| Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2015 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of presentation | Basis of presentation— Our consolidated financial statements were prepared in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). On February 25, 2011, our Board of Directors approved a two -for-one stock split of our outstanding shares of common stock. The stock split was completed in the form of a stock dividend; however, upon issuance of the common stock pursuant to the stock split, an amount equal to the aggregate par value of the additional shares of common stock issued was not reclassified from capital in excess of par value to common stock during the first quarter of 2011. This adjustment was made during the first quarter of 2014. All prior-year amounts have been revised to conform to the current year presentation. This adjustment had no overall effect on total equity and did not impact our overall financial position or results of operations for any period presented. |
| Principles of consolidation | Principles of consolidation —These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of FMC Technologies and its majority-owned subsidiaries and affiliates. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. |
| Use of estimates | Use of estimates —The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, estimates of total contract profit or loss on long-term construction-type contracts; estimated realizable value on excess and obsolete inventory; estimates related to pension accounting; estimates related to fair value for purposes of assessing goodwill, long-lived assets and intangible assets for impairment; estimates related to income taxes; and estimates related to contingencies, including liquidated damages. |
| Investments in the common stock of unconsolidated affiliates | Investments in the common stock of unconsolidated affiliates —The equity method of accounting is used to account for investments in unconsolidated affiliates where we have the ability to exert significant influence over the affiliate’s operating and financial policies. The cost method of accounting is used where significant influence over the affiliate is not present. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates are assessed for impairment whenever events or changes in facts and circumstances indicate the carrying value of the investments may not be fully recoverable. When such a condition is judgmentally determined to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the investment is written down to fair value. Management’s assessment as to whether any decline in value is other than temporary is based on our ability and intent to hold the investment and whether evidence indicating the carrying value of the investment is recoverable within a reasonable period of time outweighs evidence to the contrary. Management generally considers our investments in equity method investees to be strategic long-term investments and completes its assessments for impairment with a long-term viewpoint. |
| Reclassifications | Reclassifications —Certain prior-year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications include (i) income tax presentation in the cash provided by operating activities section on the consolidated statements of cash flows and (ii) intangible asset reclassification from other assets to intangible assets on the consolidated balance sheets. |
| Revenue recognition | Revenue recognition —Revenue is generally recognized once the following four criteria are met: i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, ii) delivery of the equipment has occurred (which is upon shipment or when customer-specific acceptance requirements are met) or services have been rendered, iii) the price of the equipment or service is fixed and determinable, and iv) collectibility is reasonably assured. We record our sales net of any value added, sales or use tax. For certain construction-type manufacturing and assembly projects that involve significant design and engineering efforts in order to satisfy detailed customer-supplied specifications, revenue is recognized using the percentage of completion method of accounting. Under the percentage of completion method, revenue is recognized as work progresses on each contract. We primarily apply the ratio of costs incurred to date to total estimated contract costs at completion to measure this ratio. If it is not possible to form a reliable estimate of progress toward completion, no revenue or costs are recognized until the project is complete or substantially complete. Any expected losses on construction-type contracts in progress are charged to earnings, in total, in the period the losses are identified. Modifications to construction-type contracts, referred to as “change orders,” effectively change the provisions of the original contract, and may, for example, alter the specifications or design, method or manner of performance, equipment, materials, sites and/or period for completion of the work. If a change order represents a firm price commitment from a customer, we account for the revised estimate as if it had been included in the original estimate, effectively recognizing the pro rata impact of the new estimate on our calculation of progress toward completion in the period in which the firm commitment is received. If a change order is unpriced: (1) we include the costs of contract performance in our calculation of progress toward completion in the period in which the costs are incurred or become probable; and (2) when it is determined that the revenue is probable of recovery, we include the change order revenue, limited to the costs incurred to date related to the change order, in our calculation of progress toward completion. Unpriced change orders included in revenue were immaterial to our consolidated revenue for all periods presented. Margin is not recorded on unpriced change orders unless realization is assured beyond a reasonable doubt. The assessment of realization may be based upon our previous experience with the customer or based upon our receipt of a firm price commitment from the customer. Progress billings are generally issued upon completion of certain phases of the work as stipulated in the contract. Revenue in excess of progress billings are reported in receivables in our consolidated balance sheets. Progress billings and cash collections in excess of revenue recognized on a contract are classified as advance payments and progress billings within current liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Revenue generated from the installation portion of construction-type contracts is included in product revenue in our consolidated statements of income. |
| Shipping and handling costs | Shipping and handling costs —Shipping and handling costs are recorded as cost of product revenue in our consolidated statements of income. Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are recorded as a component of revenue. |
| Cash equivalents | Cash equivalents —Cash equivalents are highly-liquid, short-term instruments with original maturities of three months or less from their date of purchase. |
| Receivables | Receivables, net of allowances —An allowance for doubtful accounts is provided on receivables equal to the estimated uncollectible amounts. This estimate is based on historical collection experience and a specific review of each customer’s receivable balance. |
| Inventories | Inventories —Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Inventory costs include those costs directly attributable to products, including all manufacturing overhead, but excluding costs to distribute. Cost is determined on the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis for all significant domestic inventories, except certain inventories relating to construction-type contracts, which are stated at the actual production cost incurred to date, reduced by the portion of these costs identified with revenue recognized. The first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method is used to determine the cost for all other inventories. |
| Investments | Investments —The appropriate classification of investments in marketable equity securities is determined at the time of purchase and re-evaluated as of each subsequent reporting date. Securities classified as trading securities are carried at fair value with gains and losses on these securities recognized through other income (expense), net. Trading securities are primarily comprised of marketable equity mutual funds that approximate a portion of our liability under our Non-Qualified Savings and Investment Plan (“Non-Qualified Plan”). We did not have any available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2015 or 2014 . |
| Property, plant, and equipment | Property, plant, and equipment —Property, plant, and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is principally provided on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (land improvements— 20 to 35 years; buildings— 20 to 50 years; and machinery and equipment— 3 to 20 years). Gains and losses are realized upon the sale or retirement of assets and are recorded in other income (expense), net on our consolidated statements of income. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. Expenditures that extend the useful lives of property, plant and equipment are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated new remaining life of the asset. |
| Impairment of property, plant, and equipment | Impairment of property, plant, and equipment —Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the long-lived asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If it is determined that an impairment loss has occurred, the impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. Long-lived assets classified as held for sale are reported at the lower of carrying value or fair value less cost to sell. |
| Capitalized software costs | Capitalized software costs —Capitalized software costs are recorded at cost. Capitalized software costs include purchases of software and internal and external costs incurred during the application development stage of software projects. These costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets and are presented, net of accumulated amortization, in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. For internal use software, the useful lives range from three to ten years. For Internet website costs, the estimated useful lives do not exceed three years. |
| Goodwill and other intangible assets | Goodwill and other intangible assets —Goodwill is not subject to amortization but is tested for impairment on an annual basis (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise). We have established October 31 as the date of our annual test for impairment of goodwill. Reporting units with goodwill are tested for impairment by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, or based on management’s judgment, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a two-step impairment test is performed. The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit (measured as the present value of expected future cash flows) to its carrying amount. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a second step is performed. In this step, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to its assets and liabilities to determine the implied fair value of goodwill, which is used to measure the impairment loss. Our acquired intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which generally range from 7 to 40 years. Our acquired intangible assets do not have indefinite lives. Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the intangible asset may not be recoverable. The carrying amount of an intangible asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. If it is determined that an impairment loss has occurred, the loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value. |
| Fair value measurements | Fair value measurements —We record our financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the reporting date. The fair value framework requires the categorization of assets and liabilities into three levels based upon the assumptions (inputs) used to price the assets or liabilities, with the exception of certain assets and liabilities measured using the net asset value practical expedient, which are not required to be leveled. Level 1 provides the most reliable measure of fair value, whereas Level 3 generally requires significant management judgment. The three levels are defined as follows: • Level 1 : Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities. • Level 2 : Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1. For example, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets. • Level 3 : Unobservable inputs reflecting management’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability |
| Income taxes | Income taxes —Current income taxes are provided on income reported for financial statement purposes, adjusted for transactions that do not enter into the computation of income taxes payable in the same year. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established whenever management believes that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets may not be realizable. U.S. income taxes are not provided on our equity in undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries or affiliates to the extent we have determined that the earnings are indefinitely reinvested. U.S. income taxes are provided on such earnings in the period in which we can no longer support that such earnings are indefinitely reinvested. Tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions are recognized when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. We classify interest expense and penalties recognized on underpayments of income taxes as income tax expense. |
| Stock-based employee compensation | Stock-based employee compensation —We measure stock-based compensation expense on restricted stock awards based on the market price at the grant date and the number of shares awarded. The stock-based compensation expense for each award is recognized ratably over the applicable service period, after taking into account estimated forfeitures, or the period beginning at the start of the service period and ending when an employee becomes eligible for retirement. |
| Common stock held in employee benefit trust | Common stock held in employee benefit trust —Shares of our common stock are purchased by the plan administrator of the Non-Qualified Plan and placed in a trust owned by us. Purchased shares are recorded at cost and classified as a reduction of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. |
| Earnings per common share (“EPS”) | Earnings per common share (“EPS”) —Basic EPS is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. We use the treasury stock method to compute diluted EPS which gives effect to the potential dilution of earnings that could have occurred if additional shares were issued for awards granted under our incentive compensation and stock plan. The treasury stock method assumes proceeds that would be obtained upon exercise of awards granted under our incentive compensation and stock plan are used to purchase outstanding common stock at the average market price during the period. |
| Warranty obligations | Warranty obligations— We provide warranties of various lengths and terms to certain of our customers based on standard terms and conditions and negotiated agreements. Estimated cost of warranties are accrued at the time revenue is recognized for products where reliable, historical experience of warranty claims and costs exists or when additional specific obligations are identified. The obligation reflected in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets is based on historical experience by product and considers failure rates and the related costs in correcting a product failure. Should actual product failure rates or repair costs differ from our current estimates, revisions to the estimated warranty liability would be required. |
| Foreign currency | Foreign currency —Financial statements of operations for which the U.S. dollar is not the functional currency, and are located in non-highly inflationary countries, are translated into U.S. dollars prior to consolidation. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date, while income statement accounts are translated at the average exchange rate for each period. For these operations, translation gains and losses are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity until the foreign entity is sold or liquidated. For operations in highly inflationary countries and where the local currency is not the functional currency, inventories, property, plant and equipment, and other non-current assets are converted to U.S. dollars at historical exchange rates, and all gains or losses from conversion are included in net income. Foreign currency effects on cash, cash equivalents and debt in hyperinflationary economies are included in interest income or expense. |
| Derivative instruments | Derivative instruments— Derivatives are recognized on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value, with classification as current or non-current based upon the maturity of the derivative instrument. Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recorded in current earnings or deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), depending on the type of hedging transaction and whether a derivative is designated as, and is effective as, a hedge. Each instrument is accounted for individually and assets and liabilities are not offset. Hedge accounting is only applied when the derivative is deemed to be highly effective at offsetting changes in anticipated cash flows of the hedged item or transaction. Changes in fair value of derivatives that are designated as cash flow hedges are deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the underlying transactions are recognized in earnings. At such time, related deferred hedging gains or losses are also recorded in earnings on the same line as the hedged item. Effectiveness is assessed at the inception of the hedge and on a quarterly basis. Effectiveness of forward contract cash flow hedges are assessed based solely on changes in fair value attributable to the change in the spot rate. The change in the fair value of the contract related to the change in forward rates is excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. Changes in this excluded component of the derivative instrument, along with any ineffectiveness identified, are recorded in earnings as incurred. We document our risk management strategy and hedge effectiveness at the inception of, and during the term of, each hedge. We also use forward contracts to hedge foreign currency assets and liabilities, for which we do not apply hedge accounting. The changes in fair value of these contracts are recognized in other income (expense), net on our consolidated statements of income, as they occur and offset gains or losses on the remeasurement of the related asset or liability. Cash flows from derivative contracts are reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows in the same categories as the cash flows from the underlying transactions. |
