Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 186,862	$ 155,259
Accounts receivable (net of allowance of $11,523 at March 31, 2012 and $11,485 at December 31, 2011)	484,014	477,505
Inventories, net	356,660	311,679
Deferred income taxes	42,756	35,948
Other current assets	34,056	35,343
Total current assets	1,104,348	1,015,734
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation of $361,487 at March 31, 2012 and $354,178 at December 31, 2011)	298,659	290,912
Goodwill	687,706	676,582
Other intangibles, net	353,241	348,884
Other assets	34,636	33,456
Total assets	2,478,590	2,365,568
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt	89,808	77,692
Accounts payable	228,033	214,514
Accrued liabilities	233,075	213,548
Total current liabilities	550,916	505,754
Long-term debt, less current maturities	314,641	326,133
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	14,576	14,712
Deferred income taxes	76,646	76,761
Other liabilities	165,855	162,577
Total liabilities	1,122,634	1,085,937
Gardner Denver stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 50,608,581 and 50,650,971 shares outstanding at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	599	598
Capital in excess of par value	607,532	601,854
Retained earnings	1,025,159	972,867
Accumulated other comprehensive income	46,242	17,286
Treasury stock at cost; 9,259,557 and 9,122,204 shares at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	(325,169)	(315,314)
Total Gardner Denver stockholders' equity	1,354,363	1,277,291
Noncontrolling interests	1,593	2,340
Total stockholders' equity	1,355,956	1,279,631
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 2,478,590	$ 2,365,568