SCHEDULE I - STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Income Statement And Comprehensive Income Loss Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,375.4		$ 1,939.4		$ 2,126.9
Cost of sales	1,477.5		1,222.7		1,347.8
Gross Profit	897.9		716.7		779.1
Other operating expense, net	222.1		48.6		20.7
Operating Income (Loss)	108.7		104.3		(205.4)
Other income, net	(3.8)		(2.8)		(1.6)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(112.7)		(63.2)		(366.7)
Income tax benefit	(131.2)		(31.9)		(14.7)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.	18.4		(36.6)		(351.2)
Net loss	18.5		(31.3)		(352.0)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	142.6	[1]	(76.8)	[1]	(130.3)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.	161.0		(113.4)		(481.5)
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Income Statement And Comprehensive Income Loss Captions [Line Items]
Revenues	0.0		0.0		0.0
Cost of sales	0.0		0.0		0.0
Gross Profit	0.0		0.0		0.0
Operating costs	19.5		12.9		7.4
Other operating expense, net	175.0		0.0		0.0
Operating Income (Loss)	(194.5)		(12.9)		(7.4)
Interest income	20.7		0.0		0.0
Other income, net	0.0		0.0		0.0
Loss Before Income Taxes	(173.8)		(12.9)		(7.4)
Income tax benefit	(16.1)		(4.5)		(2.5)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.	(157.7)		(8.4)		(4.9)
Equity in undistributed income (loss) of subsidiaries	176.1		(28.2)		(346.3)
Net loss	18.4		(36.6)		(351.2)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	142.6		(76.8)		(130.3)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.	$ 161.0		$ (113.4)		$ (481.5)

[1] All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits.