CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Treasury Stock	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Earnings
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 4,383,180	$ 256,992	$ 942,485	$ (5,077,039)	$ 8,455,501	$ (194,759)
Net earnings	428,698	0	0	0	428,698	0
Dividends paid	(213,126)	0	0	0	(213,126)	0
Separation of Apergy	(906,815)	0	0	0	(939,743)	32,928
Common stock issued for the exercise of share-based awards	(44,443)	783	(45,226)	0	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	16,590	0	16,590	0	0	0
Common stock acquired, including accelerated share repurchase program	(892,771)	0	(140,000)	(752,771)	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(18,638)	0	0	0	0	(18,638)
Other, net	(4,916)	0	(4,916)	0	0	0
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	2,747,934	257,775	768,933	(5,829,810)	7,744,361	(193,325)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	2,840,591	257,394	787,132	(5,682,016)	7,657,860	(179,779)
Net earnings	157,305	0	0	0	157,305	0
Dividends paid	(70,804)	0	0	0	(70,804)	0
Common stock issued for the exercise of share-based awards	(23,241)	381	(23,622)	0	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	5,443	0	5,443	0	0	0
Common stock acquired, including accelerated share repurchase program	(147,794)	0	0	(147,794)	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(13,546)	0	0	0	0	(13,546)
Other, net	(20)	0	(20)	0	0	0
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	2,747,934	257,775	768,933	(5,829,810)	7,744,361	(193,325)
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption | Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 [Member]	0	0	0	0	12,856	(12,856)
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]	175	0	0	0	175	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	2,768,666	257,822	886,016	(5,947,562)	7,815,486	(243,096)
Net earnings	509,796	0	0	0	509,796	0
Dividends paid	(211,072)	0	0	0	(211,072)	0
Common stock issued for the exercise of share-based awards	(29,011)	604	(29,615)	0	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	24,493	0	24,493	0	0	0
Common stock acquired, including accelerated share repurchase program	(23,280)	0	0	(23,280)	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(14,094)	0	0	0	0	(14,094)
Other, net	(7,855)	0	(7,905)	0	50	0
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	3,017,643	258,426	872,989	(5,970,842)	8,114,260	(257,190)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	2,955,271	258,315	873,034	(5,947,562)	7,979,597	(208,113)
Net earnings	206,006	0	0	0	206,006	0
Dividends paid	(71,342)	0	0	0	(71,342)	0
Common stock issued for the exercise of share-based awards	(7,802)	111	(7,913)	0	0	0
Share-based compensation expense	7,876	0	7,876	0	0	0
Common stock acquired, including accelerated share repurchase program	(23,280)	0	0	(23,280)	0	0
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(49,077)	0	0	0	0	(49,077)
Other, net	(9)	0	(8)	0	(1)	0
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 3,017,643	$ 258,426	$ 872,989	$ (5,970,842)	$ 8,114,260	$ (257,190)