Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 614,682	$ 493,449	$ 1,757,228	$ 1,365,132
Cost of sales	409,197	333,127	1,157,019	919,403
Gross profit	205,485	160,322	600,209	445,729
Selling and administrative expenses	94,179	91,070	295,209	270,509
Other operating expense, net	4,726	1,253	12,425	3,170
Operating income	106,580	67,999	292,575	172,050
Interest expense	2,898	5,651	12,179	17,829
Other income, net	(138)	(1,110)	(821)	(1,747)
Income before income taxes	103,820	63,458	281,217	155,968
Provision for income taxes	29,543	16,610	79,345	38,943
Net income	74,277	46,848	201,872	117,025
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	694	273	1,690	1,158
Net income attributable to Gardner Denver	$ 73,583	$ 46,575	$ 200,182	$ 115,867
Net earnings per share attributable to Gardner Denver common stockholders
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.43	$ 0.89	$ 3.85	$ 2.22
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.42	$ 0.88	$ 3.82	$ 2.20
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.15	$ 0.15