Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ (13,507)	$ 31,611
Investing activities:
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant, and equipment		1,433
Investments, net	(147,392)	44,785
Capital expenditures	(25,954)	(22,859)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(173,346)	23,359
Financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options	252	983
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation activity	263	350
Repayments on long-term debt	(25)	(33)
Purchase of common stock held in treasury	(283)	(345)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	207	955
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(564)	1,493
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(187,210)	57,418
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	376,951	56,216
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	189,741	113,634
RTI International Metals, Inc. [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities	10,334	18,110
Investing activities:
Investments in subsidiaries	(4,025)	(15,830)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(4,025)	(15,830)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options	252	983
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation activity	263	350
Intercompany debt	(6,541)	(3,268)
Purchase of common stock held in treasury	(283)	(345)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(6,309)	(2,280)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities	13,778	12,821
Investing activities:
Investments, net	(147,392)	44,785
Capital expenditures	(23,326)	(19,641)
Investments in subsidiaries		(2,900)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(170,718)	22,244
Financing activities:
Parent company investments		(114,625)
Repayments on long-term debt	(20)	(20)
Intercompany debt	(15,958)	127,344
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(15,978)	12,699
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(172,918)	47,764
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	350,629	45,525
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	177,711	93,289
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(37,619)	680
Investing activities:
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant, and equipment		1,433
Capital expenditures	(2,628)	(3,218)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(2,628)	(1,785)
Financing activities:
Parent company investments	4,025	133,355
Repayments on long-term debt	(5)	(13)
Intercompany debt	22,499	(124,076)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	26,519	9,266
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(564)	1,493
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(14,292)	9,654
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	26,322	10,691
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	12,030	20,345
Eliminations [Member]
Investing activities:
Investments in subsidiaries	4,025	18,730
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities	4,025	18,730
Financing activities:
Parent company investments	(4,025)	(18,730)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(4,025)	(18,730)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 0	$ 0