<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="oec-20200220.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001609804</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-02-20</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-02-20</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV81Mi9mcmFnOjFkNDRkMDYzMTM4MDQxOTJiMTE5ZDBhZTRhZTk0ODZkL3RhYmxlOjk2ODIzYTI2MmQ2YjRhMWFhZGUyYTM4Yzk0NWIyMjc2L3RhYmxlcmFuZ2U6OTY4MjNhMjYyZDZiNGExYWFkZTJhMzhjOTQ1YjIyNzZfMS0xLTEtMS00MDY_902a5e9b-5f05-4ae5-8aa0-d3e2c136f8bd">0001609804</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV81Mi9mcmFnOjFkNDRkMDYzMTM4MDQxOTJiMTE5ZDBhZTRhZTk0ODZkL3RhYmxlOjk2ODIzYTI2MmQ2YjRhMWFhZGUyYTM4Yzk0NWIyMjc2L3RhYmxlcmFuZ2U6OTY4MjNhMjYyZDZiNGExYWFkZTJhMzhjOTQ1YjIyNzZfMi0xLTEtMS00MTI_ab51dd90-e86a-40b7-840d-645771226d67">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN181NDk3NTU4MTM5OTY_00926341-6108-4f2a-bb4b-4a8dda442a46">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN181NDk3NTU4MTQxOTY_4badaf89-1ba5-4c50-99e2-a698d285b137">2020-02-20</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN181NDk3NTU4MTQ4MjE_3e336662-adad-483c-8b69-33f69c52449c">ORION ENGINEERED CARBONS S.A.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6NWQ3NjRiYTBiY2M0NDM0NGFkYTViNjljODE4MDliNzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDc2NGJhMGJjYzQ0MzQ0YWRhNWI2OWM4MTgwOWI3NV8wLTAtMS0xLTM1NQ_7ade5aae-cccc-4c90-8a46-832d2f382371">N4</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6NWQ3NjRiYTBiY2M0NDM0NGFkYTViNjljODE4MDliNzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDc2NGJhMGJjYzQ0MzQ0YWRhNWI2OWM4MTgwOWI3NV8wLTEtMS0xLTQ4Nw_4850224e-56a6-45e9-98b7-abfa81c730c1">001-36563</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6NWQ3NjRiYTBiY2M0NDM0NGFkYTViNjljODE4MDliNzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDc2NGJhMGJjYzQ0MzQ0YWRhNWI2OWM4MTgwOWI3NV8wLTMtMS0xLTM1OA_287cf6b9-adc0-4a18-a539-f62cdb1ec4ea">00-0000000</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6NWQ3NjRiYTBiY2M0NDM0NGFkYTViNjljODE4MDliNzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDc2NGJhMGJjYzQ0MzQ0YWRhNWI2OWM4MTgwOWI3NV8zLTAtMS0xLTM2MA_9c0a74f8-2ca0-408b-bc5b-069dd835d776">4501 Magnolia Cove Drive Suite 106</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6NWQ3NjRiYTBiY2M0NDM0NGFkYTViNjljODE4MDliNzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDc2NGJhMGJjYzQ0MzQ0YWRhNWI2OWM4MTgwOWI3NV8zLTEtMS0xLTM2Mg_97b92076-1d46-45b5-b608-c131253c3158">Houston,</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6NWQ3NjRiYTBiY2M0NDM0NGFkYTViNjljODE4MDliNzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDc2NGJhMGJjYzQ0MzQ0YWRhNWI2OWM4MTgwOWI3NV8zLTItMS0xLTM2NA_1ff0444b-a3a5-47e1-9be7-dce1e70cc7eb">TX</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6NWQ3NjRiYTBiY2M0NDM0NGFkYTViNjljODE4MDliNzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1ZDc2NGJhMGJjYzQ0MzQ0YWRhNWI2OWM4MTgwOWI3NV8zLTMtMS0xLTM2Nw_5a3e59e5-7920-4f55-8b1d-77740477a0dc">77345</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN181NDk3NTU4MTQ4NTI_c06dd51c-e0b2-46d5-bac9-31fe5bdbeaa6">281</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN181NDk3NTU4MTQ4NTc_3a848712-8bf7-4581-9454-25d47b587e7b">318-2959</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN18yMTk5MDIzMjY1MzYw_1d097328-a075-4c52-8565-fdd346f03ced">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN18xNjQ5MjY3NDUxNDUw_af8586ea-aed0-49fa-84ed-8760196884e0">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN18yMTk5MDIzMjY1MzYz_0908ae31-1672-4594-9264-ab47de37c5ca">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN18yMTk5MDIzMjY1MzY2_1f1fff74-8755-4cf2-b90a-1c6ff87534bb">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6M2YwOTJkODc1ZTQ1NDM2OWJmY2Y5YTU5YmFmODU3Y2UvdGFibGVyYW5nZTozZjA5MmQ4NzVlNDU0MzY5YmZjZjlhNTliYWY4NTdjZV8xLTAtMS0xLTM3Nw_558b4a95-271e-4575-aea8-049ee177438a">Common Shares, no par value</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6M2YwOTJkODc1ZTQ1NDM2OWJmY2Y5YTU5YmFmODU3Y2UvdGFibGVyYW5nZTozZjA5MmQ4NzVlNDU0MzY5YmZjZjlhNTliYWY4NTdjZV8xLTEtMS0xLTM4MA_9a33de4f-ae2b-43e8-a1fd-24318d8a487d">OEC</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGFibGU6M2YwOTJkODc1ZTQ1NDM2OWJmY2Y5YTU5YmFmODU3Y2UvdGFibGVyYW5nZTozZjA5MmQ4NzVlNDU0MzY5YmZjZjlhNTliYWY4NTdjZV8xLTItMS0xLTM4OA_0eb5cfed-5edb-462a-856c-216b817adbcf">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="ie3ef4e0427f64151988494dc745ccbc9_D20200220-20200220"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmQ5Y2FmMTE2NmI1NzQ1MDE5MGFkNDFiOTkxNWU0YjBlL3NlYzpkOWNhZjExNjZiNTc0NTAxOTBhZDQxYjk5MTVlNGIwZV8xL2ZyYWc6ZDU0NjNkMGVkYTAzNGIyZDkxNjZmNTFmMmQ4M2RjMDcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjpkNTQ2M2QwZWRhMDM0YjJkOTE2NmY1MWYyZDgzZGMwN18yMTk5MDIzMjY1Mzcx_b4584c93-fb8f-44ea-be44-0be332a0f803">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
