Consolidated Statement of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,130,783	$ 1,133,885	$ 1,112,058
Other (loss) income, net	(861)	2,765	(175)
Sales, total	1,129,922	1,136,650	1,111,883
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold	629,680	618,536	615,213
Selling, general and administrative	315,270	322,797	309,206
Research and development	48,630	48,247	45,858
Restructuring and other charges	12,258	8,515	5,344
Interest expense	10,854	9,851	10,677
Currency exchange losses, net	2,204	1,509	5,452
Costs and expenses, total	1,018,896	1,009,455	991,750
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	111,026	127,195	120,133
Provision for income taxes	44,407	41,044	35,145
Net income (loss), including portion attributable to noncontrolling interest
Income from continuing operations	66,619	86,151	84,988
Income from discontinued operations	1,325	1,776	3,061
Net income	67,944	87,927	88,049
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,863	579	198
Amounts attributable to MSA Safety Incorporated common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations	69,590	87,447	85,858
Income from discontinued operations	1,217	1,059	2,389
Net income attributable to MSA Safety Incorporated	$ 70,807	$ 88,506	$ 88,247
Earnings Per Share, Basic
Income from continuing operations, basic (dollars per share)	$ 1.86	$ 2.34	$ 2.31
Income from discontinued operations, basic (dollars per share)	0.03	0.03	0.06
Net income, basic (dollars per share)	1.89	2.37	2.37
Earnings Per Share, Diluted
Income from continuing operations, diluted (dollars per share)	1.84	2.30	2.28
Income from discontinued operations, diluted (dollars per share)	0.03	0.03	0.06
Net income, diluted (dollars per share)	$ 1.87	$ 2.33	$ 2.34