Employee Benefit Plans (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Jul. 02, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Actuarial (gains) losses					$ 14.8
Settlements					(15.0)
Change in plan assets:
Settlements					(15.0)
Pension plans
Employee benefit plans
Non-funded plan, current underfunded status			$ 72.3
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets — beginning of year			442.7
Fair value of plan assets — end of year			425.2	$ 442.7
Domestic Pension Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation — beginning of year			371.1	455.3
Service cost			0.4	2.5	7.1
Interest cost			13.9	16.5	19.9
Actuarial (gains) losses			9.5	(9.2)
Settlements	[1]		(36.4)	(6.0)
Curtailment gain	[2]		0.0	(5.1)
Plan amendment			0.0	(0.9)
Benefits paid			(10.4)	(17.5)
Foreign exchange and other			0.0	0.0
Projected benefit obligation — end of year			348.1	371.1	455.3
Settlement payments			27.9
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets — beginning of year			279.2	305.7
Actual return on plan assets			19.5	(15.3)
Contributions (employer and employee)			10.0	12.3
Settlements	[1]		(36.4)	(6.0)
Benefits paid			(10.4)	(17.5)
Foreign exchange and other			0.0	0.0
Fair value of plan assets — end of year			261.9	279.2	305.7
Funded status at year-end			(86.2)	(91.9)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
Other assets			0.0	0.0
Accrued expenses			(5.9)	(9.6)
Other long-term liabilities			(80.3)	(82.3)
Net amount recognized			(86.2)	(91.9)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax) consists of:
Net prior service credits			(0.7)	(0.9)
Domestic Pension Plans | Liabilities of Discontinued Operations - Current
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
Accrued expenses			0.0	0.0
Domestic Pension Plans | Liabilities of Discontinued Operations - Non current
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
Other long-term liabilities			0.0	0.0
Domestic Pension Plans | Balcke Durr | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Spin-Off of SPX FLOW and Divestiture of Balcke Durr	[3]		0.0	0.0
Domestic Pension Plans | SPX Flow, Inc | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Means Other than Sale, Spinoff
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Spin-Off of SPX FLOW and Divestiture of Balcke Durr	[4]		0.0	(64.5)
Settlements		$ (25.2)
Change in plan assets:
Settlements		$ (25.2)
Spin-Off of SPX FLOW			0.0	0.0
Foreign Pension Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation — beginning of year			155.7	239.6
Service cost			0.0	1.3	2.6
Interest cost			5.6	7.7	13.8
Actuarial (gains) losses			27.4	(6.1)
Settlements	[1]		0.0	0.0
Curtailment gain	[2]		0.0	0.0
Plan amendment			0.0	0.0
Benefits paid			(6.4)	(12.1)
Foreign exchange and other			(18.0)	(14.6)
Projected benefit obligation — end of year			157.6	155.7	239.6
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets — beginning of year			163.5	186.7
Actual return on plan assets			25.6	(0.8)
Contributions (employer and employee)			0.5	5.5
Settlements	[1]		0.0	0.0
Benefits paid			(6.4)	(12.1)
Benefits paid			(6.1)	(9.1)
Foreign exchange and other			(20.2)	(14.7)
Fair value of plan assets — end of year			163.3	163.5	186.7
Funded status at year-end			5.7	7.8
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
Other assets			6.3	15.2
Accrued expenses			0.0	0.0
Other long-term liabilities			(0.6)	(0.2)
Net amount recognized			5.7	7.8
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax) consists of:
Net prior service credits			0.0	0.0
Foreign Pension Plans | Liabilities of Discontinued Operations - Current
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
Accrued expenses			0.0	(0.3)
Foreign Pension Plans | Liabilities of Discontinued Operations - Non current
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
Other long-term liabilities			0.0	(6.9)
Foreign Pension Plans | Balcke Durr | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Spin-Off of SPX FLOW and Divestiture of Balcke Durr	[3]		(6.7)	0.0
Foreign Pension Plans | SPX Flow, Inc | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Means Other than Sale, Spinoff
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Spin-Off of SPX FLOW and Divestiture of Balcke Durr	[4]		0.0	(60.1)
Change in plan assets:
Spin-Off of SPX FLOW			0.0	(4.1)
Postretirement Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Projected benefit obligation — beginning of year			120.8	130.2
Service cost			0.0	0.1	0.4
Interest cost			4.2	4.4	5.3
Actuarial (gains) losses			0.6	(4.0)
Settlements			0.0	(1.8)
Plan amendment			0.0	4.5
Benefits paid			(10.3)	(9.4)
Projected benefit obligation — end of year			115.3	120.8	$ 130.2
Change in plan assets:
Settlements			0.0	(1.8)
Benefits paid			(10.3)	(9.4)
Funded status at year-end			(115.3)	(120.8)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets consist of:
Accrued expenses			(11.7)	(12.0)
Other long-term liabilities			(103.6)	(108.8)
Net amount recognized			(115.3)	(120.8)
Amount recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax) consists of:
Net prior service credits			(5.9)	(6.7)
Postretirement Plans | SPX Flow, Inc | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Means Other than Sale, Spinoff
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Spin-Off of SPX FLOW and Divestiture of Balcke Durr			$ 0.0	$ (3.2)

[1] Amount in 2016 includes settlement payments of $27.9 in connection with lump-sum payment actions for the U.S. Plan and the SIARP.

[2] Represents a curtailment gain recorded during the third quarter of 2015 in connection with the amendment of the U.S. Plan and SIARP previously noted.

[3] Represents the transfer of Balcke Dürr’s pension liabilities as a result of the sale.

[4] Represents the transfer to SPX FLOW of the “Top Management Plan” obligation related to SPX FLOW’s executive officers and the impact of transferring foreign defined benefit plans sponsored by SPX FLOW.