GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLES (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Reportable Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 174,715us-gaap_Goodwill	$ 132,903us-gaap_Goodwill
Additions and adjustments	17,023leco_GoodwillAdditionsAndAdjustments	43,419leco_GoodwillAdditionsAndAdjustments
Foreign currency translation	(12,221)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments	(1,607)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAdjustments
Balance at the end of the period	179,517us-gaap_Goodwill	174,715us-gaap_Goodwill
North America Welding
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment
Balance at the beginning of the period	130,439	86,277
Additions and adjustments	18,014	44,446
Foreign currency translation	(3,859)	(284)
Balance at the end of the period	144,594	130,439
Europe Welding
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment
Balance at the beginning of the period	24,430	25,357
Additions and adjustments	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(7,700)	(927)
Balance at the end of the period	16,730	24,430
Asia Pacific Welding
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment
Balance at the beginning of the period	5,359	5,248
Additions and adjustments	(610)	0
Foreign currency translation	(97)	111
Balance at the end of the period	4,652	5,359
South America Welding
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment
Balance at the beginning of the period	562	614
Additions and adjustments	0	0
Foreign currency translation	(106)	(52)
Balance at the end of the period	456	562
The Harris Products Group
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment
Balance at the beginning of the period	13,925	15,407
Additions and adjustments	(381)	(1,027)
Foreign currency translation	(459)	(455)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 13,085	$ 13,925

The aggregate amount of goodwill acquired and adjustments made during the period and allocated to the reportable segment.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

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- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

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