Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,018,366	$ 1,082,223	$ 996,382
Cost of sales	709,550	742,488	669,663
Gross profit	308,816	339,735	326,719
Selling, general and administrative expenses	212,485	219,947	217,290
Restructuring and impairment charges	10,955	7,116	8,523
Other expense (income):
Interest expense	24,302	23,659	20,647
Interest earned	(3,325)	(3,672)	(2,968)
Foreign currency losses, net	9,166	6,335	3,440
Loss on extinguishment of debt		3,226	3,905
Miscellaneous expense (income), net	11,722	12,074	(7,433)
Income before income taxes	43,511	71,050	83,315
Income tax expense	8,119	14,130	46,413
Income from continuing operations	35,392	56,920	36,902
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(27,977)	24,026	20,866
Net income	7,415	80,946	57,768
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,377	853	714
Net income attributable to Ferro Corporation common shareholders	6,038	80,093	57,054
Amounts attributable to Ferro Corporation:
Net income attributable to Ferro Corporation from continuing operations, net of income tax	34,305	56,069	36,198
Net income (loss) attributable to Ferro Corporation from discontinued operations, net of income tax	(28,267)	24,024	20,856
Income attributable to Ferro Corporation	$ 6,038	$ 80,093	$ 57,054
Weighted-average common shares outstanding	82,083	83,940	83,713
Incremental common shares attributable to performance shares, deferred stock units, restricted stock units, and stock options	808	1,145	1,443
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding	82,891	85,085	85,156
Basic earnings (loss):
Continuing operations	$ 0.41	$ 0.67	$ 0.43
Discontinued operations	(0.34)	0.28	0.25
Total	0.07	0.95	0.68
Diluted earnings (loss):
Continuing operations	0.41	0.66	0.43
Discontinued operations	(0.34)	0.28	0.24
Total	$ 0.07	$ 0.94	$ 0.67