Schedule of Quarterly Financial and Other Supplemental Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 589,671	[1]	$ 548,484	$ 613,014	$ 604,356	[2]	$ 613,675	[3]	$ 614,682	$ 610,693	$ 531,853					$ 2,355,525	$ 2,370,903	$ 1,895,104
Gross profit	202,028	[1]	187,922	211,870	202,567	[2]	207,645	[3]	205,485	210,268	184,456					804,387	807,854	626,408
Net income attributable to Gardner Denver	$ 69,064	[1]	$ 64,103	$ 75,267	$ 54,832	[2]	$ 77,381	[3]	$ 73,583	$ 67,121	$ 59,478					$ 263,266	$ 277,563	$ 172,962
Basic earnings per share	$ 1.41	[1]	$ 1.31	$ 1.52	$ 1.08	[2]	$ 1.53	[3]	$ 1.43	$ 1.28	$ 1.14					$ 5.31	$ 5.37	$ 3.31
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.40	[1]	$ 1.30	$ 1.51	$ 1.08	[2]	$ 1.52	[3]	$ 1.42	$ 1.27	$ 1.13					$ 5.28	$ 5.33	$ 3.28
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.05	[1]	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	[2]	$ 0.05	[3]	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.20	$ 0.20	$ 0.20
Maximum
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Common Stock Prices	$ 76.57	[1]	$ 64.43	$ 67.41	$ 84.46	[2]	$ 86.99	[3]	$ 92.93	$ 86.96	$ 78.93
Minimum
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Common Stock Prices	$ 54.55	[1]	$ 45.54	$ 47.74	$ 62.14	[2]	$ 58.26	[3]	$ 62.50	$ 74.14	$ 68.04

[1] Results for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 reflect restructuring charges of $2.9 million ($2.1 million after income taxes) and due diligence and other costs incurred in connection with exploring strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value totaling $2.6 million ($1.9 million after income taxes).

[2] Results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 reflect restructuring charges of $14.4 million ($10.3 million after income taxes).

[3] Results for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 reflect corporate relocation and acquisition due diligence costs totaling $0.6 million ($0.4 million after income taxes) and a net foreign currency gain of $3.4 million related to the financing of the Robuschi acquisition.