Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 60.3	$ (146.3)	$ 102.7	$ (153.2)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.	$ 60.3	$ (146.3)	$ 102.7	$ (153.3)
Average shares outstanding [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	201.8	176.9	201.7	162.8
Diluted (in shares)	209.6	176.9	209.8	162.8
Income (loss) per share: [Abstract]
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ (0.83)	$ 0.51	$ (0.94)
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ (0.83)	$ 0.49	$ (0.94)
Stock Options [Member]
Loss Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted loss per share (in shares)			0.8	12.2