Business Realignment and Restructurings Realignment Charges Classified by Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total business realignment charges	$ 401	$ 355	$ 3,588	$ 1,517
Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total business realignment charges	103	(27)	1,115
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total business realignment charges	263	392	1,961	1,517
Design and Development Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total business realignment charges	35	(10)	512
Control Devices [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total business realignment charges	283	(37)	1,702	512
Control Devices [Member] | Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs	70		673
Severance benefit		(27)
Control Devices [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs	178		745	512
Control Devices [Member] | Design and Development Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs	35		284
Severance benefit		(10)
Electronics [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total business realignment charges	105		1,410
Electronics [Member] | Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs	33		356
Electronics [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs	72		826
Electronics [Member] | Design and Development Expense [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs			228
Stoneridge Brazil [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total business realignment charges	12		165
Stoneridge Brazil [Member] | Cost of Goods Sold [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs			86
Stoneridge Brazil [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs	12		79
Unallocated Corporate [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total business realignment charges	1	392	311	1,005
Unallocated Corporate [Member] | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Severance costs	$ 1	$ 392	$ 311	$ 1,005