Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to Chart Industries, Inc.	$ 12.3	$ 2.8	$ 18.1	$ (0.1)
Net income (loss) attributable to Chart Industries, Inc. per common share:
Basic (usd per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.09	$ 0.59	$ 0.00
Diluted (usd per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.09	$ 0.57	$ 0.00
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding — basic (shares)	30,950	30,730	30,930	30,710
Incremental shares issuable upon assumed conversion and exercise of share-based awards (shares)	840	550	810	0
Incremental shares issuable due to dilutive effect of the 2024 Notes (shares)	290	0	0	0
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted (shares)	32,080	31,280	31,740	30,710