Guarantor Financial Data (Income Statement) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	$ 1,096,596	$ 1,074,980
Cost of sales	(723,288)	(715,797)
Gross profit	373,308	359,183
Selling, general and administrative expense	(234,509)	(221,889)
Net earnings from affiliates (Note 2)	31,680	5,229
Net earnings from consolidated subsidiaries, net	0	0
Operating income (loss)	170,479	142,523
Interest income (expense), net	(11,818)	(8,527)
Other expense, net	(11,028)	(4,939)
Earnings before income taxes	147,633	129,057
Provision for income taxes	(48,733)	(35,515)
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	98,900	93,542
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,111)	(417)
Net earnings attributable to Flowserve Corporation	97,789	93,125
Comprehensive income attributable to Flowserve Corporation	66,868	127,883
Parent (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0
Gross profit	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense	(338)	(1,120)
Net earnings from affiliates (Note 2)	0	0
Net earnings from consolidated subsidiaries, net	102,555	94,350
Operating income (loss)	102,217	93,230
Interest income (expense), net	(6,500)	(601)
Other expense, net	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	95,717	92,629
Provision for income taxes	2,072	496
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	97,789	93,125
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Flowserve Corporation	97,789	93,125
Comprehensive income attributable to Flowserve Corporation	66,868	127,883
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	447,577	435,746
Cost of sales	(288,964)	(286,150)
Gross profit	158,613	149,596
Selling, general and administrative expense	(92,788)	(100,229)
Net earnings from affiliates (Note 2)	225	1,320
Net earnings from consolidated subsidiaries, net	60,274	59,610
Operating income (loss)	126,324	110,297
Interest income (expense), net	(2,780)	(4,458)
Other expense, net	(1,673)	664
Earnings before income taxes	121,871	106,503
Provision for income taxes	(19,316)	(12,153)
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	102,555	94,350
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Flowserve Corporation	102,555	94,350
Comprehensive income attributable to Flowserve Corporation	71,077	129,488
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	731,386	720,021
Cost of sales	(516,691)	(510,434)
Gross profit	214,695	209,587
Selling, general and administrative expense	(141,383)	(120,540)
Net earnings from affiliates (Note 2)	31,455	3,909
Net earnings from consolidated subsidiaries, net	0	0
Operating income (loss)	104,767	92,956
Interest income (expense), net	(2,538)	(3,468)
Other expense, net	(9,355)	(5,603)
Earnings before income taxes	92,874	83,885
Provision for income taxes	(31,489)	(23,858)
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	61,385	60,027
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,111)	(417)
Net earnings attributable to Flowserve Corporation	60,274	59,610
Comprehensive income attributable to Flowserve Corporation	26,916	93,463
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Sales	(82,367)	(80,787)
Cost of sales	82,367	80,787
Gross profit	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expense	0	0
Net earnings from affiliates (Note 2)	0	0
Net earnings from consolidated subsidiaries, net	(162,829)	(153,960)
Operating income (loss)	(162,829)	(153,960)
Interest income (expense), net	0	0
Other expense, net	0	0
Earnings before income taxes	(162,829)	(153,960)
Provision for income taxes	0	0
Net earnings, including noncontrolling interests	(162,829)	(153,960)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Flowserve Corporation	(162,829)	(153,960)
Comprehensive income attributable to Flowserve Corporation	$ (97,993)	$ (222,951)