Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 24, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-34036
Entity Registrant Name	John Bean Technologies Corporation
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	91-1650317
Entity Address, Address Line One	70 West Madison Street,
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 4400
Entity Address, City or Town	Chicago,
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60602
City Area Code	312
Local Phone Number	861-5900
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	JBT
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		31,666,595
Entity Central Index Key	0001433660
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false