CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 295,630	$ 220,252
Cost of sales	196,648	144,436
Gross profit	98,982	75,816
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	76,275	56,996
Restructuring expense	7	315
Operating income	22,700	18,505
Interest expense	(2,428)	(3,514)
Other income/(expense), net	(204)	672
Foreign exchange income/(expense)	(551)	475
Income before income taxes	19,517	16,138
Income tax (benefit)/expense	(1,698)	204
Net income	21,215	15,934
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(41)	(204)
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$ 21,174	$ 15,730
Income per share:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.33
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.45	0.33
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1075000	$ 0.1000