DEI Document - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	May 02, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	INVACARE CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000742112
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Common Shares [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		33,758,629
Class B Common Shares [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		6,357