Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 972.4	$ 908.3	$ 958.3
Cost of sales	643.4	633.9	682.9
Gross profit	329.0	274.4	275.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses	106.4	96.4	92.7
Research and technical expenses	19.8	17.6	17.4
Separation costs	0.9	17.5	17.2
Restructuring and other (income) charges, net	3.7	41.2	(7.5)
Acquisition costs	7.1	0.0	0.0
Other (income) expense, net	0.5	(3.2)	(1.0)
Interest expense	18.1	19.3	20.1
Interest income	(2.3)	(1.4)	0.0
Income (loss) before taxes	174.8	87.0	136.5
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	29.6	42.6	52.2
Net income (loss)	145.2	44.4	84.3
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	18.7	9.2	4.6
Net income (loss) attributable to Ingevity stockholders	$ 126.5	$ 35.2	$ 79.7
Basic and Diluted earnings (loss) per share
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Ingevity stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 3.00	$ 0.83	$ 1.89
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Ingevity stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 2.97	$ 0.83	$ 1.89