Statement of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Net Sales	$ 1,916,094		$ 2,057,487		$ 1,640,583
Cost of sales	1,299,207		1,400,330		1,142,455
Gross Profit	616,887		657,157		498,128
Selling, general and administrative	235,069		227,968		195,494
Research and development	64,072		63,996		51,575
Loss on sale of businesses and asset disposals	(70)		590		7,632
Total operating expenses	299,071		292,554		254,701
Operating Income	317,816		364,603		243,427
Nonoperating income (expenses):
Interest Expense	(17,648)		(22,829)		(50,901)
Interest Income	2,613		1,679		1,455
Loss on early retirement of debt	(1,254)		(1,176)		(2,421)
Other, net	2,825		(3,094)		3,525
Nonoperating expenses, net	(13,464)		(25,420)		(48,342)
Income before income taxes	304,352		339,183		195,085
Income tax	(92,274)		(79,380)		51,183
Net Income	212,078		259,803		246,268
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	(30,319)		(29,933)		(32,869)
Net income attributable to Sauer-Danfoss Inc.	$ 181,759		$ 229,870		$ 213,399
Net income per common share, basic	$ 3.75	[1]	$ 4.75	[1]	$ 4.41
Net income per common share, diluted	$ 3.75		$ 4.74	[1]	$ 4.40
Weighted average basic shares outstanding	48,413,138		48,402,059		48,382,860
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding	48,481,945		48,478,627		48,469,519

[1] (1) Basic and diluted net income per common share is computed independently for each of the periods presented. Accordingly, the sum of the quarterly basic and diluted net income per common share may not agree to the annual total.