| Schedule of Earnings Per Share - Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] |
Net income per share was computed as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | | September 30, 2016 | | September 25, 2015 | | September 30, 2016 | | September 25, 2015 | | (In thousands, except share data) | Computation of Net income per share - basic: | | | | | | | | Net income attributable to Colfax Corporation | $ | 27,970 |
| | $ | 18,359 |
| | $ | 90,339 |
| | $ | 123,542 |
| Weighted-average shares of Common stock outstanding - basic | 122,836,762 |
| | 124,404,267 |
| | 122,918,259 |
| | 124,205,441 |
| Net income per share - basic | $ | 0.23 |
| | $ | 0.15 |
| | $ | 0.73 |
| | $ | 0.99 |
| Computation of Net income per share - diluted: | | | | | | | | Net income attributable to Colfax Corporation
| $ | 27,970 |
| | $ | 18,359 |
| | $ | 90,339 |
| | $ | 123,542 |
| Weighted-average shares of Common stock outstanding - basic | 122,836,762 |
| | 124,404,267 |
| | 122,918,259 |
| | 124,205,441 |
| Net effect of potentially dilutive securities - stock options and restricted stock units | 265,452 |
| | 628,000 |
| | 211,540 |
| | 928,165 |
| Weighted-average shares of Common stock outstanding - diluted | 123,102,214 |
| | 125,032,267 |
| | 123,129,799 |
| | 125,133,606 |
| Net income per share - diluted | $ | 0.23 |
| | $ | 0.15 |
| | $ | 0.73 |
| | $ | 0.99 |
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