Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 18.5	$ (31.3)	$ (352.0)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0.1	5.3	(0.8)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.	$ 18.4	$ (36.6)	$ (351.2)
Average shares outstanding [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	182,200	149,200	149,600
Diluted (in shares)	188,400	149,200	149,600
Earnings (loss) per share [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ (0.25)	$ (2.35)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ (0.25)	$ (2.35)
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted loss per share (in shares)	700	13,285	17,033