DEI Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	May 05, 2014 Common Class B (Authorized 12,000 shares; 1,086 and 1,086, issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively - no par	May 05, 2014 Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	INVACARE CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000742112
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,084,747	31,068,802