Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017		Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to Chart Industries, Inc.	$ 26.7	[1],[2]	$ 1.5	$ 2.8	$ (2.9)	$ (3.3)	$ 15.0	$ 21.2	$ (4.7)	$ 28.0		$ 28.2		$ (203.0)
Basic	$ 0.87		$ 0.05	$ 0.09	$ (0.09)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.49	$ 0.69	$ (0.15)	$ 0.91	[3]	$ 0.92	[4]	$ (6.66)
Diluted	$ 0.85		$ 0.05	$ 0.09	$ (0.09)	$ (0.11)	$ 0.48	$ 0.68	$ (0.15)	$ 0.89	[3],[5]	$ 0.91	[4],[6]	$ (6.66)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic										30,740		30,580		30,490
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements										600		410		0
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted										31,340		30,990		30,490

[1] During the fourth quarter of 2017, we recorded a $4.9 loss on extinguishment of debt associated with the repurchase of $192.9 principal amount of our $250.0 2.00% convertible notes due August 2018 and refinance of our senior secured revolving credit facility.

[2] The fourth quarter of 2017 includes a one-time $22.5 net favorable tax benefit that was recorded during the fourth quarter of 2017, which resulted from the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This benefit mainly consisted of a one-time, provisional benefit of $26.9 related to the remeasurement of certain of our deferred tax liabilities using the lower U.S. federal corporate tax rate of 21%. This was partially offset by (i) a one-time, provisional charge of $8.7 related to the deemed repatriation transition tax, which is a tax on previously untaxed accumulated earnings and profits of certain of our foreign subsidiaries, and (ii) a one-time tax expense and tax benefit of $4.5 and $8.7, respectively, related to our intent to amend pre-acquisition Hudson U.S. federal tax returns.

[3] Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share are computed independently for each of the quarters presented. As such, the sum of quarterly basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share may not equal reported annual basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share.

[4] Basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share are computed independently for each of the quarters presented. As such, the sum of quarterly basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share may not equal reported annual basic and diluted (loss) earnings per share.

[5] Zero incremental shares from share-based awards are included in the computation of diluted net loss per share for periods in which a net loss occurs, because to do so would be anti-dilutive.

[6] Zero incremental shares from share-based awards are included in the computation of diluted net loss per share for periods in which a net loss occurs, because to do so would be anti-dilutive.