Cover - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 22, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-11442
Entity Registrant Name	CHART INDUSTRIES, INC
Entity Incorporation, State	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	34-1712937
Entity Address, Street Address	3055 Torrington Drive
Entity Address, City	Ball Ground
Entity Address, State	GA
Entity Address, Zip Code	30107
City Area Code	770
Local Phone Number	721-8800
Title of each class	Common Stock, par value $0.01
Trading Symbol(s)	GTLS
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 1,739,104,518
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		36,308,260
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the following document are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K: the definitive Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 13, 2021 (the “2021 Proxy Statement”).
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0000892553