Debt (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Description			On July 27, 2012, the Company entered into a new $1.5 billion unsecured credit facility (the "2012 Facility") with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders, which replaced its existing unsecured credit facility, composed of a $750 million revolving credit facility, dated as of July 7, 2008 (the "2008 Facility"). The 2012 Facility is composed of a five year $1.5 billion revolving credit facility. The Company recorded a $1.0 million non-cash debt extinguishment charge in the third quarter of 2012 related to the early termination of the 2008 Facility. This charge reflects the unamortized fees associated with the 2008 Facility and was reported as other expense. The Company may also, subject to compliance with specified conditions, request term loans or additional revolving credit commitments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $350 million.
Line of Credit Facility, Initiation Date			Jul. 27, 2012
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date			Jul. 27, 2019
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 1,500,000,000		$ 1,500,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Terms			The facility contains various affirmative and negative covenants which, among other things, limit Roper's ability to incur new debt, prepay subordinated debt, make certain investments and acquisitions, sell assets and grant liens, make restricted payments (including the payment of dividends on its common stock) and capital expenditures, or change its line of business. Roper is also subject to financial covenants which require the Company to limit its consolidated total leverage ratio and to maintain a consolidated interest coverage ratio. The most restrictive covenant is the consolidated total leverage ratio which is limited to 3.5.
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	1,050,000,000		1,050,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Description			The interest rate on the borrowings under the credit facility is calculated based upon various recognized indices plus a margin as defined in the credit agreement
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End	129.00%		129.00%
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Maturity Date - Debt Instrument			Aug. 15, 2013
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Number of Equity Instruments			738,612
Cash Payments for Debt Conversions (in millions)			26,826,000	25,057,000
Debt extinguishment cost	(1,043,000)	0	(1,043,000)	0
3.75% Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes, Due 2034
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Stated Interest Rate Percentage - Debt Instruments	3.75%		3.75%
Maturity Date - Debt Instrument			Jan. 15, 2034
Excess above Principal Note Amount (in millions)			81,000,000
First Conversion Date			Jan. 15, 2009
Number of Notes Converted	59,978		59,978
Per Note Conversion Price	$ 453.39		$ 453.39
Cash Payments for Debt Conversions (in millions)			46,000,000
Shares Issued for Convertible Debt			284,967
Weighted Average Share Price at Debt Conversion	99.61		99.61
Deferred Tax Liability (in millions)			3,700,000
Note Conversions Outstanding	4,938		4,938
Outstanding Cash Payments for Debt Conversions			2,200,000
Stock To Be Issued, Shares, Outstanding Conversion of Convertible Securities			41,541
Weighted Average Price of Stock to be Issued for Outstanding Debt Conversions	109.60		109.60
2008 Facility [Member]
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]
Debt extinguishment cost			$ 1,000,000