Subsequent Events (Notes)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events On February 11, 2019, we acquired Buffalo Filter and all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Palmerton Holdings, Inc. from Filtration Group FGC LLC (the “Buffalo Filter Acquisition”) for approximately $365 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments for working capital, cash held by Buffalo Filter at closing, indebtedness of Buffalo Filter, expenses related to the transaction and other related fees and expenses. Buffalo Filter develops, manufactures and markets smoke evacuation technologies that are complementary to our Advanced Surgical portfolio. The acquisition was funded through a combination of cash on hand and long-term borrowings as further described below. In 2018, we incurred pre-tax transaction costs of $1.3 million associated with the Buffalo Filter acquisition which are recorded in selling and administrative expense. We are in the process of completing our accounting and valuation of this acquisition and accordingly, more detailed disclosures will be provided in future filings. Supplemental pro forma information has not been provided as we deem it impracticable given the timing of the closing of the transaction and availability of Buffalo Filter financial information. On February 7, 2019, we entered into a sixth amended and restated senior credit agreement consisting of: (a) a $265.0 million term loan facility and (b) a $585.0 million revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility will terminate and the loans outstanding under the term loan facility will expire on the earlier of (i) February 7, 2024 or (ii) the date that is 91 days prior to the earliest scheduled maturity date of the $345.0 million in 2.625% convertible notes due in 2024 described below, (if, as of such date, more than $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of such convertible notes (or any refinancing thereof) remains outstanding). The term loan is payable in quarterly installments increasing over the term of the facility. Proceeds from the term loan facility and borrowings under the revolving credit facility were used to repay the then existing senior credit agreement and in part to finance the acquisition of Buffalo Filter. Initial interest rates are at LIBOR plus an interest rate margin of 1.875%. For those borrowings where we elect to use the alternate base rate, the initial base rate will be the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% or (iii) the one-month Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00%, plus, in each case, an interest rate margin. On January 29, 2019, we issued $345.0 million in 2.625% convertible notes due in 2024 (the "Notes"). Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing August 1, 2019. The Notes will mature on February 1, 2024, unless earlier repurchased or converted. The Notes represent subordinated unsecured obligations and are convertible under certain circumstances, as defined in the indenture, into a combination of cash and CONMED common stock. The Notes may be converted at an initial conversion rate of 11.2608 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $88.80 per share of common stock). Holders of the Notes may convert their Notes at their option at any time on or after November 1, 2023 through the second scheduled trading day preceding the maturity date. Holders of their Notes will also have the right to convert the Notes prior to November 1, 2023, but only upon the occurrence of specified events. The conversion rate is subject to anti-dilution adjustments if certain events occur. A portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the notes were used as part of the financing for the Buffalo Filter acquisition, $21.0 million were used to pay the cost of certain convertible notes hedge transactions as further described below and we intend to use the remaining proceeds of the Notes for general corporate purposes. In connection with the offering of the Notes, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with a number of financial institutions (each, an “option counterparty”). The convertible note hedge transactions cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the Notes, the number of shares of our common stock underlying the Notes. Concurrently with entering into the convertible note hedge transactions, we also entered into separate warrant transactions with each option counterparty whereby we sold to such option counterparty warrants to purchase, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, the same number of shares of our common stock. The convertible note hedge transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the Notes and/or offset any cash payments we are required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Notes, as the case may be, in the event that the market price per share of our common stock, as measured under the terms of the convertible note hedge transactions, is greater than the strike price ($114.92) of the convertible note hedge transactions, which initially corresponds to the conversion price of the Notes and is subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the conversion rate of the Notes. If, however, the market price per share of our common stock, as measured under the terms of the warrant transactions, exceeds the strike price of the warrants, there would nevertheless be dilution to the extent that such market price exceeds the strike price of the warrants, unless we elect to settle the warrants in cash.

Subsequent Events

On February 11, 2019, we acquired Buffalo Filter and all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Palmerton Holdings, Inc. from Filtration Group FGC LLC (the “Buffalo Filter Acquisition”) for approximately $365 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments for working capital, cash held by Buffalo Filter at closing, indebtedness of Buffalo Filter, expenses related to the transaction and other related fees and expenses. Buffalo Filter develops, manufactures and markets smoke evacuation technologies that are complementary to our Advanced Surgical portfolio. The acquisition was funded through a combination of cash on hand and long-term borrowings as further described below.

In 2018, we incurred pre-tax transaction costs of $1.3 million associated with the Buffalo Filter acquisition which are recorded in selling and administrative expense. We are in the process of completing our accounting and valuation of this acquisition and accordingly, more detailed disclosures will be provided in future filings. Supplemental pro forma information has not been provided as we deem it impracticable given the timing of the closing of the transaction and availability of Buffalo Filter financial information.

On February 7, 2019, we entered into a sixth amended and restated senior credit agreement consisting of: (a) a $265.0 million term loan facility and (b) a $585.0 million revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility will terminate and the loans outstanding under the term loan facility will expire on the earlier of (i) February 7, 2024 or (ii) the date that is 91 days prior to the earliest scheduled maturity date of the $345.0 million in 2.625% convertible notes due in 2024 described below, (if, as of such date, more than $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of such convertible notes (or any refinancing thereof) remains outstanding). The term loan is payable in quarterly installments increasing over the term of the facility. Proceeds from the term loan facility and borrowings under the revolving credit facility were used to repay the then existing senior credit agreement and in part to finance the acquisition of Buffalo Filter. Initial interest rates are at LIBOR plus an interest rate margin of 1.875%. For those borrowings where we elect to use the alternate base rate, the initial base rate will be the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50% or (iii) the one-month Eurocurrency Rate plus 1.00%, plus, in each case, an interest rate margin.

On January 29, 2019, we issued $345.0 million in 2.625% convertible notes due in 2024 (the "Notes"). Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing August 1, 2019. The Notes will mature on February 1, 2024, unless earlier repurchased or converted. The Notes represent subordinated unsecured obligations and are convertible under certain circumstances, as defined in the indenture, into a combination of cash and CONMED common stock. The Notes may be converted at an initial conversion rate of 11.2608 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $88.80 per share of common stock). Holders of the Notes may convert their Notes at their option at any time on or after November 1, 2023 through the second scheduled trading day preceding the maturity date. Holders of their Notes will also have the right to convert the Notes prior to November 1, 2023, but only upon the occurrence of specified events. The conversion rate is subject to anti-dilution adjustments if certain events occur. A portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the notes were used as part of the financing for the Buffalo Filter acquisition, $21.0 million were used to pay the cost of certain convertible notes hedge transactions as further described below and we intend to use the remaining proceeds of the Notes for general corporate purposes.

In connection with the offering of the Notes, we entered into convertible note hedge transactions with a number of financial institutions (each, an “option counterparty”). The convertible note hedge transactions cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the Notes, the number of shares of our common stock underlying the Notes. Concurrently with entering into the convertible note hedge transactions, we also entered into separate warrant transactions with each option counterparty whereby we sold to such option counterparty warrants to purchase, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, the same number of shares of our common stock.

The convertible note hedge transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution upon conversion of the Notes and/or offset any cash payments we are required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Notes, as the case may be, in the event that the market price per share of our common stock, as measured under the terms of the convertible note hedge transactions, is greater than the strike price ($114.92) of the convertible note hedge transactions, which initially corresponds to the conversion price of the Notes and is subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the conversion rate of the Notes. If, however, the market price per share of our common stock, as measured under the terms of the warrant transactions, exceeds the strike price of the warrants, there would nevertheless be dilution to the extent that such market price exceeds the strike price of the warrants, unless we elect to settle the warrants in cash.