<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2020-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:us-gaap="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2020-01-31"
  xmlns:xbrldi="http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="pae-20211201.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001720821</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-12-01</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-12-01</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-CommonClassAMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001720821</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">us-gaap:CommonClassAMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-12-01</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-12-01</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-WarrantMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001720821</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">us-gaap:WarrantMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-12-01</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-12-01</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01"
      id="Hidden_dei_EntityRegistrantName">PAE Inc</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01"
      id="Hidden_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey">0001720821</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:DocumentType contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">2021-12-01</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">001-38643</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">82-3173473</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1 contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">7799 Leesburg Pike</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2 contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">Suite 300 North</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">Falls Church</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">VA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">22043</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">(703)</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">717-6000</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">true</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-CommonClassAMember">Class&#160;A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-CommonClassAMember">PAE</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-CommonClassAMember">NASDAQ</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-WarrantMember">Warrants</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-WarrantMember">PAEWW</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-WarrantMember">NASDAQ</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany contextRef="duration_2021-12-01_to_2021-12-01">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
