Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 19, 2016	Jun. 28, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	FLIR SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000354908
Trading Symbol	FLIR
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		137,557,972
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 4,278,863,278