CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
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
Selling and administrative expenses	446.6	414.3	427.0
Amortization of intangible assets	118.9	124.2	115.4
Impairment of goodwill	0.0	0.0	343.3
Impairment of other intangible assets	1.6	25.3	78.1
Other operating expense, net	222.1	48.6	20.7
Operating Income (Loss)	108.7	104.3	(205.4)
Interest expense	140.7	170.3	162.9
Loss on extinguishment of debt	84.5	0.0	0.0
Other income, net	(3.8)	(2.8)	(1.6)
Loss Before Income Taxes	(112.7)	(63.2)	(366.7)
Benefit for income taxes	(131.2)	(31.9)	(14.7)
Net Income (Loss)	18.5	(31.3)	(352.0)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.1	5.3	(0.8)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.	$ 18.4	$ (36.6)	$ (351.2)
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ (0.25)	$ (2.35)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ (0.25)	$ (2.35)