Aquisitions (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions									3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Nov. 01, 2017 EUR (€)	Nov. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 03, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 02, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2017 EUR (€)	Apr. 24, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Nov. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Apr. 24, 2017 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales									$ 416,239	$ 348,632	$ 821,771	$ 669,187
Net income (loss) attributable to Ferro Corporation common shareholders									29,668	21,025	53,059	42,923
Goodwill									199,172		199,172		$ 195,369
Performance Coatings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales									193,449	151,746	378,097	278,311
Goodwill									42,028		42,028		38,236
Performance Colors And Glass [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net sales									126,027	$ 106,637	246,532	$ 210,155
Goodwill									115,054		115,054		$ 114,598
PT Ferro Materials Utama (“FMU”) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired	66.00%
Ownership, percentage	100.00%
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal									2,600
Cash payments to acquire businesses	$ 2,700
Forgiveness of debt	$ 9,200
Endeka Group ("Endeka") [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired			100.00%											100.00%
Business acquisition			€ 72.8	$ 84,800
Net sales									30,500		61,200
Net income (loss) attributable to Ferro Corporation common shareholders									4,800		8,800
Acquisition related costs											500
Personal and real property									17,700		17,700
Decrease in carrying amount of personal and real property											4,100
Deferred tax asset									24,100		24,100
Debt			€ 13.1											$ 15,300
Net working capital									44,100		44,100
Noncontrolling interest									1,100		1,100
Gardenia Quimica S.A. (“Gardenia”) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment Ownership Percentage					83.50%	46.00%
Equity Method Investment, Realized Gain (Loss) on Disposal					$ 2,600
Business acquisition		$ 1,400			$ 3,000
Dip Tech Ltd. (“Dip-Tech”) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired						100.00%
Business acquisition						$ 77,000
Net sales									7,000		10,900
Net income (loss) attributable to Ferro Corporation common shareholders									(1,600)		(4,000)
Cash payments to acquire businesses						60,100
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability						16,900
Acquisition related costs											100
Amortizable intangible assets						41,200
Goodwill						33,500
Personal and real property						3,200
Deferred tax liabilities						7,200
Net working capital						1,200
Acquired intangible asset amortization costs									1,000		2,000
Research and development costs									$ 1,800		$ 3,300
Acquired indefinite-lived intangible assets						$ 5,100
S.P.C. Group s.r.l. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired							100.00%								100.00%
Smalti per Ceramiche, SRL [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, percentage of voting interests acquired							100.00%								100.00%
Business acquisition							€ 18.7	$ 20,300
Amortizable intangible assets															$ 6,000
Goodwill															5,200
Personal and real property															6,100
Deferred tax liabilities															2,000
Debt							€ 5.7								6,200
Net working capital															$ 5,000