Significant Accounting Policies and Accounting Developments (Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2017		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Sep. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2016		Mar. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings per share:
Net earnings of Flowserve Corporation	$ (105,900)		$ 47,600		$ 41,900		$ 19,100		$ 60,000		$ (15,800)		$ 54,400		$ 33,900		$ 2,652	$ 132,455	$ 258,411
Dividends on restricted shares not expected to vest																	0	6	12
Earnings attributable to common and participating shareholders																	$ 2,652	$ 132,461	$ 258,423
Weighted average shares:
Common stock (in shares)																	130,600	130,147	132,567
Participating securities (in shares)																	103	285	507
Denominator for basic earnings per common share (in shares)																	130,703	130,432	133,074
Effect of potentially dilutive securities (in shares)																	655	543	737
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share (in shares)																	131,358	130,975	133,811
Net earnings per share attributable to Flowserve Corporation common shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.81)	[1]	$ 0.36	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ 0.15	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ (0.12)	[1]	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]	$ 0.02	$ 1.02	$ 1.94
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.81)	[1]	$ 0.36	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ 0.15	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ (0.12)	[1]	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]	$ 0.02	$ 1.01	$ 1.93

[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.