Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 107,494	$ 106,415
Operating costs and expenses:
Costs of products sold (excluding depreciation and amortization)	90,221	87,653
Selling and administrative	13,885	14,856
Depreciation and amortization	5,259	5,600
Impairment charge	10,082	0
Loss on disposal of assets	6	83
Total operating expenses	119,453	108,192
Loss from continuing operations	(11,959)	(1,777)
Other income (expense):
Investment-related income	40	24
Interest expense	(1,285)	(873)
Other – net	1,296	3,621
Total other income (expense)	51	2,772
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(11,908)	995
Income tax (provision) benefit	(643)	463
Net (loss) income from continuing operations	(12,551)	1,458
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2,242)	(69)
Net (loss) income	(14,793)	1,389
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	355	448
Net (loss) income attributable to Ampco-Pittsburgh	$ (15,148)	$ 941
Net (loss) income from continuing operations per common share:
Basic	$ (1.00)	$ 0.12
Diluted	(1.00)	0.12
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, per common share:
Basic	(0.18)	(0.01)
Diluted	(0.18)	(0.01)
Net (loss) income per common share attributable to Ampco-Pittsburgh:
Basic	(1.21)	0.08
Diluted	$ (1.21)	$ 0.08
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	12,497	12,362
Diluted	12,497	12,379