Commitments and Contingencies - Roll Forward Of The Warranty Reserve (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Movement in Standard and Extended Product Warranty, Increase (Decrease) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance at January 1	$ 6,281	$ 5,628	$ 7,936
Provision for warranties	2,334	2,895	1,828
Claim settlements	(2,981)	(2,317)	(3,539)
Other adjustments, including acquisitions, divestitures and currency translation	(331)	75	(597)
Ending balance at December 31	$ 5,303	$ 6,281	$ 5,628

Product warranty accrual, provision for warranties.

No definition available.

Name:	iex_ProductWarrantyAccrualProvisionForWarranties
Namespace Prefix:	iex_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Standard and Extended Product Warranty Accrual, Other Adjustments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iex_StandardandExtendedProductWarrantyAccrualOtherAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	iex_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for estimated claims under standard and extended warranty protection rights granted to customers.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (c)(5)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductWarrantyAccrual
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of decrease in the standard and extended product warranty accrual from payments made in cash or in kind to satisfy claims under the terms of the standard and extended product warranty.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph ((c)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68068213&loc=d3e12565-110249

+ Details

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