EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Franklin Electric Co., Inc.	$ 21,174	$ 15,730
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	200	100
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	100
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 21,000	$ 15,500
Basic
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	46.6	46.4
Effect of dilutive securities:
Non-participating employee stock options and performance awards (in shares)	0.5	0.6
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)	47.1	47.0
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.33
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.33
Anti-dilutive stock options (in shares)	0.3	0.2