Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 15, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	CHART INDUSTRIES INC
Amendment Description	To furnish Exhibit 101 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K in accordance with Rule 405 of Regulation S-T
Entity Central Index Key	0000892553
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		29,634,788
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 1,567,055,270