Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 06, 2013	Jun. 29, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	BADGER METER INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000009092
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		14,309,738
No	No
No	No
Yes	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 510,127,001