Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(11))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Assets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of operating segments. An operating segment is a component of an enterprise: (a) that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses (including revenues and expenses relating to transactions with other components of the same enterprise), (b) whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the enterprise's chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and (c) for which discrete financial information is available. An operating segment may engage in business activities for which it has yet to earn revenues, for example, start-up operations may be operating segments before earning revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ftv_ProfessionalInstrumentationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ftv_IndustrialTechnologiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment Information Detailed Segment Data (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) business	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments										2	2
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales	$ 1,806.7	$ 1,685.3	$ 1,628.8	$ 1,535.2	$ 1,627.1	$ 1,567.4	$ 1,555.1	$ 1,474.7	$ 6,656.0			$ 6,224.3	$ 6,178.8
Operating profit	355.8	$ 355.9	$ 348.3	$ 294.9	337.7	$ 323.2	$ 322.1	$ 263.0	1,354.9			1,246.0	1,269.7
Identifiable assets	10,500.6				8,189.8				10,500.6	$ 10,500.6	$ 10,500.6	8,189.8	7,210.6
Depreciation and amortization									174.1			176.4	176.9
Capital expenditures, gross									136.1			129.6	120.1
Operating Segments [Member] \| Professional Instrumentation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales									3,139.1			2,891.6	2,974.2
Operating profit									709.7			642.3	694.8
Identifiable assets	5,588.1				3,905.2				5,588.1	5,588.1	5,588.1	3,905.2	3,894.0
Depreciation and amortization									82.0			99.4	103.5
Capital expenditures, gross									37.0			36.2	34.6
Operating Segments [Member] \| Industrial Technologies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales									3,516.9			3,332.7	3,204.6
Operating profit									718.7			667.4	617.2
Identifiable assets	3,773.7				3,294.8				3,773.7	3,773.7	3,773.7	3,294.8	3,316.6
Depreciation and amortization									86.1			75.7	73.4
Capital expenditures, gross									96.8			84.4	85.5
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit									(73.5)			(63.7)	(42.3)
Identifiable assets	$ 1,138.8				$ 989.8				1,138.8	$ 1,138.8	$ 1,138.8	989.8	0.0
Depreciation and amortization									6.0			1.3	0.0
Capital expenditures, gross									$ 2.3			$ 9.0	$ 0.0