Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Write off of deferred debt issuance cost	$ 103,000
Weighted average interest rate		4.78%	4.78%
Interest Paid, Including Capitalized Interest, Operating and Investing Activities		$ 15,042,000	$ 14,526,000	$ 11,955,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Year One		4,825,000
Year Two		66,802,000
Year Three		124,654,000
Year Four		4,500,000
Year Five		77,311,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants		0	0	14,100,000	$ 12,376,000
Convertible 2022 debt conversion liability		0	2,611,000
Convertible 2021 note hedge asset		0	1,028,000
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock		894,000	2,427,000	1,276,000
Convertible due 2022 - Bond Hedge, Fair Value		0	2,062,000
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt		(280,000)
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Notes at 5.00% February 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount		$ 3,916,000	17,193,000
Interest rate (as a percent)		5.00%			5.00%
Debt Instrument, Net Carrying Amount		$ 56,628,000	130,260,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 61,091,000	150,000,000		$ 150,000,000
Initial conversion price		$ 16.65
Effective Interest Rate		11.10%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants					$ 12,376,000
Convertible Senior Notes, Percentage of Principal Required for Repurchase		100.00%
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion		60.0492
Convertible Debt, Conversion Rate of Commmon Shares, Principal		$ 1,000
Convertible Debt Conversion Feature, Fair Value at Issuance		34,480,000
Convertible Debt Conversion Feature Gain (Loss)		(2,210,000)	51,696,000
Convertible due 2021 - Bond Hedge, Fair Value at Issuance		27,975,000
Convertible Debt Note Hedge Gain (Loss)		$ 2,852,000	(45,887,000)
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights		$ 22.4175
Debt Instrument, Net Proceeds			144,034,000
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount			5,966,000
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock			5,000,000
Derivative, Amount of Hedged Item			15,600,000
Debt Instrument, Non-Cash Interest Expense Recognized in the Period		$ 6,672,000	6,706,000
Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest		$ 6,803,000	7,500,000
Last Reported Sales Price Period, Common Stock		20 days
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days		30
Percent of the Applicable Conversion Price		130.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Trading Days		10
Percent of the Product of the Last Reported Sale Price, Common Shares		98.00%
Debt Instrument Repurchase Amount, Cash Paid						$ 14,708,000
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount						16,000,000
Debt Instrurment Repurchase Amount, Net Reduction of debt						$ 14,367,000
Debt Instrument Exchange Amount		$ 72,909,000
Debt Instrument, Hedge Options		138,182			300,000
Debt Instrument, Warrants Issued and Outstanding		3,860,624			9,007,380
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures at 5.00% February 2021 [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs		$ 809,000
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Notes at 5.00% February 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount		$ 10,733,000
Interest rate (as a percent)		5.00%
Debt Instrument, Net Carrying Amount		$ 60,817,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 72,909,000
Initial conversion price		$ 14.78
Debt Instrument, Loss on Exchange		$ 5,885,000
Effective Interest Rate		8.77%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Convertible Senior Notes, Percentage of Principal Required for Repurchase		100.00%
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion		67.6819
Convertible Debt, Conversion Rate of Commmon Shares, Principal		$ 1,000
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount		1,394,000
Debt Instrument, Non-Cash Interest Expense Recognized in the Period		205,000
Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest		$ 456,000
Last Reported Sales Price Period, Common Stock		20 days
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days		30
Percent of the Applicable Conversion Price		130.00%
Percent of the Product of the Last Reported Sale Price, Common Shares		98.00%
Debt Instrument Repurchase Amount, Cash Paid		$ 6,928,000
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Notes at 4.50% February 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount		$ 16,027,000	21,476,000
Interest rate (as a percent)		4.50%
Debt Instrument, Net Carrying Amount		$ 101,815,000	95,473,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount		$ 120,000,000	120,000,000
Initial conversion price		$ 16.23
Convertible Debt 2022 Conversion Feature, Initial Fair Value		$ 28,859,000
Effective Interest Rate		10.90%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants		$ 14,100,000		$ 14,100,000
Convertible Senior Notes, Percentage of Principal Required for Repurchase		100.00%
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion		61.6095
Convertible Debt, Conversion Rate of Commmon Shares, Principal		$ 1,000
Convertible Debt Conversion Feature Gain (Loss)		(6,193,000)	50,803,000
Convertible Debt Note Hedge Gain (Loss)		$ 6,748,000	(44,618,000)
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights		$ 21.4375
Debt Instrument, Net Proceeds		$ 115,289,000
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount		4,711,000
Derivative, Amount of Hedged Item		(10,680,000)
Debt Instrument, Non-Cash Interest Expense Recognized in the Period		5,448,000	4,902,000
Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest		5,400,000	5,400,000
Convertible due 2022 - Bond Hedge, Fair Value at Issuance		$ 24,780,000
Last Reported Sales Price Period, Common Stock		20 days
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days		30
Percent of the Applicable Conversion Price		130.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Trading Days		10
Percent of the Product of the Last Reported Sale Price, Common Shares		98.00%
Letters of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding		$ 8,827,000	$ 3,123,000
Letters of Credit | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity		5,000,000
Letters of Credit | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity		25,000,000
Swing Line Loans [Domain] | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity		2,000,000
Amount Available to Invacare Limited and Invacare Poirier SAS [Domain] | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity		15,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity		$ 30,000,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Trade Receivables, Europe, Percent		85.00%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Availability Reserve, Minimum		$ 3,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Feature, Dominion Trigger		$ 3,375,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Feature, Dominion Trigger Maximum Percentage		12.50%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Consecutive Business Days for Undrawn Balance		5 days
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Interruption of Manufacturing Facilities Period		10 days
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		$ 11,913,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Required Undrawn Balance, Minimum, Percent		11.25%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Required Undrawn Balance, Amount		$ 3,000,000
Remaining borrowing capacity		10,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Additional Long-Lived Asset Amount		$ 146,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Trade Receivables, Foreign, Percent		85.00%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Inventories, Foreign, Percent		70.00%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Inventories, Foreign, Liquidation Value, Percent		85.00%
Borrowing capacity		$ 100,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Additional Borrowing Capacity		$ 25,000,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Trade Receivables, Domestic, Percent		85.00%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Inventories, Domestic, Percent		70.00%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Inventories, Liquidation Value, Percent		85.00%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Inventories, Liquidation Value, Amount		$ 4,000,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Property, Plant and Equipment, Liquidation Value, Percent		85.00%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Availability Reserve, Minimum		$ 5,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Feature, Dominion Trigger		6,750,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Feature, Dominion Trigger for Five Consecutive Days		$ 12,500,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Interruption of Manufacturing Facilities Period		10 days
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		$ 22,603,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Required Undrawn Balance, Minimum, Percent		11.25%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Consecutive Business Days for Undrawn_Balance		5 days
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Required Undrawn Balance, Amount		$ 5,000,000
Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.25%
Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.375%
Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.375%
Maximum | Adjusted LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		3.00%
Maximum | Adjusted LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.75%
Maximum | Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		3.00%
Maximum | Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.75%
Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.25%
Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.25%
Minimum | Adjusted LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.50%
Minimum | Adjusted LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.25%
Minimum | Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement) [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.50%
Minimum | Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.25%