Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Calculations of net income per share of common stock
Net income attributable to Chart Industries, Inc.	$ 1,510	$ 15,025	$ 1,381	$ 31,527
Basic	$ 0.05	$ 0.49	$ 0.04	$ 1.03
Diluted	$ 0.05	$ 0.48	$ 0.04	$ 1.02
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic	30,755	30,585	30,726	30,578
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Share-based Payment Arrangements	556	479	562	362
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted	31,311	31,064	31,288	30,940
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	4,004	3,923	4,044	4,118
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Calculations of net income per share of common stock
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	636	555	676	750
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