Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details)						3 Months Ended
	Sep. 23, 2022 USD ($)	Aug. 17, 2021 shares	Aug. 13, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 21, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 13, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($) claim defendant	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settlement offer				$ 1,070,000
Amount requested from other party						$ 11,500,000
Increase in reserve				$ 1,070,000
Shares surrendered (in shares) | shares		3,300,000
Increase in settlement proposed	$ 250,000
Steel Partners Holding LP
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Net settlement payments			$ 1,100,000
Steel Connect, Inc (STCN)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Net settlement payments			1,650,000
Mr. Lichtenstein
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Shares surrendered (in shares) | shares		2,133,333
Mr. Howard
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Shares surrendered (in shares) | shares		1,066,667
Vested | Mr. Lichtenstein
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Shares surrendered (in shares) | shares		1,833,333
Vested | Mr. Howard
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Shares surrendered (in shares) | shares		916,667
Vested | Mr. Fejes
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Shares surrendered (in shares) | shares		100,000
Unvested | Mr. Lichtenstein
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Shares surrendered (in shares) | shares		300,000
Unvested | Mr. Howard
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Shares surrendered (in shares) | shares		150,000
Accrued liabilities
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental matters						12,380,000	$ 12,692,000
Other Noncurrent Liabilities
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental matters						$ 24,829,000	24,765,000
BNS Subsidiary
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of claims, litigation matters | claim						50,000
BNS Subsidiary | Insurance Claims
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual relating to open and active claims						$ 1,418,000	$ 1,418,000
Minimum | BNS Subsidiary
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, number of defendants | defendant						100,000
Adjacent Parcel | Environmental and Other Matters
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual increase						$ 14,500,000
Adjacent Parcel | Environmental and Other Matters | Minimum | Handy & Harman Ltd. (HNH)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Environmental exit costs, additional loss						10,500,000
Adjacent Parcel | Environmental and Other Matters | Maximum | Handy & Harman Ltd. (HNH)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Environmental exit costs, additional loss						17,500,000
Steel Connect, Inc (STCN)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Net settlement payments			$ 2,750,000
Costs | Environmental and Other Matters
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settlement offer								$ 10,500,000
Costs | Environmental and Other Matters | Steel Partners Holding LP
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settlement offer								$ 2,625,000
Settlement offer, share percentage								25.00%
Costs | Environmental and Other Matters | Non-affiliated Corporations
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settlement offer								$ 7,875,000
Settlement offer, share percentage								75.00%
Costs | Environmental and Other Matters | Cycle Chem
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Settlement offer								$ 3,500,000
Settlement offer, share percentage								100.00%
Costs | Former Owner / Operator
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental matters						$ 2,700,000
Costs | Former Owner / Operator | Environmental and Other Matters
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Ownership responsibility for site investigation and remediation costs percentage allocation						75.00%
Costs | Hhem and HandH | Steel Partners Holding LP
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental matters						$ 900,000
Costs | Hhem and HandH | Environmental and Other Matters
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Ownership responsibility for site investigation and remediation costs percentage allocation						25.00%
Payments						$ 1,000,000
Camden | SLI
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental matters						2,900,000
Counteroffer						300,000
Camden - Past And Future Expenses | SLI
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Damages claimed									$ 1,800,000
Wayne facility | SLI
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrual for environmental matters						$ 1,300,000
Preferred stock | Steel Connect, Inc (STCN)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Stock acquired					$ 35,000,000