Subsidiary Guarantors of 2013 Notes, 2018 Notes and 2020 Notes (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed consolidating statements of income
Net sales	$ 935.4	$ 807.1	$ 2,617.4	$ 2,310.8
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	711.9	606.9	1,988.9	1,738.0
Engineering, selling and administrative expenses	143.2	133.4	428.8	382.4
Restructuring expense	0.9	1.4	3.8	3.2
Amortization expense	9.9	9.5	29.2	28.7
Loss on disposition of property		2.0		2.0
Other	0.3		0.4
Total operating costs and expenses	866.2	753.2	2,451.1	2,154.3
Earnings (loss) from operations	69.2	53.9	166.3	156.5
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(36.2)	(51.5)	(119.9)	(147.4)
Loss on debt extinguishment		(1.1)	(27.8)	(16.8)
Other income (expense)-net	2.0		3.1	(11.8)
Total other income (expenses)	(34.2)	(52.6)	(144.6)	(176.0)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before taxes on income	35.0	1.3	21.7	(19.5)
Provision (benefit) for taxes on income	13.3	2.7	15.1	(7.3)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	21.7	(1.4)	6.6	(12.2)
Discontinued operations:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(0.1)	1.9	(3.1)	2.4
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes			(33.6)
Net earnings (loss)	21.6	0.5	(30.1)	(9.8)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of income taxes	(2.1)	(0.9)	(4.1)	(2.2)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Manitowoc	23.7	1.4	(26.0)	(7.6)
Parent
Condensed consolidating statements of income
Percentage of equity ownership owned (as a percent)	100.00%		100.00%
Costs and expenses:
Engineering, selling and administrative expenses	13.0	10.4	40.8	30.7
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(52.0)	(41.5)	(70.7)	(108.4)
Total operating costs and expenses	(39.0)	(31.1)	(29.9)	(77.7)
Earnings (loss) from operations	39.0	31.1	29.9	77.7
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(32.6)	(48.5)	(110.3)	(140.5)
Management fee income (expense)	11.7	9.7	35.1	27.3
Loss on debt extinguishment		(1.1)	(27.8)	(16.8)
Other income (expense)-net	0.8	1.3	3.5	3.8
Total other income (expenses)	(20.1)	(38.6)	(99.5)	(126.2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before taxes on income	18.9	(7.5)	(69.6)	(48.5)
Provision (benefit) for taxes on income	(4.8)	(8.9)	(43.6)	(40.9)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	23.7	1.4	(26.0)	(7.6)
Discontinued operations:
Net earnings (loss)	23.7	1.4	(26.0)	(7.6)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Manitowoc	23.7	1.4	(26.0)	(7.6)
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating statements of income
Net sales	574.2	479.2	1,561.2	1,331.9
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	441.7	355.5	1,182.5	989.3
Engineering, selling and administrative expenses	57.7	55.9	172.9	155.8
Restructuring expense	0.3		0.4	0.2
Amortization expense	7.9	7.7	23.1	23.0
Loss on disposition of property		1.7		1.7
Other	0.3		0.4
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(3.2)	(8.4)	(17.0)	(30.8)
Total operating costs and expenses	504.7	412.4	1,362.3	1,139.2
Earnings (loss) from operations	69.5	66.8	198.9	192.7
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(0.3)	(0.6)	(1.0)	(1.7)
Management fee income (expense)	(15.0)	(11.3)	(44.2)	(32.4)
Other income (expense)-net	(12.8)	(10.4)	(34.6)	(32.4)
Total other income (expenses)	(28.1)	(22.3)	(79.8)	(66.5)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before taxes on income	41.4	44.5	119.1	126.2
Provision (benefit) for taxes on income	9.9	12.0	33.8	27.4
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	31.5	32.5	85.3	98.8
Discontinued operations:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(0.2)	(0.1)	0.7	(0.5)
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of income taxes			(33.6)
Net earnings (loss)	31.3	32.4	51.0	98.3
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Manitowoc	31.3	32.4	51.0	98.3
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating statements of income
Net sales	486.6	428.0	1,382.6	1,276.1
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	395.6	351.5	1,132.8	1,045.9
Engineering, selling and administrative expenses	72.5	67.1	215.1	195.9
Restructuring expense	0.6	1.4	3.4	3.0
Amortization expense	2.0	1.8	6.1	5.7
Loss on disposition of property		0.3		0.3
Total operating costs and expenses	470.7	422.1	1,357.4	1,250.8
Earnings (loss) from operations	15.9	5.9	25.2	25.3
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(3.3)	(2.4)	(8.6)	(5.2)
Management fee income (expense)	3.3	1.6	9.1	5.1
Other income (expense)-net	14.0	9.1	34.2	16.8
Total other income (expenses)	14.0	8.3	34.7	16.7
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before taxes on income	29.9	14.2	59.9	42.0
Provision (benefit) for taxes on income	8.2	(0.4)	24.9	6.2
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	21.7	14.6	35.0	35.8
Discontinued operations:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0.1	2.0	(2.4)	2.9
Net earnings (loss)	21.8	16.6	32.6	38.7
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of income taxes	(2.1)	(0.9)	4.1	(2.2)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Manitowoc	23.9	17.5	36.7	40.9
Eliminations
Condensed consolidating statements of income
Net sales	(125.4)	(100.1)	(326.4)	(297.2)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales	(125.4)	(100.1)	(326.4)	(297.2)
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	55.2	49.9	87.7	139.2
Total operating costs and expenses	(70.2)	(50.2)	(238.7)	(158.0)
Earnings (loss) from operations	(55.2)	(49.9)	(87.7)	(139.2)
Other income (expenses):
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before taxes on income	(55.2)	(49.9)	(87.7)	(139.2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(55.2)	(49.9)	(87.7)	(139.2)
Discontinued operations:
Net earnings (loss)	(55.2)	(49.9)	(87.7)	(139.2)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Manitowoc	$ (55.2)	$ (49.9)	$ (87.7)	$ (139.2)