Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements of Sauer-Danfoss Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and represent the consolidation of all companies in which the Company has a controlling financial ownership interest or a majority of the interest in earnings or losses. Certain information and disclosures normally included in comprehensive financial statements, prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. It is suggested that these interim financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2012. Use of Estimates — In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, management must make decisions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and the related disclosures, including disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Such decisions include the selection of the appropriate accounting principles to be applied and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. Estimates are used in determining, among other items, inventory valuation, warranty reserves, allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, pension and postretirement accruals, employee incentive accruals, useful lives for intangible assets, and future cash flows associated with impairment testing for goodwill and other long-lived assets. These estimates and assumptions are based on management's best estimates and judgments. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the current economic environment, adjusting such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. A number of these factors include, among others, the economic conditions, restricted credit markets, foreign currency, and higher commodity costs, all of which impact such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual amounts could differ significantly from those estimated at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods. Recently Adopted Accounting Principles — In May 2011 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance that amends some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. The new guidance states that the concepts of highest and best use and valuation premise are only relevant when measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets and prohibits the grouping of financial instruments for purposes of determining their fair values when the unit of account is specified in other guidance. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2012 with no impact on the consolidated financial statements. In June 2011 the FASB amended requirements for the presentation of other comprehensive income (OCI), requiring all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2012. Upon adoption, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation. These reclassifications have no impact on previously reported financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In September 2011 the FASB issued amendments to the guidance on testing goodwill for impairment. The new guidance provides an entity the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If an entity determines that this is the case, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized for that reporting unit (if any). If an entity determines that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. Annual impairment tests are performed by the Company in the fourth quarter of each year. The adoption of this updated authoritative guidance is not expected to have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies —

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation —

The consolidated financial statements of Sauer-Danfoss Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and represent the consolidation of all companies in which the Company has a controlling financial ownership interest or a majority of the interest in earnings or losses. Certain information and disclosures normally included in comprehensive financial statements, prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. It is suggested that these interim financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's latest annual report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2012.

Use of Estimates —

In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, management must make decisions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and the related disclosures, including disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. Such decisions include the selection of the appropriate accounting principles to be applied and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. Estimates are used in determining, among other items, inventory valuation, warranty reserves, allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, pension and postretirement accruals, employee incentive accruals, useful lives for intangible assets, and future cash flows associated with impairment testing for goodwill and other long-lived assets. These estimates and assumptions are based on management's best estimates and judgments. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, including the current economic environment, adjusting such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. A number of these factors include, among others, the economic conditions, restricted credit markets, foreign currency, and higher commodity costs, all of which impact such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual amounts could differ significantly from those estimated at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.

Recently Adopted Accounting Principles —

In May 2011 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance that amends some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. The new guidance states that the concepts of highest and best use and valuation premise are only relevant when measuring the fair value of nonfinancial assets and prohibits the grouping of financial instruments for purposes of determining their fair values when the unit of account is specified in other guidance. The Company adopted this guidance as of January 1, 2012 with no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011 the FASB amended requirements for the presentation of other comprehensive income (OCI), requiring all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2012. Upon adoption, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period financial statement presentation. These reclassifications have no impact on previously reported financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In September 2011 the FASB issued amendments to the guidance on testing goodwill for impairment. The new guidance provides an entity the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If an entity determines that this is the case, it is required to perform the currently prescribed two-step goodwill impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of goodwill impairment loss to be recognized for that reporting unit (if any). If an entity determines that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, the two-step goodwill impairment test is not required. Annual impairment tests are performed by the Company in the fourth quarter of each year. The adoption of this updated authoritative guidance is not expected to have an impact on the consolidated financial statements.