SCHEDULE I - BALANCE SHEETS (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 505.5	$ 221.2
Other current assets	76.8	60.7
Total current assets	1,543.9	1,331.2
Deferred tax assets	3.0	1.3
Total assets	4,628.4	4,487.1	$ 4,621.2
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Total liabilities	2,758.5	2,811.1
Stockholders' equity [Abstract]
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 206,767,529 and 201,051,291 shares issued at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively	2.1	2.0
Capital in excess of par value	2,302.0	2,282.7
Accumulated deficit	(141.4)	(308.7)
Treasury stock at cost; 1,701,785 and 2,881,436 shares at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively	(36.8)	(53.0)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(256.0)	(247.0)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 4,628.4	$ 4,487.1
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)	206,767,529	201,051,291
Treasury stock (in shares)	1,701,785	2,881,436
Parent Company [Member]
Current assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 0.0	$ 1.0
Other current assets	1.0	0.0
Total current assets	1.0	1.0
Equity in net assets of subsidiaries	848.5	781.9
Intercompany receivables	1,019.9	885.7
Deferred tax assets	8.3	15.5
Total assets	1,877.7	1,684.1
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Other liabilities	7.8	8.1
Total liabilities	7.8	8.1
Stockholders' equity [Abstract]
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 206,767,529 and 201,051,291 shares issued at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively	2.1	2.0
Capital in excess of par value	2,302.0	2,282.7
Accumulated deficit	(141.4)	(308.7)
Treasury stock at cost; 1,701,785 and 2,881,436 shares at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively	(36.8)	(53.0)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(256.0)	(247.0)
Total Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. stockholders' equity	1,869.9	1,676.0
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,877.7	$ 1,684.1
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)	206,767,529	201,051,291
Treasury stock (in shares)	1,701,785	2,881,436