CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [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
Selling and administrative expenses	434.6	446.2	415.1
Amortization of intangible assets	125.8	118.9	124.2
Impairment of other intangible assets	0.0	1.6	25.3
Other operating expense, net	9.1	222.1	48.6
Operating Income	443.0	109.1	103.5
Interest expense	99.6	140.7	170.3
Loss on extinguishment of debt	1.1	84.5	0.0
Other income, net	(7.2)	(3.4)	(3.6)
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	349.5	(112.7)	(63.2)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	80.1	(131.2)	(31.9)
Net Income (Loss)	269.4	18.5	(31.3)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.1	5.3
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc.	$ 269.4	$ 18.4	$ (36.6)
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.34	$ 0.10	$ (0.25)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 0.10	$ (0.25)