Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Abstract)
Net sales	$ 546,114	$ 528,564	$ 1,713,097	$ 1,564,914
Cost of sales	442,304	408,268	1,374,614	1,215,354
Gross profit	103,810	120,296	338,483	349,560
Selling, general and administrative expenses	67,530	74,835	217,896	215,635
Restructuring and impairment charges	869	9,570	4,044	44,107
Other expense (income):
Interest expense	7,030	10,519	21,208	37,196
Interest earned	(50)	(78)	(193)	(542)
Losses on extinguishment of debt		19,331		19,331
Foreign currency losses, net	1,726	398	4,049	3,644
Miscellaneous expense, net	64	7,345	458	2,523
Income (loss) before income taxes	26,641	(1,624)	91,021	27,666
Income tax expense	8,419	738	29,987	23,246
Net income (loss)	18,222	(2,362)	61,034	4,420
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	40	983	573	733
Net income (loss) attributable to Ferro Corporation	18,182	(3,345)	60,461	3,687
Dividends on preferred stock		(165)	(165)	(495)
Net income (loss) attributable to Ferro Corporation common shareholders	$ 18,182	$ (3,510)	$ 60,296	$ 3,192
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Ferro Corporation common shareholders:
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.21	$ (0.04)	$ 0.70	$ 0.04
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.21	$ (0.04)	$ 0.69	$ 0.04
Dividends per share of common stock