Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 501,374,000	$ 288,000	$ 258,425,000	$ 230,640,000	$ 9,811,000	$ 2,210,000
Shares outstanding, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010		28,832,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent					(6,818,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	44,244,000	0	0
Net income attributable to Chart Industries, Inc.	44,076,000			44,076,000
Noncontrolling interests, net of taxes	168,000					168,000
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest						134,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(6,684,000)
Equity component of convertible notes issuance, net of deferred financing fees and deferred taxes	48,521,000	0	48,521,000
Proceeds from issuance of warrants	48,848,000	0	48,848,000
Purchase of call options net of deferred taxes	(41,993,000)	0	(41,993,000)
Share-based compensation expense	5,433,000	0	5,433,000
Common stock issued from share-based compensation plans, shares		814,000
Common stock issued from share-based compensation plans, amount	7,027,000	8,000	7,019,000
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	7,879,000	0	7,879,000
Common stock repurchases, shares		(33,000)
Common stock repurchases, amount	(1,099,000)	0	(1,099,000)
Other	(1,000)	0	1,000
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2011	613,551,000	296,000	333,034,000	274,716,000	2,993,000	2,512,000
Shares outstanding, end of period at Dec. 31, 2011		29,613,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(1,352,000)				(1,352,000)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	72,324,000	0	0
Net income attributable to Chart Industries, Inc.	71,295,000			71,295,000
Noncontrolling interests, net of taxes	1,029,000					1,029,000
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest						3,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,349,000)
Proceeds from issuance of warrants	0
Share-based compensation expense	7,461,000	0	7,461,000
Common stock issued from share-based compensation plans, shares		499,000
Common stock issued from share-based compensation plans, amount	3,520,000	5,000	3,515,000
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	8,972,000	0	8,972,000
Common stock repurchases, shares		(70,000)
Common stock repurchases, amount	(4,485,000)	(1,000)	(4,484,000)
Other	211,000	0	28,000	0	0	(239,000)
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	699,783,000	300,000	348,526,000	346,011,000	1,641,000	3,305,000
Shares outstanding, end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	30,041,584	30,042,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	11,681,000				11,681,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	87,362,000	0	0
Net income attributable to Chart Industries, Inc.	83,176,000			83,176,000
Noncontrolling interests, net of taxes	4,186,000					4,186,000
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest						144,000
Other comprehensive (loss) income	11,825,000
Proceeds from issuance of warrants	0
Share-based compensation expense	9,989,000	0	9,989,000
Common stock issued from share-based compensation plans, shares		367,000
Common stock issued from share-based compensation plans, amount	5,339,000	4,000	5,335,000
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	6,673,000	0	6,673,000
Common stock repurchases, shares		(30,000)
Common stock repurchases, amount	(2,002,000)	0	(2,002,000)
Convertible notes conversion feature	(56,563,000)		(56,563,000)
Acquisition of business, noncontrolling interest	969,000					969,000
Dividend distribution to noncontrolling interest	(1,369,000)					(1,369,000)
Other	(14,000)	0	14,000	0	0	0
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 762,020,000	$ 304,000	$ 311,972,000	$ 429,187,000	$ 13,322,000	$ 7,235,000
Shares outstanding, end of period at Dec. 31, 2013	30,378,502	30,379,000