Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	CR
Entity Registrant Name	CRANE CO /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000025445
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		57,771,364
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 2,351,273,275
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No