Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' (Deficit) Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity Attributable to Jason Industries, Inc.	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		46	24,802
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ (3,142)	$ 45,899	$ 2	$ 144,666	$ (163,232)	$ (30,372)	$ (3,037)	$ (105)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared (in shares)		4
Dividends declared	(17)	$ 3,766		(3,783)			(17)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			106
Share-based compensation	1,119			1,119			1,119
Tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)			(26)
Tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units	(35)			(35)			(35)
Net loss	(4,473)				(4,478)		(4,478)	5
Employee retirement plan adjustments, net of tax	373					373	373
Foreign currency translation adjustments	10,542					10,506	10,506	36
Net changes in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax	1,317					1,315	1,315	2
Exchange of common stock (in shares)			1,084
Exchange of common stock of JPHI Holdings, Inc. for common stock of Jason Industries, Inc.	62		$ 1	1,821		(1,884)	(62)	62
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		50	25,966
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	5,684	$ 49,665	$ 3	143,788	(167,710)	(20,062)	5,684	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative impact of accounting changes	384				510	(126)	384
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		50	25,966
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	5,684	$ 49,665	$ 3	143,788	(167,710)	(20,062)	5,684	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared (in shares)		3
Dividends declared	(10)	$ 3,083		(3,093)			(10)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			36
Share-based compensation	2,709			2,709			2,709
Tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)			(3)
Tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units	(7)			(7)			(7)
Net loss	(13,160)				(13,160)		(13,160)
Employee retirement plan adjustments, net of tax	(177)					(177)	(177)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(4,555)					(4,555)	(4,555)
Net changes in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax	1,349					1,349	1,349
Exchange of common stock (in shares)		(12)	1,396
Exchange of common stock of JPHI Holdings, Inc. for common stock of Jason Industries, Inc.	0	$ (12,136)		12,136
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		41	27,395
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	(7,783)	$ 40,612	$ 3	155,533	(180,360)	(23,571)	(7,783)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative impact of accounting changes						(126)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		41	27,395
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	(7,783)	$ 40,612	$ 3	155,533	(180,360)	(23,571)	(7,783)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Dividends declared (in shares)		3
Dividends declared	(9)	$ 3,338		(3,347)			(9)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			1,530
Share-based compensation	3,354			3,354			3,354
Tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units (in shares)			(416)
Tax withholding related to vesting of restricted stock units	(517)			(517)			(517)
Net loss	(81,608)				(81,608)		(81,608)
Employee retirement plan adjustments, net of tax	(401)					(401)	(401)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(3,062)					(3,062)	(3,062)
Net changes in unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of tax	(1,609)					(1,609)	(1,609)
Exchange of common stock of JPHI Holdings, Inc. for common stock of Jason Industries, Inc.	0
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		44	28,509
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	(90,859)	$ 43,950	$ 3	$ 155,023	(261,192)	$ (28,643)	(90,859)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative impact of accounting changes	$ 776				$ 776		$ 776