Equity Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Calculations of net income per share of common stock
Net income attributable to Chart Industries, Inc.	$ 15,025	$ 4,760	$ 31,527	$ 27,163
Basic	$ 0.49	$ 0.16	$ 1.03	$ 0.89
Diluted	$ 0.48	$ 0.15	$ 1.02	$ 0.88
Basic	30,585	30,498	30,578	30,487
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Share-based Payment Arrangements	479	247	362	206
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted	31,064	30,745	30,940	30,693
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	3,923	3,934	4,118	3,934
Warrant [Member]
Calculations of net income per share of common stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	3,368	3,368	3,368	3,368
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Calculations of net income per share of common stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	555	566	750	566