Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details)	3 Months Ended							4 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) payment $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 11, 2021 USD ($)	May 15, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Paid, Including Capitalized Interest, Operating and Investing Activities										$ 17,243,000	$ 16,909,000	$ 15,042,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Year One										3,115,000
Year Two										92,000
Year Three										187,633,000
Year Four										0
Year Five										125,000,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants							$ 12,376,000
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock										1,754,000	1,707,000	894,000
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt									$ (280,000)
Loss (gain) on debt extinguishment including debt finance charges and associated fees	$ 10,131,000	$ 709,000	$ 761,000	$ 6,599,000				$ 761,000		$ 9,422,000	(7,360,000)	(6,165,000)
Accretion Rate										4.70%
Purchases of capped calls										$ (18,787,000)	0	0
CARES Act Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)										1.00%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Unsecured Debt														$ 10,000,000
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Notes at 5.00% February 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount										$ 0	8,888,000
Interest rate (as a percent)										5.00%
Debt Instrument, Net Carrying Amount										$ 72,140,000	62,984,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount										$ 72,909,000	72,909,000
Initial conversion price | $ / shares										$ 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 | shares										67.6819
Convertible Debt, Conversion Rate of Commmon Shares, Principal										$ 1,000
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount					1,394,000							1,394,000
Debt Instrument, Non-Cash Interest Expense Recognized in the Period										0	1,845,000
Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest										$ 3,645,000	3,646,000
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					6,928,000							6,928,000
Business Day Period										5 days
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount, Net Balance Shown as a Liability										$ (769,000)	(1,037,000)
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Series II Convertible Senior Notes at 5.00% November 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount										$ 0	9,461,000
Interest rate (as a percent)										5.00%
Debt Instrument, Net Carrying Amount										$ 78,251,000	64,919,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount										$ 79,222,000	75,688,000
Initial conversion price | $ / shares										$ 14.78
Debt Instrument, Loss on Exchange				6,599,000
Effective Interest Rate										10.40%
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 | shares										67.6819
Convertible Debt, Conversion Rate of Commmon Shares, Principal										$ 1,000
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount											1,505,000
Debt Instrument, Non-Cash Interest Expense Recognized in the Period										3,534,000	2,966,000
Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest										$ 3,693,000	2,123,000
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											5,593,000
Debt Instrument Exchange Amount				73,875,000
Business Day Period										5 days
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount, Net Balance Shown as a Liability										$ (971,000)	(1,308,000)
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate on Liability Component, Effective Percentage										8.99%
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Notes at 4.25% March 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)										4.25%
Debt Instrument, Net Carrying Amount										$ 119,036,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount										$ 125,000,000
Initial conversion price | $ / shares										$ 10.57
Effective Interest Rate										5.40%
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 | shares										94.6096
Convertible Debt, Conversion Rate of Commmon Shares, Principal										$ 1,000
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount													$ 7,305,000
Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest										$ 4,220,000
Last Reported Sales Price Period, Common Stock										20 days
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days | payment										30
Percent of the Applicable Conversion Price										130.00%
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Trading Days | payment										10
Percent of the Product of the Last Reported Sale Price, Common Shares										98.00%
Business Day Period										5 days
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount, Net Balance Shown as a Liability										$ (5,964,000)
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Subordinated Debentures at 5.00% February 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs										788,000
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Notes at 4.50% February 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount										$ 0	6,772,000
Interest rate (as a percent)										4.50%
Debt Instrument, Net Carrying Amount										$ 2,642,000	73,869,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount						$ 120,000,000				$ 2,650,000	81,500,000
Initial conversion price | $ / shares										$ 16.23
Debt Instrument, Loss on Exchange		709,000
Convertible Debt 2022 Conversion Feature, Initial Fair Value						28,859,000
Effective Interest Rate										5.40%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Proceeds from Issuance of Warrants						$ 14,100,000
Convertible Senior Notes, Percentage of Principal Required for Repurchase										100.00%
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion | shares										61.6095
Convertible Debt, Conversion Rate of Commmon Shares, Principal										$ 1,000
Convertible Debt Conversion Feature Gain (Loss)												$ (6,193,000)
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights | $ / shares						$ 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										0	4,894,000
Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest										$ 859,000	4,404,000
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%
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount		$ 78,850,000
Debt Instrument Exchange Amount				38,500,000
Debt Instrument, Hedge Options										120,000
Business Day Period										5 days
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount, Net Balance Shown as a Liability										$ (8,000)	(859,000)
Convertible Subordinated Debt | Convertible Senior Notes at 5.00% February 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount										$ 0	7,000
Interest rate (as a percent)										5.00%
Debt Instrument, Net Carrying Amount										$ 0	1,242,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							$ 150,000,000			$ 1,250,000	1,250,000
Effective Interest Rate										11.10%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Convertible due 2021 - Bond Hedge, Fair Value at Issuance										$ 27,975,000
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights | $ / shares										$ 22.4175
Debt Instrument, Net Proceeds																$ 144,034,000
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount																$ 5,966,000
Debt Instrument, Non-Cash Interest Expense Recognized in the Period										$ 0	1,782,000
Debt Instrument, Increase, Accrued Interest										$ 8,000	1,632,000
Debt Instrument Repurchase Amount, Cash Paid									14,708,000
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount			$ 24,466,000					$ 24,466,000	16,000,000
Debt Instrurment Repurchase Amount, Net Reduction of debt									$ 14,367,000
Debt Instrument Exchange Amount				$ 35,375,000	$ 72,909,000
Debt Instrument, Hedge Options			62,341		138,182		300,000	62,341				138,182
Debt Instrument, Warrants Issued and Outstanding					3,860,624		9,007,380			856,920		3,860,624
Debt Instrument, Fee Amount, Net Balance Shown as a Liability										$ 0	(1,000)
Letters of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding										2,585,000	7,616,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount										3,450,000	$ 7,752,000
Letters of Credit | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity										20,000,000
Letters of Credit | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity										$ 5,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate										4.50%	4.60%
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										$ 0
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%
Letters of credit outstanding										$ 22,150,000	$ 20,000,000
Borrowing capacity										60,000,000
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										80.00%
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Availability Reserve, Minimum										$ 3,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Feature, Dominion Trigger										$ 6,750,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Interruption of Manufacturing Facilities Period										10 days
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity										$ 26,644,000
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
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Foreign Currency Fair Value of Amount Outstanding (France)										$ 7,366,000	7,636,000
Line of Credit Facility, Foreign Currency Fair Value of Amount Outstanding (UK)										5,986,000	3,866,000
Line Of Credit Facility Gross Borrowing Base										38,979,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member] | Euro Member Countries, Euro
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Foreign Currency Fair Value of Amount Outstanding (France)										6,500,000	6,400,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (New Credit Agreement) [Member] | United Kingdom, Pounds
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Foreign Currency Fair Value of Amount Outstanding (UK)										4,500,000	$ 2,900,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
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										$ 3,750,000
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										$ 15,201,000
Line of Credit, Covenant Compliance, Required Undrawn Balance, Minimum, Percent										12.50%
Remaining borrowing capacity										$ 30,000,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Feature, Prior Increase Limit										10,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Feature, Increase Limit Based on receivables										9,000,000
Line Of Credit Facility Gross Borrowing Base										21,576,000
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Feature, Dominion Trigger for Five Consecutive Days										3,375,000
Swing Line Loans | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity										2,000,000
Amount Available to Invacare Limited and Invacare Poirier SAS | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity										$ 15,000,000
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 | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
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 (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate										2.75%
Maximum | Adjusted LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
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%
Maximum | Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate										3.00%
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 | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
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 (New Credit Agreement) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate										2.25%
Minimum | Adjusted LIBOR | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
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%
Minimum | Base Rate | Revolving Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Security Agreement (Europe Credit Agreement)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate										2.50%