SCHEDULE I - STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Revenues		$ 2,689.8	$ 2,375.4	$ 1,939.4
Cost of sales		1,677.3	1,477.5	1,222.7
Gross Profit		1,012.5	897.9	716.7
Other operating expense, net		9.1	222.1	48.6
Operating Income		443.0	109.1	103.5
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes		349.5	(112.7)	(63.2)
Income tax provision (benefit)		80.1	(131.2)	(31.9)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.		269.4	18.4	(36.6)
Net Income (Loss)		269.4	18.5	(31.3)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	[1]	(47.5)	142.6	(76.8)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.		221.9	161.0	(113.4)
Parent Company [Member]
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]
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		(1.2)	19.5	12.9
Other operating expense, net		(22.4)	175.0	0.0
Operating Income		23.6	(194.5)	(12.9)
Interest income		41.8	20.7	0.0
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes		65.4	(173.8)	(12.9)
Income tax provision (benefit)		3.4	(16.1)	(4.5)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.		62.0	(157.7)	(8.4)
Equity in undistributed income (loss) of subsidiaries		207.4	176.1	(28.2)
Net Income (Loss)		269.4	18.4	(36.6)
Other comprehensive (loss) income		(47.5)	142.6	(76.8)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.		$ 221.9	$ 161.0	$ (113.4)

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