Significant Accounting Policies and Accounting Developments (Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Earnings per share:
Net earnings of Flowserve Corporation	$ 159,000		$ 128,600		$ 123,500		$ 107,700		$ 141,100		$ 126,300		$ 120,400		$ 97,800		$ 518,824	$ 485,530	$ 448,339
Dividends on restricted shares not expected to vest																	12	13	15
Earnings attributable to common and participating shareholders																	$ 518,836	$ 485,543	$ 448,354
Weighted average shares:
Common stock (in shares)																	136,334	140,901	156,057
Participating securities (in shares)																	578	698	792
Denominator for basic earnings per common share (in shares)																	136,912	141,599	156,849
Effect of potentially dilutive securities (in shares)																	931	830	1,121
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share (in shares)																	137,843	142,429	157,970
Net earnings per share attributable to Flowserve Corporation common shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.17	[1]	$ 0.94	[1]	$ 0.90	[1]	$ 0.78	[1]	$ 1.01	[1]	$ 0.90	[1]	$ 0.85	[1]	$ 0.68	[1]	$ 3.79	$ 3.43	$ 2.86
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.16	[1]	$ 0.93	[1]	$ 0.90	[1]	$ 0.78	[1]	$ 1.01	[1]	$ 0.90	[1]	$ 0.84	[1]	$ 0.67	[1]	$ 3.76	$ 3.41	$ 2.84

[1] Earnings per share is computed independently for each of the quarters presented. The sum of the quarters may not equal the total year amount due to the impact of changes in weighted average quarterly shares outstanding.