Stock Based Compensation - Assumptions Used (Details) - Stock Options - $ / shares		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Volatility	[1]	19.90%	18.80%	20.90%
Dividend yield	[2]	0.40%	0.40%	0.50%
Weighted average fair value at date of grant (usd per share)		$ 19.38	$ 18.67	$ 13.43
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate		1.43%	2.71%	1.90%
Expected years until exercise		5 years 6 months	5 years 6 months	5 years 6 months
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate		2.60%	2.96%	2.26%
Expected years until exercise		8 years	8 years	8 years

[1] Beginning August 2018, expected volatility was based on a weighted average blend of the company’s historical stock price volatility from July 2, 2016 (the date of Separation) through the stock option grant date and the average historical stock price volatility of a group of peer companies for the expected term of the options. The weighted average volatility from July 2, 2016 to July 2018 was estimated based on an average historical stock price volatility of a group of peer companies given our limited trading history.

[2] The dividend yield is calculated by dividing our annual dividend, based on the most recent quarterly dividend rate, by Fortive’s closing stock price on the grant date.