CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Pension and other postretirement adjustments, tax	$ 395
Amortization of forward starting swaps, tax	$ 642
Issuance of common stock from issuance of unvested shares, exercise of stock options and deferred compensation plans (in shares)	392,810
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	829,744us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired

Issuance of common stock from exercise of stock options and deferred compensation plans, Shares.

No definition available.

Name:	iex_IssuanceOfCommonStockFromExerciseOfStockOptionsAndDeferredCompensationPlansShares
Namespace Prefix:	iex_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other Comprehensive Income, Amortization Adjustments on Derivatives, Included in Net Income, Tax

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iex_OtherComprehensiveIncomeAmortizationAdjustmentsOnDerivativesIncludedInNetIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	iex_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of tax (expense) benefit, after reclassification adjustments, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e640-108580

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10A

-Subparagraph (i-k)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration