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Summary of Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Summary of Accounting Policies - (Details) [Abstract] |  |  |
Nature of the Business | Nature of the Business - Roper is a diversified growth company that designs, manufactures and distributes energy systems and controls, medical and scientific imaging products and software, industrial technology products and radio frequency products and services. Roper markets these products and services to selected segments of a broad range of markets, including radio frequency applications, medical, water, energy, research, education, software-as-a-service ("SaaS")-based information networks, security and other niche markets. |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts and sales allowances | $ 10,600,000 | $ 10,300,000 |
Basic shares outstanding | 95,959,000 | 94,242,000 | 90,685,000
Effect of potential common stock |  |  |
Common stock awards | 1,213,000 | 1,009,000 | 853,000
Senior subordinated convertible notes | 1,214,000 | 1,402,000 | 1,282,000
Diluted shares outstanding | 98,386,000 | 96,653,000 | 92,820,000
Goodwill impairment method | Goodwill, which is not amortized, is tested for impairment on an annual basis (or an interim basis if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value) using a two-step process. The first step of the process utilizes both an income approach (discounted cash flows) and a market approach consisting of a comparable public company earnings multiples methodology to estimate the fair value of a reporting unit. To determine the reasonableness of the estimated fair values, the Company reviews the assumptions to ensure that neither the income approach nor the market approach provides significantly different valuations. If the estimated fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further work is required and no impairment loss is recognized. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value, the goodwill of the reporting unit is potentially impaired and then the second step would be completed in order to measure the impairment loss by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by deducting the fair value of all tangible and intangible net assets (including unrecognized intangible assets) of the reporting unit from the fair value of the reporting unit. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of goodwill, an impairment loss would be recognized. Key assumptions used in the income and market methodologies are updated when the analysis is performed for each reporting unit. Various assumptions are utilized including forecasted operating results, strategic plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows, the weighted average cost of capital, comparable transactions, market data and earnings multiples. The assumptions that have the most significant effect on the fair value calculations are the anticipated future cash flows, discount rates, and the earnings multiples. While the Company uses reasonable and timely information to prepare its cash flow and discount rate assumptions, actual future cash flows or market conditions could differ significantly resulting in future impairment charges related to recorded goodwill balances. |  |
Total goodwill reporting units | 26 |  |
Minimum carrying value of goodwill | 0 |  |
Maximum carrying value of goodwill | 536,000,000 |  |
The approximate amount of earnings of foreign subsidiaries | 874,000,000 |  |
Increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits | 3,800,000 |  |
Capitalized software | 14,100,000 | 17,300,000 |
Research and development costs | 121,700,000 | 102,400,000 | 83,400,000
Contract revenue recognized under the percentage-of-completion method | $ 151,500,000 | $ 131,000,000 | $ 142,500,000
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Name | In October 2009, the FASB issued amendments to the accounting and disclosure for revenue recognition |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Description | These amendments, effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010, modify the criteria for recognizing revenue in multiple element arrangements and the scope of what constitutes a non-software deliverable. The Company implemented the amendments on January 1, 2011. The impact on its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows was immaterial. |  |
Buildings [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life, minimum (in years) | 20 |  |
Estimated useful life, maximum (in years) | 30 |  |
Machinery and equipment [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life, minimum (in years) | 8 |  |
Estimated useful life, maximum (in years) | 12 |  |
Office Equipment [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life, minimum (in years) | 3 |  |
Estimated useful life, maximum (in years) | 5 |  |

X
- Definition A valuation allowance for trade and other receivables due to an Entity within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible. This element also includes the total deduction from sales during the period arising from goods returned by customers (other than under warranty provisions) and price reductions given by the entity due to defective or nonconforming goods. Returns and allowances are a deduction from gross revenue in arriving at net revenue. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The maximum carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to adoption of FAS 142 and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of capitalized computer software costs net of accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Implementation Guide (Q and A) -Number FAS86 -Paragraph 18 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 86 -Paragraph 11 -Subparagraph a + Details
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- Definition Debt securities outstanding shall be assumed to have been converted at the beginning of the period (or at time of issuance, if later), and the resulting common shares shall be included in common shares used to calculate diluted earnings per shares. The dilutive effect of convertible debt securities shall be reflected in diluted Earnings Per Share by application of the if-converted method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 26, 27, 28 + Details
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- Definition Aggregate awards of share options and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a share-based compensation arrangement are considered options for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share. Such share-based awards shall be considered to be outstanding as of the grant date for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share even though their exercise may be contingent upon vesting. Those share-based awards are included in the diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) computation even if the employee may not receive (or be able to sell) the stock until some future date. Accordingly, all shares to be issued shall be included in computing diluted EPS if the effect is dilutive. The dilutive effect of share-based compensation arrangements shall be computed using the treasury stock method. If the equity share options or other equity instruments are outstanding for only part of a period, the shares issuable shall be weighted to reflect the portion of the period during which the equity instruments were outstanding. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 128 -Paragraph 20 + Details
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- Definition Describes the nature of an entity's business, the major products or services it sells or provides and its principal markets, including the locations of those markets. If the entity operates in more than one business, the disclosure also indicates the relative importance of its operations in each business and the basis for the determination (for example, assets, revenues, or earnings). Disclosures about the nature of operations need not be quantified; relative importance could be conveyed by use of terms such as "predominately", "about equally", or "major and other". This element is also referred to as "Business Description". + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 94-6 -Paragraph 10 + Details
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- Definition Disclose: (1) the nature of and reason for the change, including an explanation of why the newly adopted accounting principle is preferable; (2) the method of applying the change and (i) a description of prior-period information that has been retrospectively adjusted, if any (ii) the effect of the change on income from continuing operations, net income (or other appropriate captions of changes in in the applicable net assets or performance indicator), any other affected financial statement line item, and any affected per-share amounts for the current period and any prior periods retrospectively adjusted (iii) the cumulative effect of the change on retained earnings or other components of equity or net assets in the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the earliest period presented (iv) if retrospective application is impracticable, the reasons therefore and a description of the alternative method used to report the change. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 01 -Paragraph b -Subparagraph 6 -Article 10 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 11 -Section M Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 154 -Paragraph 2, 17, 18 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 28 -Paragraph 23, 24 + Details
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- Definition The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph g Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 2 -Paragraph 12, 13 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 86 -Paragraph 11, 12 + Details
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