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Background and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), balance at beginning of period				$ 30,078,000				$ 23,909,000	$ 30,078,000	$ 23,909,000	$ 6,059,000
Income (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(13,166,000)	(3,436,000)	2,883,000
(Gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(1,047,000)	9,605,000	14,967,000
Other comprehensive income attributable to Exterran stockholders									(14,213,000)	6,169,000	17,850,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), balance at end of period	15,865,000				30,078,000				15,865,000	30,078,000	23,909,000
Interest expense									114,178,000us-gaap_InterestExpense	115,745,000us-gaap_InterestExpense	134,376,000us-gaap_InterestExpense
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									58,657,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	84,719,000us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(45,755,000)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax									(72,674,000)	(64,014,000)	(35,976,000)
Other (income) expense, net									(1,747,000)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	24,501,000us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(506,000)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Long-lived asset impairment	20,700,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	12,400,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	9,800,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	3,800,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	3,900,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	4,500,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	16,600,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	3,600,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	46,679,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	28,637,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges	136,614,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Derivatives Cash Flow Hedges
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), balance at beginning of period				(1,346,000)				(2,984,000)	(1,346,000)	(2,984,000)	(17,072,000)
Income (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(1,295,000)	(476,000)	(879,000)
(Gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									1,730,000	2,114,000	14,967,000
Other comprehensive income attributable to Exterran stockholders									435,000	1,638,000	14,088,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), balance at end of period	(911,000)				(1,346,000)				(911,000)	(1,346,000)	(2,984,000)
Loss recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) related to change in fair value of derivative financial instruments before tax									(2,000,000)	(500,000)	(1,500,000)
Tax benefit of loss recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) related to change in fair value of derivative financial instruments									700,000	100,000	600,000
Derivatives Cash Flow Hedges \| Reclassification adjustments \| Interest rate hedges
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component
Interest expense									2,600,000	3,200,000	23,000,000
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes									(900,000)	(1,100,000)	(8,000,000)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), balance at beginning of period				31,424,000				26,893,000	31,424,000	26,893,000	23,131,000
Income (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(11,871,000)	(2,960,000)	3,762,000
(Gain) loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(2,777,000)	7,491,000
Other comprehensive income attributable to Exterran stockholders									(14,648,000)	4,531,000	3,762,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), balance at end of period	16,776,000				31,424,000				16,776,000	31,424,000	26,893,000
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment \| Reclassification adjustments
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax										5,100,000
Other (income) expense, net									2,800,000
Long-lived asset impairment										$ 2,400,000