Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 03, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	BADGER METER, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000009092
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		29,145,410
Entity Public Float			$ 1,820
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	BMI
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity File Number	001-06706
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	WI
Entity Tax Identification Number	39-0143280
Entity Address, Address Line One	4545 W. Brown Deer Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Milwaukee
Entity Address, State or Province	WI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	53233
City Area Code	414
Local Phone Number	355-0400
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Documents Incorporated by Reference [Text Block]	Portions of the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the registrant's fiscal year, are incorporated by reference from the definitive Proxy Statement into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.