.03	$ 3.54	$ 2.53
Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted: (in shares)		62,865,446	62,233,225	62,642,872

[1] Represents the non-cash write-off of original issue discount and deferred financing costs due to a voluntary prepayment of Term Loan debt.

[2] Represents pre-tax settlement charges related to the termination of the Company’s domestic pension plan in the fourth quarter of 2019.