Quarterly Data (Summary of Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Data [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 245,857	$ 246,291	$ 261,978	$ 264,240	$ 266,492	$ 267,739	$ 273,544	$ 274,448	$ 1,018,366	$ 1,082,223	$ 996,382
Gross profit	75,275	76,186	79,343	78,012	80,470	79,732	90,793	88,740	308,816	339,735	326,719
Net income (loss)	(30,782)	13,210	11,109	13,878	11,344	16,143	29,861	23,598	7,415	80,946	57,768
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Ferro Corporation	$ (31,257)	$ 12,820	$ 10,871	$ 13,604	$ 10,976	$ 16,058	$ 29,668	$ 23,391	$ 6,038	$ 80,093	$ 57,054
Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Ferro Corporation Common Shareholders Per Common Share, Basic	$ (0.38)	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.19	$ 0.35	$ 0.28	$ 0.07	$ 0.95	$ 0.68
Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Ferro Corporation Common Shareholders Per Common Share, Diluted	$ (0.38)	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.19	$ 0.35	$ 0.27	$ 0.07	$ 0.94	$ 0.67