Represents the number of investment programs under the deferred compensation plan of the entity.

No definition available.

Name:	mtw_DeferredCompensationPlansNumberOfInvestmentPrograms
Namespace Prefix:	mtw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the gains and losses in excess of the specified percentage of the greater of the benefit obligation and the market-related value of assets that are amortized over the average remaining service period of active participants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mtw_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfGainsLossesInExcessOfSpecifiedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	mtw_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of deferred compensation plans of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mtw_NumberOfDeferredCompensationPlans
Namespace Prefix:	mtw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of defined contribution retirement plans for the employees of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mtw_NumberOfDefinedContributionRetirementPlans
Namespace Prefix:	mtw_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amounts accrued related to the target benefit plan as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mtw_TargetBenefitPlanAmountsAccrued
Namespace Prefix:	mtw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the expenses related to the target benefit plan during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mtw_TargetBenefitPlanExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	mtw_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualPostretirementBenefitsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for all deferred compensation arrangements. Represents currently earned compensation under compensation arrangements that is not actually paid until a later date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of assets held under deferred compensation agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

For defined benefit pension plans, the actuarial present value of benefits (whether vested or nonvested) attributed by the pension benefit formula to employee service rendered before a specified date and based on employee service and compensation (if applicable) before that date. The accumulated benefit obligation differs from the projected benefit obligation in that it includes no assumption about future compensation levels. For plans with flat-benefit or nonpay-related pension benefit formulas, the accumulated benefit obligation and the projected benefit obligation are the same.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Accumulated Benefit Obligation
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6503844

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost for the fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position, including gain (loss), prior service cost (credit), and transition asset (obligation).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The funded status is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation. Will normally be the same as the net Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet, Total.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64852052&loc=d3e1703-114919

+ Details

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

- Definition

The assumed health care cost trend rate for the next year used to measure the expected cost of benefits covered by the plan (gross eligible charges). This is based upon the annual rate of change in the cost of health care benefits currently provided by the postretirement benefit plan, due to factors other than changes in the composition of the plan population by age and dependency status.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Health Care Cost Trend Rate
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6514820

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (l)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanHealthCareCostTrendRateAssumedForNextFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The ultimate trend rate for health care costs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanUltimateHealthCareCostTrendRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of employer's best estimate of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanNameAxis=mtw_RetirementSavingsPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanNameAxis=mtw_DeferredSavingsPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualPostretirementBenefitsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis=mtw_DeferredCompensationPlanProgramMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualPostretirementBenefitsByTypeOfDeferredCompensationAxis=mtw_DeferredCompensationPlanProgramBMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=mtw_ManitowocFoodServiceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Employee Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans - Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) plan	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Number of defined contribution retirement plans for the employees \| plan	3
Amortization of gains and losses in excess of specified percentage (as a percent)	10.00%
Expenses related to the target benefit plan	$ 3.2	$ 2.9	$ 2.4
Amounts accrued related to the target benefit plan	21.4	26.9
US Pension Plans
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Funded status	(47.0)	(74.6)
Estimated future employer contributions	4.7
Accumulated benefit obligation	155.6	218.5
Non-US Pension Plans
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Funded status	(41.0)	(55.6)
Estimated future employer contributions	1.4
Accumulated benefit obligation	76.2	244.9
Pension Plans
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income that are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during the next fiscal year	(4.8)
Postretirement Health and Other
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Funded status	(41.6)	(51.8)
Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income that are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during the next fiscal year	$ (0.1)
Annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits assumed for measurement purposes (as a percent)	6.20%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate (as a percent)	4.50%
Estimated future employer contributions	$ 3.6
Retirement Savings Plan
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Total costs incurred under the Manitowoc Retirement Savings Plan	$ 1.9	3.2	$ 6.1
Deferred Compensation Plan
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Number of deferred compensation plans \| plan	2
Number of investment programs \| plan	2
Deferred Compensation Plan \| Program A
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Program asset	$ 0.0	1.0
Program obligation	1.0	1.4
Deferred Compensation Plan \| Program B
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Program asset	11.3	15.2
Program obligation	$ 15.2	16.5
Manitowoc Food Service \| Pension Plans
Manitowoc Deferred Compensation Plan
Funded status		$ 32.5