SCHEDULE I - BALANCE SHEETS (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 221.2	$ 393.3	$ 255.8	$ 228.3
Total current assets	1,331.2	1,463.6
Deferred tax assets	1.3	1.0
Total assets	4,487.1	4,621.2	4,316.0
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Total liabilities	2,811.1	3,144.4
Stockholders' equity [Abstract]
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 201,051,291 and 198,377,237 shares issued at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	2.0	2.0
Capital in excess of par value	2,282.7	2,275.4
Accumulated deficit	(308.7)	(577.8)
Treasury stock at cost; 2,881,436 and 2,159,266 shares at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively	(53.0)	(23.0)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(247.0)	(199.8)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 4,487.1	$ 4,621.2
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	201,051,291	198,377,237
Treasury stock (in shares)	2,881,436	2,159,266
Parent Company [Member]
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1.0	$ 0.2	$ 0.3	$ 0.0
Total current assets	1.0	0.2
Equity in net assets of subsidiaries	781.9	605.9
Intercompany receivables	885.7	865.1
Deferred tax assets	15.5	22.2
Total assets	1,684.1	1,493.4
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Other liabilities	8.1	16.6
Total liabilities	8.1	16.6
Stockholders' equity [Abstract]
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 201,051,291 and 198,377,237 shares issued at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	2.0	2.0
Capital in excess of par value	2,282.7	2,275.4
Accumulated deficit	(308.7)	(577.8)
Treasury stock at cost; 2,881,436 and 2,159,266 shares at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively	(53.0)	(23.0)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(247.0)	(199.8)
Total Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,676.0	1,476.8
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,684.1	$ 1,493.4
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	201,051,291	198,377,237
Treasury stock (in shares)	2,881,436	2,159,266