Period of service for employee to receive additional defined contribution employer match.

No definition available.

Name:	leco_DefinedContributionPlanEmployeeServicePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	leco_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the first level of employee contributions (percentage of compensation) which are matched by the employer.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	leco_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchEmployeeContributionLevelOne
Namespace Prefix:	leco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the employer matching contribution of the first level of employee contributions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	leco_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchLevelOne
Namespace Prefix:	leco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the employer additional matching contributions to a defined contribution plan for participants employer after certain date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	leco_DefinedContributionPlanEmployersAdditionalAnnualMatch
Namespace Prefix:	leco_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employees' gross pay for which the employer contributes a matching contribution to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

RETIREMENT ANNUITY AND GUARANTEED CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT PLANS (Defined Contribution Plans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Defined Contribution Plan
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Matching Contribution, Percent of Employees' Gross Pay	6.00%
Employer match of employee contributions of first 3% of eligible compensation (as a percent)	100.00%
Percentage of eligible compensation, matched 100% by employer (as a percent)	3.00%
Percentage of base pay as additional annual Company contribution to participants (as a percent)	3.00%
Annual costs recognized for defined contribution plans	$ 8,361	$ 10,082	$ 11,088
Minimum
Defined Contribution Plan
DefinedContributionPlanEmployeeServicePeriod	5 years
Maximum
Defined Contribution Plan
DefinedContributionPlanEmployeeServicePeriod	30 years