Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 145.2	$ 44.4	$ 84.3
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	8.3	(2.9)	(9.2)
Derivative instruments:
Unrealized gain (loss), net of tax of zero, zero, and $0.6	(0.1)	0.0	(1.9)
Reclassifications of deferred derivative instruments (gain) loss, included in net income (loss), net of tax of zero, ($0.6) and ($0.6)	0.1	1.0	1.9
Total derivative instruments, net of tax of zero, ($0.6) and zero	0.0	1.0	0.0
Pension & Other postretirement benefits
Unrealized actuarial gains (losses) and prior service (costs) credits, net of tax of $0.4, $0.3, and zero	(0.7)	(0.6)	0.0
Reclassifications of net actuarial and other (gain) loss and amortization of prior service cost, included in net income, net of tax of zero, zero and zero	0.0	0.0	0.0
Total pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax of $0.4, $0.3, and zero	(0.7)	(0.6)	0.0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of ($0.4), ($0.3) and zero	7.6	(2.5)	(9.2)
Comprehensive income (loss)	152.8	41.9	75.1
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	18.7	9.2	4.6
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Ingevity stockholders	$ 134.1	$ 32.7	$ 70.5