Operating Segment Revenue Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	$ 371,327	$ 332,497	$ 1,138,850	$ 950,928
Earnings (loss) from operations	85,409	85,787	203,527	259,944
Thermal Vision and Measurement
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	160,998	132,399	470,799	397,377
Revenue - Intersegments	3,799	3,039	14,197	11,588
Earnings (loss) from operations	47,162	39,868	131,447	109,753
Raymarine
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	35,442	36,909	136,169	64,133
Revenue - Intersegments			7
Earnings (loss) from operations	(2,824)	977	11,829	4,420
Surveillance
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	139,827	163,189	431,164	489,418
Revenue - Intersegments	5,982	4,790	23,003	17,982
Earnings (loss) from operations	51,872	62,177	149,672	190,807
Detection
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	21,193		56,284
Revenue - Intersegments	1,913		3,391
Earnings (loss) from operations	1,997		(4,878)
Integrated Systems
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Revenue - External Customers	13,867		44,434
Revenue - Intersegments			1,811
Earnings (loss) from operations	298		126
Eliminations
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Eliminations	(11,694)	(7,829)	(42,409)	(29,570)
Other
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from operations	$ (13,096)	$ (17,235)	$ (84,669)	$ (45,036)

Intersegment eliminations

Name:	flir_IntersegmentEliminations
Namespace Prefix:	flir
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue recognized during the period (derived from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an entity's earning process). For financial services companies, also includes investment and interest income, and sales and trading gains.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 5

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue from transactions with other operating segments of the same entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 131

-Paragraph 27

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenuesFromTransactionsWithOtherOperatingSegmentsOfSameEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration